Far right v far left

[Icanthinkformyselfthanks]

The description ‘ far right’ is banded about quite a bit these days; less so ‘far left’. So I was wondering what do those phrases mean to you?
What in your opinion makes someone far right or far left?

It’s good to learn from other people and read differing opinions and examples. Don’t answer if it’s too much trouble. We all start somewhere. No-one should be made to feel stupid for trying to learn about politics.

@Cloudberry24

Must be awful for you when read about the Dunkirk spirit and all the brave men and women that set off in their little ships.

I'm happy to have a conversation with someone about politics if they ask in good faith.

My great-grandfather and several other men in my family of that generation plus several female family members (WRNS) were in those brave little boats fighting the Nazis, so yes, it’s awful to hear that Reform campaigners actively want refugees to be used as “target practice.”

I'm not surprised. My neighbour, who incidentally was a former die hard Labour voter and voted remain, met his new found hero Nigel Farage in a closed evening situation. Nig talked about using the navy to sink the refuge boats - now that is, of course, allegedly as only on one person's say so. However I believe it. I also have many family members who have voted Reform and even some members among them. They would be horrified by the idea of sinking refugee boats. This is the problem of where we are. Labelling my family members as abhorrent/far right because they have real concerns about immigration that they feel are not taken seriously by the big 2 parties is wrong. However, it is clear to me at least that Remain carries both the worst of the right along with ordinary right wing people. In this respect, exactly how Trump won.

On the point of another poster, if cultural far right is racism/islamophobic what does the culture of the far left look like?

You must remember those same family members may well have later manned the numerous bunkers on the south coast with the intention of shooting up any invading boats crossing the channel (German Codename: Operation Sealion).

@Cloudberry24 , I CAN think for myself but I cannot know how you and others think which is what interested me.
Why such a hostile response to a quite reasonable question?

@OriginalUsername2 , indeed when I’ve had honest responses I have learned to understand a bit better. I’ve been struck though by the guardedness of so many who seem very reluctant to be clear about their opinions despite feeling moved to comment. 🤷🏼‍♀️

@Maitri108 , how rude and ignorant that comment is.

Now now, don't be a snowflake. Any update on the AfD or rise of the far right in Europe? Austria, France, Germany, the Netherlands etc Are they far right parties according to the definition you haven't proferred?

It was a war against fascists who were invading other European countries. They either joined up or were conscripted. There is no comparison with advocating “target practice” on people fleeing war zones in 2025.

I have never voted for either actually and please don't call me a specimen. It's extremely contemptuous, arrogant and dismissive.

But then as a left wing remainer convinced of your own moral and intellectual superiority you are, aren't you?

Trying unsuccessfully to sell copies of the Morning Star, as far as I know.

@Maitri108 , I didn’t suggest you had no right to be rude and ignorant; you absolutely do. As to your deflective question as I have said earlier in this thread my knowledge of politics elsewhere in Europe is not sufficiently developed to comment.

@Cloudberry24 , I hope we can all agree that using people as target practice is reprehensible and unforgivable. Any party who supports one of its MPs saying such awful things does not deserve support.

@PorridgeOatsSuck On the point of another poster, if cultural far right is racism/islamophobic what does the culture of the far left look like?

That's an interesting question. The idea of left wing culture goes back to the sixties and seventies with the sexual revolution, liberal attitudes to drugs, "dropping out" and not feeling tied to a conservative job-focused lifestyle etc.

As far as I can tell, there isn't a very clear idea about what "far left" means culturally, beyond all that, in the way that there is for "far right". I suppose some people use it where those attitudes of social change are perceived to have been taken to excess: trans rights activism for example, or queer theory in universities. But in reality there isn't really much overlap between naive or extreme attitudes to culture war issues like that and belief in left wing economics. You're more likely to find TWAW warriors among the liberal centre-left than among communists, in my experience.

I'm just pointing out that the base premise on this particular point in British history can, and is, spun in a particularly powerful way by all sides to legitimise their position, to the far left and to the far right (and pretty much everything in between).

That's not what being a snowflake means. It means don't be so sensitive.

You wanted a discussion on the far right yet haven't given your own view on what far right or far left means. You also don't seem to want to learn anything about it.

I've brought up the rise of the far right in Europe and the States but you're not interested enough to do a quick search and find out anything about it.

Why start a thread if you're not interested?

if it's any consolation Labour councillor Ricky Jones was videoed on a counter-demonstration saying 'they are disgusting Nazi fascists and we need to cut all their throats and get rid of them.'

So I guess that kind of evens things up.

He was a campaigner - as far as I know he isn’t an MP. I’m astonished that Nigel Farage has the gall to accept his MP salary and expenses when he spends virtually no time in his very deprived constituency. Just as George Galloway spent very little time in his deprived constituencies.

The CPS has agreed to charge Ricky Jones with inciting violent disorder. I hope he goes to prison. Andrew Parker has called himself a "total fool" and said he has learned his lesson. No charges were brought.
My interest in conversing with you is at an end.

@Maitri108 , oh I am interested but my life has intervened. I will continue to review.

Cool. I'll hang around and wait to see what your view is on the rise in the far right. I'm interested in your opinion.

OK, but presumably you don't mind discussing British politics? I asked earlier in response to a comment of yours

OP, what 'traditional conservative values' do you feel the current or recent Tories have thrown under the bus?

as that's what you said they'd done. Would be interested to know what you have in mind.

@ViciousCurrentBun , I really appreciate your response, not sure how I feel about it but still.