Are you too scared to post what you really think?

undines

Yes, definitely. And posters on here who talk about 'anti-semitic, racist, xenophobic, ridiculous, blatantly evidenced untruths' are the ones who worry me the most! What exactly is 'anti-semitic' or 'racist'? Those words are often interpreted to mean saying anything at all against the behaviour of Israel, or saying practically anything at all about black or brown people, that isn't totally complimentary (although you can say what you like about the Irish!). As for 'blatantly evidenced untruths' - whose evidence do we believe? And use of the word 'ridiculous' to apply to someone's opinion is highly judgemental. We have effective censorship now, debate is shut down on several topics and giving 'offence' can get you cancelled. I am definitely afraid of saying what I think, because I agree with the poster who says there are bullies on GN. There are bullies everywhere, of course, and I guess I'm not that bothered - but there's no point in voicing an opinion if there isn't going to be calm and sensible debate.

👏👏👏 I could have written that myself! There are a couple of people on here who do everything they can to shut down debate and call you a racist or say you lack compassion.

I know I am neither of these things so it’s like water off a duck’s back to me. I worked very closely with Ugandan Asians in the 70s when Idi Amin threw them out. I went into schools, I interviewed them for jobs, I visited their homes, went to their family celebrations etc.

More recently I have been helping out a Ukrainian family (so I do not lack compassion) but now my view is we need controlled immigration and we should really sort out the problem with illegal immigrants but if I say so on here I am a racist! 😝

Some people just like to feel superior to others but as I have discovered IRL most of them are all mouth and no action.

No not really. If you've got something to say then say it. There are always going to be people who don't like or agree with comments. It would be a boring world if there wasn't

My current favourite new word is phubbing …… phone snubbing 😊

nanna8

I think so many responses on this thread says it all. Quite often I hold back from saying what I really think. I tell myself it is cultural differences and a different way of living . Sometimes I just think to myself I can’t be bothered arguing , what’s the point?

I'm sure we all do that, though. Sometimes there really is no point, and that's fair enough, really.

"sheeple". A noun, in the OED, meaning "people who copy what other people do or believe what they are told and do not think for themselves".
Just a shorter way of saying all that really!

Yes, I can work out that that's what it means in a literal sense, but not what it means when someone copies it in a post. 'Sheeple who voted for Brexit, or who get vaccinated against Covid, or who believe Starmer's promises' means nothing, but I've seen the term used to describe those who do all those things.

It is a word used by people who copy terms from social media, and CBA to think about the various possible reasons for different people doing the same thing. If anything, those who use terms like that, (ie unoriginal and vague) are behaving like 'sheeple'.

My opinion is as valid as someone of the opposite.

You mention your blood pressure Doodledog - mine goes sky high each time I press “post message”.

Here goes….

ginny

Yes, quite often.
Probably right to think that way too. A few days ago a post of mine was reported and deleted. Nothing controversial, contentious or nasty and some other posters seemed to agree with me.

Me too @ginny

I think the thought police are strong with this and mumsnet platforms!

I think so many responses on this thread says it all. Quite often I hold back from saying what I really think. I tell myself it is cultural differences and a different way of living . Sometimes I just think to myself I can’t be bothered arguing , what’s the point?

I just posted what I really think on another thread. Just as an experiment really. Normally I would just scroll on past and keep my views to myself.

No never!

Freya5

GrannyGravy13

Livey

aggie

I’m too polite to tell some idiots where to go , but generally not afraid !

I second that !
🙈

I third that 🙈🙉🙊

That is charming. What qualifies you to call people "idiot"?
No wonder some people are afraid to say what they think .

Pot, kettle springs to mind, you were calling Marcus Wareing a clown only the other day!

GrannyGravy13

Livey

aggie

I’m too polite to tell some idiots where to go , but generally not afraid !

I second that !
🙈

I third that 🙈🙉🙊

That is charming. What qualifies you to call people "idiot"?
No wonder some people are afraid to say what they think .

Doodledog

I don't want to control language, but I really despair at tabloid cliches being used to sum up complex thoughts, and back off threads where they are in most posts. 'Remoaners', 'fall off a cliff', 'on its knees' - there are so many, and they go back and forth with none of the detail in the topic being discussed.

It's not that I'm scared to post, but there is no point in joining in, as I'd be constantly asking 'what does 'sheeple' mean?', or 'what will the impact on x be if the economy falls off a cliff' - is that better than it being on its knees?'. It's impossible to discuss anything like that, and I would sound pompous, so I just go and do something else instead - it's better for my blood pressure .

"sheeple". A noun, in the OED, meaning "people who copy what other people do or believe what they are told and do not think for themselves".
Just a shorter way of saying all that really!

Livey

aggie

I’m too polite to tell some idiots where to go , but generally not afraid !

I second that !
🙈

I third that 🙈🙉🙊

Yes, definitely. And posters on here who talk about 'anti-semitic, racist, xenophobic, ridiculous, blatantly evidenced untruths' are the ones who worry me the most! What exactly is 'anti-semitic' or 'racist'? Those words are often interpreted to mean saying anything at all against the behaviour of Israel, or saying practically anything at all about black or brown people, that isn't totally complimentary (although you can say what you like about the Irish!). As for 'blatantly evidenced untruths' - whose evidence do we believe? And use of the word 'ridiculous' to apply to someone's opinion is highly judgemental. We have effective censorship now, debate is shut down on several topics and giving 'offence' can get you cancelled. I am definitely afraid of saying what I think, because I agree with the poster who says there are bullies on GN. There are bullies everywhere, of course, and I guess I'm not that bothered - but there's no point in voicing an opinion if there isn't going to be calm and sensible debate.

There are ways of getting your opinion and point across without being offensive. Some people are just thoughtless and insensitive to other people's feelings. Words do not have to be a blunt instrument. Yes, we should definitely be able to be true to our own opinions.

I stay on GN as, to me being alone all day and only my dog to talk to, I can have discussions/ arguments with all/any subjects discussed - just me and my dog!! As has been said, there are posters more knowledgeable than many of us, many who have very strong views that may differ, however with just my dog to take offence, I prefer to burn her ears if I feel a heated response about to erupt!! I find the interaction and differing points of view interesting but if I post it is rarely in an argumentative way. Much can be learned from all points of view expressed each day.

Juicylucy

Oh for sure everything is so PC these days. Not allowed to have opinions especially if they don’t fit the narrative.

Oh dear -

I decided quite a while ago never to post on GN again. I had some pretty nasty replies to a couple of things I had written, which, after the fact, I realised had hurt me a great deal, but I also realised that those people knew absolutely nothing about me or my personal life, so their opinions were mean and biased without knowledge or reason, but I guess that’s what you get if you post on a forum like this, and as I said, I have learned my lesson and will never ask for opinions again.
At that time, I had a couple of personal messages from members saying that they felt some people had been quite cruel in their responses, but that there are those on here who regularly do that, so I shouldn’t take it to heart.
One of the issues I had raised, has since been resolved, and I now realise how lucky I am that my circumstances are such that my actions regarding a family member, have actually been greatly appreciated, and I am more fortunate than I thought in having such a lovely relationship with that person. At the end of the day, I know myself and them better than anyone on here does, so I shouldn’t have doubted, or asked those who know neither of us.
I would never, ever, reply to a post in what might be construed as a tactless or hurtful way…we are all supposed to support each other surely, rather than put someone with worries down.

We are all entitled to our opinions; at the moment free speech is not a crime! I think as a society we are becoming far less tolerant, whilst being told to be more tolerant! A strange juxtaposition which smacks to me of Orwellian ‘right think’. I am not afraid to express my opinions here or anywhere else but do tend to tone them down a little on GN for fear of being misunderstood or misinterpreted. I think it is regrettable that the art of debate is somewhat neglected in schools. I was an enthusiastic member of my school debating society where I was often given a position to debate with which I heartily disagreed but had to put forward anyway. It certainly gave me an insight into considering both sides of a proposition. I still do try to see both (or many!) facets of a conversation and often end up internally arguing with myself!

aggie

I’m too polite to tell some idiots where to go , but generally not afraid !

I second that !
🙈

Oh for sure everything is so PC these days. Not allowed to have opinions especially if they don’t fit the narrative.

I hate these threads, they just make me feel paranoid

SeverL ways of looking at this.
1. If you can’t stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen!
2. It’s understandable that there are many different opinions on every subject that could be discussed on this forum. We’re all at different chapters of our lives. We have all had widely differing life experiences. We all choose to live in different ways.
Surely. we should be able to listen to other peoples opinions without trying to force or opinion on to them. Equally, we should be able to express our opinions without being belittled.