I am not interested in politics ...

Kandinsky

*But I don't really get the connection between discussing / arguing / debating politics and living a crap life?*

Okay, maybe that was a bit of an exaggeration - but from my experience, people who spend a lot of time arguing politics - particularly online - seem very angry. They appear to
want an argument with literally anyone who’ll oblige. That in itself makes me think there’s unhappiness somewhere. I mean, politicians get paid to talk politics all day ( & even they take holidays ) but an ‘ordinary’ person who goes on & on about every twist & turn must be either bored stiff with nothing else to do, or very angry.
Some people are still moaning about Brexit for example - the referendum was years ago!

I sometimes get angry - when the effects of a particular government policy have affected my life negatively. Or when a politician says something that I find demeaning - or ridiculous. And that goes for both parties. But then, I feel strongly about issues that affect every day life... always have. That doesn't mean I'm a permanently angry person though.

As for Brexit, well for those of us who have been directly affected (me and my partner have) - the fact the referendum was years ago is slightly irrelevant. We are talking about the effect not the fact.

If the right can still blame Labour for the economic ills of the country (how long ago did they leave office?), I'm sure we can revisit Brexit. It's the biggest change to our economic way of life since the war, and according to some, the benefits might not be experienced for decades... but we're not supposed to talk about it?

Politics has always involved agitation, anger and heated discussion, for as long as I can remember, that's why it's a topic, along with religion, that is avoided at polite dinner parties! Which is fine. I know when to keep my mouth shut tight. But I'm not going to apologise for feeling passionate about political issues that are raised on a political and news forum.

Terribull ''I can't help feeling when reading the OP there is a subliminal, throwing down of the gauntlet preamble, maybe in the hope of turning the thread into a full blown confrontational bun fight.''

absolutely and 100% NOT, thanks.

Maw, no-one has ever told you what to think on GN, have they? Where?

"Very frustrating and annoying, for sure."

Ah! Now I know who you are were

Very frustrating and annoying, for sure. And ranting about it to friends and family, on GN or FB, Twitter or whatever, is totally understanding as an initial reaction
But what is that going to achieve? What are you going to achieve?

Actually FB and Twitter are both extremely effective when it comes to registering complaints because no organisation welcomes poor publicity.
A single tweet got a full refund of my daughters internet shopping order which Ocado had only delivered part of, a voucher towards a future shop, chocolates and a bouquet of flowers by way of an apology.
Oh and the full order delivered by breakfast time the next day.
Never underestimate social media.
A post on GN about ESA tribunals elicited an offer of help from a fellow member who regularly sits on these tribunals offering guidance on how best to word our appeal and in fact on whose advice our claim was upheld within minutes.
Never underestimate the experience, expertise, empathy and humanity of those on social media.
Taking it up with an MP or campaigning at the next election or expatiating on the shortcomings of the U.K. would have been infinitely less use. Think chocolate teapots.

ScrimpingBy

"Very frustrating and annoying, for sure."

Ah! Now I know who you are were

I agree that politics does affect everything, but some are much more aware, and opinionated. Sometimes it can be enlightening, sometimes tiresome.

We recently had a huge rock fall onto a road (car sized rock falling off a cliff). The only highway connecting our city to the rest of the world was closed for 24 hours while they removed the rock and did geologic assessments.

The first thing my DH said when he saw a photo of the rock, "well if the NDP party hadn't cancelled the highway upgrade project when they came into power in 2017,,,"

He has a good memory for these type of things, and good or bad, will sometimes remind others. I had completely forgotten about the planned upgrade that the Liberals had promised, before the New Democrates came into power provincially.

But I think sometimes there is a place and time to comment, or withhold comment. It can be very hard to judge, especially when someone is passionate and follows the news in detail.

“but you ought to be interested in”

This?

I’m in two minds about nationalisation. The trains were hardly a model of efficiency before privatisation - everyone moaned about them. As for water, dh worked in the water sector for several years - it had suffered badly from under-investment, insufficient upgrading of infrastructure, etc. for decades.

I dare say the same could be said for the railways.

I would welcome nationalisation if we could be sure that whatever it is would be run efficiently, and that any taxpayer money put into it was spent wisely, and not wasted.

It's not telling you what to say or think at all.

I totally agree that no-one should add 'politics' on any subject willy nilly. But if, on top of many aspects, it is also an important factor, then it makes sense. Denying that there is also a political aspect involved, just does not make sense. Well, to be fair, let's say that it does not make sense to ME at all.

Health issues, and even bereavement, can have aspects which are influenced by politics. Failure for the NHS to take sufficient or proper care, for instance. Or not having enough staff, or supervision, or the finance for the right treatment, or drugs. Etc, etc.

What you Ought to do is
You Should
You Must

Red rag to a Taurean ?

I'm not going to rant on here because it's pointless, it changes nothing but I am composing my next email to my MP. I'll let him settle into his new job first, I'm very kind.

MawtheMerrier

^Very frustrating and annoying, for sure. And ranting about it to friends and family, on GN or FB, Twitter or whatever, is totally understanding as an initial reaction^
But what is that going to achieve? What are you going to achieve?

Actually FB and Twitter are both extremely effective when it comes to registering complaints because no organisation welcomes poor publicity.
A single tweet got a full refund of my daughters internet shopping order which Ocado had only delivered part of, a voucher towards a future shop, chocolates and a bouquet of flowers by way of an apology.
Oh and the full order delivered by breakfast time the next day.
Never underestimate social media.
A post on GN about ESA tribunals elicited an offer of help from a fellow member who regularly sits on these tribunals offering guidance on how best to word our appeal and in fact on whose advice our claim was upheld within minutes.
Never underestimate the experience, expertise, empathy and humanity of those on social media.
Taking it up with an MP or campaigning at the next election or expatiating on the shortcomings of the U.K. would have been infinitely less use. Think chocolate teapots.

Yes, of course it social media can be part of this too. A refund on shopping is not really a political issue though, but a commercial + logistics one.

Getting a personal refund will not change the system per say. And as you say, as it is a commercial + logistics issue, very little to do with your MP at all.

Callistemon21

What you Ought to do is
You Should
You Must

Red rag to a Taurean ?

Red rag to most of us?

Yes, of course it social media can be part of this too. A refund on shopping is not really a political issue though, but a commercial + logistics one.

Exactly - so not political , not on the News and Politics forum and nothing to do with Brexit!
(A bit like the railway ticket thread)

Fleurpepper, thanks for your advice. DS is a 51 year old so quite capable of complaining about poor service. And our Tory MP has been brilliant.

As his concerned mother I would want to chunter to friends.

Yesterday 18:45 MawtheMerrier
Good post.

I find social media much more effective than writing to an MP every time, though I do both.
Tweet? The firm gets back to you promptly, even when they’re too busy to answer the phone.
Post on Facebook? Not so quick but if you do it often enough it does get an effect.

I also dislike being told what I should think or be interested in.

‘but you ought to be interested in”

This?

Depends what you’re writing about.

A letter to your MP about poor service in Sainsbury’s won’t get you anywhere. What would you expect her to do🤔

On the other hand, a letter to my MP about problems renewing my driving licence, got me not just a driving licence two days later but a telephone apology from the DVLA too.

True Lathyrus it depends what you’re writing about.
A letter to my MP complaining about the behaviour of a surgeon got a very tepid, non-commital response, whereas speaking to PALS brought an instant result.

kittylester

*Fleurpepper*, thanks for your advice. DS is a 51 year old so quite capable of complaining about poor service. And our Tory MP has been brilliant.

As his concerned mother I would want to chunter to friends.

It was just an example. If you want a refund or compensation- social media is great. If you (not 'you' /one) want to effect real changes to the system, then going the political route is certainly very important, on top of other means.

Let's take another example. Raw sewerage poured into our rivers and seas. Complaining on social media to raise awareness ti good, but it has to be combined with complaints to the Private Water Companies, and even more so to your MP, Party Leader, etc. Because the cause is commercial/financial, but Government Policy is ultimately responsible.

MawtheMerrier

^Yes, of course it social media can be part of this too. A refund on shopping is not really a political issue though, but a commercial + logistics one^.

Exactly - so not political , not on the News and Politics forum and nothing to do with Brexit!
(A bit like the railway ticket thread)

Did I say it was due to Brexit? Which part?

Public Transport, including Rail Services, is very much a political issue. It was a political decision to privatise and allow it to be split and dismantled. And it is Government Policy which allows Rail Companies to provide a terrible Service.

Mollygo

*Yesterday 18:45* MawtheMerrier
Good post.

I find social media much more effective than writing to an MP every time, though I do both.
Tweet? The firm gets back to you promptly, even when they’re too busy to answer the phone.
Post on Facebook? Not so quick but if you do it often enough it does get an effect.

I also dislike being told what I should think or be interested in.

‘but you ought to be interested in”

This?

Perhaps you should re-read the OP. Nowhere does it say 'you ought to be interested in' but that I am very surprised that anyone would not be. A very different thing.

''If you are not interested in politics, it must mean you are not interested in

NHS/healthcare
price and availaibility of vaccines, medicines, etc
social care
education
our country's stability and future
environment
transport
energy supplies
prices in general

and so so much more.''

ScrimpingBy

"Very frustrating and annoying, for sure."

Ah! Now I know who you are were

✔️

If you are not interested in politics, it must mean you are not interested in

NHS/healthcare
price and availaibility of vaccines, medicines, etc
social care
education
our country's stability and future
environment
transport
energy supplies
prices in general
and so so much more.''
Must it?
I have never said I am not interested in politics, indeed I take a great interest and an active part at local and national level.
If I choose not to discuss this on social media that is my prerogative.
There are too many vociferous contributors and extreme opinions on FB , Twitter etc and those who take no prisoners here on GN. I have every sympathy for those who do not engage in a political interpretation of threads which are perhaps personal or very little to do with the wider issues you refer to.
You can take a horse to water…..

You keep implying that not discussing politics on GN means not being interested.
You don’t discuss your personal health on GN. Does it mean you're not interested?

MawtheMerrier

There are too many vociferous contributors and extreme opinions on FB , Twitter etc

I've definitely found that to be true.

I gave up Twitter a while back.

What amazes me is that on FB you can make a thoughtful comment on an issue - one where you try not to deliberately offend or provoke but simply pose a question, and someone will jump on you, making all kinds of assumptions about your personal life and what kind of person they think you are! And you wonder what prompted it! There's no rationality to it. On one particular thread I was called both a 'leftie layabout' and a 'right-wing fascist'... I mean, I can hardly be both at the same time!

I have no idea what is going on in the minds of some FB posters - they seem like angry-birds just pecking around on posts to see what they can actively disagree with. I've learned now not to respond to personal insults, I either ignore them or simply reply with an exclamation mark. Engaging is an exercise in futility. Life's too short for such nonsense.