How judgmental are you?

I never buy a newspaper x

I am quite sad about the disruptive effect of this thread. Luckily we still have some light-hearted ones where we can all get along together. I've already said that I don't judge anyone on the basis of the paper they read, even though I may abhor its editorial attitudes. Similarly I don't expect to be denigrated for being a Guardian reader. I can sort the wheat from the chaff in that and any other newspaper. There's a lot more to me than the label 'Guardian reader' as there is a lot more to anyone who happens to enjoy the DM. Either of these is a lazy way of categorising someone.

I have to say I never thought of you for one minute as a "stereotype", Nellie. I have always read your contributions with interest because you talk about things that many of us have never experienced. I have always admired your courage and honesty in describing the very difficult situation that you have to deal with.
I am very glad that posting on here has helped you as it has helped me on numerous occasions.
I will say it once more and then I will shut up (honest). I would never dream of judging anyone because of the way they vote or the paper they read or the choices they have made. I don't / can't know the whole person and it is none of my business anyway.
I will continue to express my views as eloquently as I can, especially on subjects about which I am passionate. They in no way constitute an attack on anyone else.

mamie I'm scared of being judged!

Was just posting a message when my broadband went on the blink - apparently Virgin is making 'improvements'. What I wanted to say was - nellie, you are not a stereotype. You are unique and we all love you. x x x

I'm certainly not prejudiced against D M readers, if fact one of my best friends is one (eek)

Fine, Alison. Love the North, love the South; have lived in both. Love England, love France; have lived in both. After 62 years on the planet, I think people are people wherever you live.
Why don't you want to tell us what you are reading?

Sorry, Kitty - I can see judgemental attitudes against the DM as a paper, but I cannot see anything that is judgemental about people who read the DM or anywhere that people have suggested that reading the DM defines people as some kind of stereotype.
Actually, I do feel a bit that some people have judged me because I said that I detest the DM, but I am happy that they should do that.
I think people sneer at Guardian readers or Guardianistas in all sorts of media, but I know that although the Guardian is my paper of choice, I frequently disagree with it (especially about education) and it in no way defines me as a person. At the end of the day, I know what I believe in and I don't really mind what other people think.

Can we change the subject now? How about the north/south judgements/prejudices for a change? How do others who have lived in both feel?

PS I don't read a daily paper, read one Sunday (but don't dare tell you which) and our local and I also don't dare say what I have been doing today or what I am reading!!!!

Mamie this thread demonstrates quite well the prejudice some people have against readers of the Daily Mail.

My point is that I read the DM and conform to some of the stereotypes that implies BUT that isn't all that defines me, nor anyone else regardless of their reading choices. I am a mish mash of different experiences, as are we all, and it is wrong to judge people on just one superficial part of their being. As nellie put so well!

Todays news, tomorrows fish and chip paper!

I read the DM online and take half of it with a pinch of salt.

I am who I am, not defined by what I read (War and Peace anyone?)

Nellie see you at Lil's xx

littlenellie you can debate and you do!

Thank you all

Littlenellie, just want to say that I think your post is one of the most refreshingly honest I have ever read. You sound great.

Kitty, please tell me where anyone has judged anyone just because they read the Daily Mail.
I read (online) the Mail, the Telegraph, the Guardian, the Independent and the New Statesman. I often read the New Statesman's 10 best articles of the day, which are from papers right across the political spectrum. I don't read the Times or the Sun, because I would never give Rupert Murdoch any money (and don't / wouldn't have Sky for the same reason.) The only physical paper I read is the Ouest France.
I absolutely agree with absentgrana's post.

moomin you and me too

I read papers online but don't favour one more than the other, just pick articles that catch my eye. As green said should we be judged because we dont buy a certain newspaper.

nellie the saying 'you should not judge a book by its cover' comes to mind all the way through this thread.

Littlenell - A very special post.

The wonderful thing about Gransnet is as nellie says, we can all appear reasonably annonymous (should we wish to) which gives the advantage of being less likely "judgemental" of each other on a "class" level.

I don't take a daily paper regularly, although I quite enjoy certain sections of The Sunday Times to relax with over coffee, but at the same time regretting supporting the Murdoch empire. I have the read the DM in the past quite a few years ago but went off it, however sometimes read it online.

As far as prejudices are concerned, I certainly feel I have them about one or two things, but when I start to consider these in detail, I find I start to waver in my feelings. As with reading threads and postings on Gransnet, sometimes I am tempted to comment, but then start to see an opposing view, and step back.

Am I confused or what

Brilliantly put Nellie and I love you for being you and for being honest. I think you have illustrated the point well.

I had thought about starting another thread headed 'My name is Kitty and I read the Daily Mail' because, while that is one part of me, there are lots of other bits of me that are at odds with being a sterotypical DM reader. We also have The Times (I know, I know) and two local papers but I mostly get my news from the BBC, either the News Channel or 5Live.

Whilst now voting Tory (there's a surprise!) I was a founder member of our local SDP but left after being villified for sending our children to independent schools, by other members, who simply moved house to be in a better catchment area!

I have never really worked since having the children (apart from as emergency dental nurse/receptionist or bookkeeper) but I have volunteered extensively and still do. I am aware that there are people much worse off than myself, I count my blessings and try to do as much as possible to help others, be they family, friends, neighbours or the wider community

We are comfortably off but that doesn't mean that we have not had to deal with similar events to those experienced by people who read a different paper! Each of us has a cross to bear and some of us have much bigger crosses than others. It seems incredibly judgmental to assume that because someone reads a particular paper they are in someway not worthy.

It seems to be politically incorrect at the moment to be slightly to the right of centre.

Why

The Daily Mail is a red herring (as well as a newspaper).

The judgemental thing has come about almost by accident. In an attempt to ensure tolerance of different views, beliefs, faiths, cultures and so on – all very worthwhile – it seems that it has become politically correct never to criticise or judge anything or anyone. This is wrong in every way. For example, it may well be one of the reasons why it has taken so long for the issue of forced marriages to be tackled seriously, although such actions are considered unacceptable in our society. Prejudice, on the other hand is unreasoned and biased judgement and has no place in our society.

I used to have the telegraph, mainly for the crossword. I don't bother now and wouldn't have time anyway.
Perhaps it's time I retired?
Anyway off to work, see you all later.

petallus, I have similar feelings about the Guardian. Was brought up on it in a household where the Daily Telegraph was not even allowed to cross the threshold and liked it a lot. But, yes, smug and a bit too much insidious lecturing about how one ought to live. Indie likewise. I still read both and sometimes find good, well-written articles. But I also find those in the DT and, even, once or twice, in the DM. The Sunday papers, last time I looked, were all nauseating in their upfront 'trendiness'.

Littlenellie, well said, and I'm with you there. I may be judged because I don't read a newspaper, but listen to news on radio or watch it on television. The paper that my partner buys is a local one and apparently mainly unbiased. I went through a phase of reading all types of newspapers, but then decided that they 'swung' one way or another, and I wanted to make my own mind up how I saw things. We will only be told what the media want us to know, in whatever form. In saying that, I'm making my own judgement.

nellie and hugs. Thank you for being you. xx

I if I read a newspaper read the sun,live in a council house,am on benefits,have had a basic education,only had a job not a career,live with my partner ...or lover 20 years my junior,and my granddaughter of mixed parentage and a teenage unmarried mum with tattoos whose father is a convicted criminal,paranoid schizophrenic,and an unemployed son sleeping on my sofa,who used to take drugs and drink Stella......but when I have spoken with you all I haven't given all of this information...I have been accepted as being nellie ...who is if she makes a gaffe still accepted......I have never learned to debate and listen to the news for information.....not really sure what I am saying here but I am a stereotype that you have got to know because of who I am and not what I read or how I live.....