Avoiding politics

How can anyone 'not be interested in politics'? It is about our future and our children's future. If you are not interested in politics you are going to get an awful shock when it all goes pear-shaped and it is too late to do anything about it. I despair of people sometimes.

Blueskies, were you a member of a U3A current affairs group and subsequently asked to leave, or were you not allowed to join?
I belong to a current affairs group and there is a U3A member who has tried several times to join, and has been rejected, because apparently he 'has been overheard making racist remarks.' I do not know who this person is or the nature of his alleged remarks, and it concerns me as a form of discrimination based on hearsay.

I believe the group leader has the say on who may join, but normally that is down to numbers in over-subscribed groups.

'I would suggest that they know very well which national party should take most of the blame!'
Once again, Varian, you have missed the point.
The local elections are about local councils, councillors, and local issues, and canvassers want to find out and discuss, these issues: housing, benefits, school places, building targets, street lights, potholes and transport are the issues where I live. For once, Brexit is a side issue.

I’m in agreement with many of you.
I’ve always had an interest in politics, have always voted, and often helped on the day
However, I am now totally disillusioned by the state of British Politics, I will never vote conservative again, they disgust me, and I see no alternative at the moment.
I no longer even want to talk about it, sick to death of Brexit, and ashamed of the dreadful mess we’ve made of it all

I'm interested, but I don't want to talk about it socially. I have been known to ban the B word from a gathering at our house. Brexit fatigue is spot on.

We are off to visit a close friend in Stockholm soon and I'd bet anything that at least some of her friends/family (some of whom we know) will be asking what we think about Brexit - same happened in Amsterdam some months ago -from total strangers inc. a taxi driver.

So I'm going to be ready to say I absolutely don't want to hear the wretched B word at all.

blueskies, that's appalling. I presume you were stating your views calmly, not hectoring the group members.
That 'current affairs' group can't be very interesting, imo.

On Thursday 2 May, voters will head to polling stations across England for local elections.

There are 8,425 seats up for grabs in a total of 248 councils, including metropolitan, district and unitary authorities.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47961144

These elections are not supposed to be about brexit but may still result in revealing information about support for the different parties.

People have huge brexit fatigue even politicians. We have just come through months of being on the edge of not knowing what was going to happen to us. Expecting to have the plug pulled on us three weeks ago but were saved until October.
People power has had a huge influence when votes were not being offered, the marches,, petitions, the sharing of facts that were being hidden by our major broadcasters. It has been exhausting for the millions of Brits who never had an interest in politics before, especcially the youth who have emerged as the most politically sophisticated of their generation ever.
Now we have a vote, the EU election, and the British political scene has changed, new parties, others maybe disappearing.
I don't know many now not interested in talking politics as we have a huge threat on our future. But most are very tired, need a rest after months of anguish. But it will all start again soon.

Thanks Tilly for understanding, so often it feels as if no one is listening?

I do hate it when people 'interpret' what I write, if they would just read the words it would be so much easier all round. I have even been told I am very right wing when I have no political allegiance at all and vote according to my conscience on each occasion.

Why do people feel the need to attack?

Blueskies, I have been a U3A group leader and I did not know I could exclude a member!

If he indeed can do so his power is restricted to that group. I hope that I may apologise on behalf of the U3A and confirm that the group in question is not one I would want to leave my sofa for.

Alexa yes it is a U3A Group. When I forwarded the email excluding me from the current affairs group to the co ordinater she also suggested I start my own group! The leader of the group made the decision on his own. I have no idea if other members are aware of his decision as I have no way of contacting them. I’ve been a member of U3A for many years and this is the first time this has happened. I’ve been told oh well he is a volunteer. A volunteer with the power to suppress ideas etc. What can I do? I run other groups outside of U3A and have never excluded a member.

It seems that, in the present state of chaos, even people standing for election want to avoid talking about politics.

We have just received a message from the Conservative candidates in our local Council elections on 2nd May.

They tell us that "The national issues of the day are above our pay grade and no national party is entirely blameless in the current Brexit debacle so we shall not be discussing this on doorsteps"

I would suggest that they know very well which national party should take most of the blame!

Alexa I couldn't agree more. I actually go on a forum where they are very right wing (very - followers of Tommy Robinson, etc) and very pro Brexit and it has been eye opening - the opposite of my views generally. I still find it difficult to understand why they think the way they do but they are those real people who will talk to you as if you must agree or you are not truly British, patriotic, etc. They don't like what I have to say and try to censor my posts but I keep on trying to learn from them and, hopefully pass on another point of view. (Someone might be reading with an open mind)

It has to be said I have found that the extreme left can be just as intransigent and defensive of their views but are generally more prepared to share knowledge and, just about, allow me to have my say too - but I do recognise that might be the inbuilt bias that we all share

Varian specialises in information not preaching.

Possibly, Alexa, but my choice is to read everything, absorb, mull over, form my own views and keep it to myself.

Sparklefizz, discussion with other people helps me to form my opinions. I ask that I am listened to and that others let me listen to them.

The downside of discussions is that matters of life or death become banal if they are discussed in groups like Gransnet.

Varian specialises in information not preaching.

Very Scottish Alexa - I had to look it up

Eazybee are you a moderator? Or are just self appointed; the one who reprimands others on the board? Patronising and insulting - wouldn't that apply to your post. I should leave the moderating to the moderators. You halo showing you believe you are "better than" others had just got very rusty.

Varian, please continue to inform grans despite those who have tender egos.

Blueskies, if you are referring to U3A ; the group to which I am due to present a topic next month welcomed dissent which arose immediately when I outlined my thesis at this month's meeting. Maybe you should start your own better informed group that welcome those who are not old sweetie-wives.

I never discuss politics or religion, not with parents, husbands or adult children. I have my own views, I read all sides of the arguments but I don't share my views. Like most people, I don't like being preached at or nagged, especially on here!

I always vote because, as Alexa says, my ancestors suffered so that I could do so and it's a matter of moral principle...... but sharing with the world what or who I vote for?? No.

It depends what you mean by politics, Varian. Me, I find the logistics of party politics too confusing. Brexit confuses me.

I always vote if only as a matter of the moral principle that my ancestors suffered so I could do so. Besides that important moral principle I vote on issues, not party.

The most urgent issue is not Brexit but global oil /climate disaster.

Nice try Varian.

If this is a genuine question, you will find the answer by reading your previous posts; far too many of your comments are patronising and occasionally insulting: one I particularly remember was a slighting reference to someone as seeming far too well educated to be a Daily Mail reader.

Does it ever occur to you that occasionally you might be the one with the closed mind?

I was taught by my Dad to never discuss polotics or religion, your opinions on both are private to you. I never knew who my parents voted for and don't know who my husband votes for and visa versa.

I don't know why anyone would assume that those who choose not to discuss politics on GN do so because they are uninterested in politics .

I am one of many here for whom Beckett and others speak. I dislike 'know-it-alls' bombarding me with information, because of some misguided assumption that I need to learn . And I intensely dislike being lectured.

Ergo, I keep away from the political threads.

Not interested and never have been mainly because I don't understand any of it. One side says something I agree with then the other contradicts and I then agree with that so I just opted out years ago!

I am very much into politics and have strong views. I haven't shared them much on here though.

I have been actively involved in the background re Brexit and I have also managed to appropriately explain as best as I can about it all to those its worth having s conversation with who voted Brexit.

I will say I am #HardRemain so we need not take that part of the convo any further. Needless to say I have been part of changing peoples mind too.

Alot of action going on behind the scenes too