Are you bothering to post comments on social media about the election?

[Jng1]

I'm interested in Politics. Part of my degree was in Politics. I enjoy discussing and properly debating political issues. I'm interested to find out why other people believe what they do, and I'm willing to change my mind about things in the face of a compelling argument.

But I rarely share my views on social media. It seems that everything is just a hate fest out there. Yesterday I broke my self-imposed ban and posted a very simple comment on twitter pointing out that something that was being shared and retweeted had been proven to be fake. Although not surprised, I was slightly taken aback by the instant vitriol in reply which included 'die bitch' / 'fck you'/'ugly slag'/ 'fcktard' amongst other delights.
This was all from supposed Labour/Momentum supporters, and I know Twitter is mostly a left-wing echo chamber, but even so, what do people really think they are going to achieve from this sort of response?
It's so sad that we seem to have lost the ability to properly and respectfully discuss and DEBATE stuff without immediately sinking into personal insults.
I'm sure there are a lot of people who just keep their head down, even if they violently disagree?

I agree with you. I'd like to have more of a positive debate on policy rather than a 'tit for tat', blaming and negativity from hyper sensitive people that don't actually understand the bigger picture.

I am quite active on twitter and Facebook. I've find that the most arguing and bickering happens on Facebook, weirdly. I re tweet a lot of political stuff and hardly ever have any abuse, though perhaps that's because I only tend to follow thoughtful, intelligent people, whereas my Facebook friend list is... more diverse, to put it politely.

The point of my reply got lost! I meant to say that I generally refrain from posting much on Facebook, despite having strong political views. That's partly because I don't want the fallout with people I care about, and partly because I'm sick and tired of seeing nothing but political posts from others on my own newsfeed.

I guess Facebook must be a right wing echo chamber then. All I seem to see is comments from people blaming absolutely everything on "Lefty liberal special snowflakes" and political correctness. I don't bother engaging on social media with that because there is no point arguing with stupid.

Hahaha neonrainbow - they're your friends!

Twitter is a left wing echo chamber. Facebook I think depends on your friends. I've blocked far right & far left people in that.

" I don't want the fallout with people I care about, and partly because I'm sick and tired of seeing nothing but political posts from others on my own newsfeed" - yes agree with this completely.
My friends and views have various views and affiliations, some of which I massively disagree with, but I tend not to bother arguing for the sake of the relationship.

Facebook IS more right-leaning than Twitter, but they are both more left-leaning than the population at large, which is why, after the last election, so many people couldn't understand how the Tories had won a majority, as the perception in social media was that they were struggling.
There was an interesting chart on social media political trends - I'll see if I can find it...

No chicken general commentary on news stories.

All the Tory posters seem to be a bit dim and come out with insults and weak arguments. They all seem to buy into everything they read in the Mail/The Sun/Express.

anotherangryvoice.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/30-things-you-should-know-about-tory.html?m=1

Thing is that on Facebook you can control your 'universe' more only accepting friend requests from like-minded individuals and having privacy settings.

Twitter streams quickly become more of a slanging match as the idiot yobs pile in with their insults.

Mayhem - you've rather proved my point I'm afraid, by immediately sinking to broad brush insults and generalisations.

Haha yes! Thought we might at least get to page 2 first...

Interestingly Jng1 I posted on another thread about the reasons for voting for Conservative and got very little backlash... because it is very difficult for people to argue with some very positive policy and then they just look stupid resorting to the 'all Tory voters are dim' argument

I may 'like' the things I agree with in relation to politics on Facebook so those things may or may not appear on other friends feeds but I don't often share my own thoughts because as others have said I don't want the fallout with people I care about, especially those who I disagree with politically but then don't even bother to vote and make their voice heard when it actually counts.

I am a bit more vocal on Twitter, it seems less personal to say things on there than it does on Facebook but then I use them both for different reasons.

I wouldn't say either platform is especially right/left wing, surely it depends on who/what you follow and in the case of Twitter what hash tags you use, but there are idiots on both sides who like to dish out the insults.

chickenjalfrezi - to be fair, I think you CAN get more of a reasonable debate on MN than on other sites, but my heart just sinks when someone starts slinging around the insults or thinks that by posting 'FACT.' or 'END OF.' they are somehow intellectually superior!

I have a friend on Facebook whose views are opposite to my own and she has been 'liking' and sharing just about every post from her party. Some of it is fair criticism, some of it is complete garbage and fake news. I've resisted from commenting as I just haven't got the time or energy to enter the fray, but at the same time, I feel as if I'm letting 'my side' down a bit by not offering a counter argument?

It would be interesting to know how much of difference it really makes at the end of the day? There are certainly some people with a 'herd mentality' who will follow what they think is popular opinion, but there must be many, like me, who are completely turned off by the mud-slinging and personal attacks and it just serves to harden their resolve to never vote for that party, if that's the kind of people it serves? (And I'm talking about ALL parties here...)

I've blocked a few people on Facebook

I made the cardinal error of pointing out that something that the Canary said was bollocks. The hate was unbelievable.

Funnily enough, its not made me think I should be voting Labour!

No. Facebook is not the place for politics.

Only on Mumsnet. Its where I go to when I am desperate which our situation is now. If it wasn't for Brexit I wouldn't be voting Tory but Corbyn is a nightmare,

No more of a 'nightmare' than Theresa May surely.

What did you post?