Are you too scared to post what you really think?

ferry23

"I would be scared to post an opinion that was racist, anti-semetic, homophobic, xenophobic etc, because it is against the law, and I would feel much less as a person."

That's an interesting comment Whitewavemark2. I hope I'm correct in assuming that it's maybe a bit badly worded?

It reads as if you DO have opinions that are racist, or anti semitic etc but you're scared to post them because it's illegal and you know it would show you in a bad light.

😀 what do you think?

Sometimes I end up overthinking my comments because on certain topics people who dislike as having a different situation to them will try to cause arguments and won't let me explain my meaning

As an autistic person this can be quite difficult because I don't always have the right words to express myself

But I'm quite patient so just keep plodding on lol

There are times in real life when I have had to hold my tongue and on here I have to keep my fingers off the keyboard.
I will type what I think as long as I feel I am being reasonable.

No I am not to scared but it is all about what you say and how you say it. Some people just like to find fault and end up having a spat. What bothers me most is how the subject of an original post ends up being changed into something completely different from what the OP was saying. For example when I first posted (about Mr J's health) inadvertently using the wrong Acronyms, I was jumped on from a great height and the post became all about that and not about the issue I was raising.

Thanks Primrose, and likewise. 😊

I’m not scared, but sometimes what I post is very different from how I would vocalise in a real life discussion, I’d be kicked off as well.

I'm an impulsive contributor to GN, I don't always think things out first before posting, and jump in and say straight off . Maybe I am viewed as being ridiculous, I don't know, but at least I'm never rude or encourage nasty spats.
I was accused of racism on a royal thread for calling Omid Scobie, Soobydo!!! 🤣 🤣
I tend to withdraw if things get unpleasant, so maybe a bit scared.

I think most of us "back off" some threads.

I'm aware of being careful what I say on GN. I don't like offending people.
It amazes me how outspoken some people are at times.
But also, I'm amazed at how the whole world seems to take offence so easily
these days.
Quite honestly, I just don't like conflict so I'd rather keep my thoughts to myself, often.

I think I have gone against the tide or righteousness so many times, that everyone knows that I have absolutely no fears at all about disagreeing with other people.

However i do try always to keep the disagreement to the issue being discussed and I try always to avoid casting any personal aspersions on the person who wrote the opinion I disagree with. Whether I am always successful I do not know because I have been amazed at the number of things people can take offence at or worse still be upset by. Things that it would never occur to me were either offensive or upsetting.

As GSM says often it is a case of not what you say but the way that you say it.

Given that we are old enough to be grandpaerents, although not all are, so have been knocking around the world for many decades, I would expect all but a very few to have coped with enough kicks and halfpence in life to be reasonable emotionally robist.

I'm not "too scared" to post what I really think, but whenever I want to post, I try to exercise some judgement and think carefully about what I'm writing. I completely avoid topics which one or two posters have monopolised, where they take verbal swipes at others and take offence easily.
Comments in some of the posts seem intolerant to me. I also think moderators should be quick to delete any posts which include hints of racism, homophobia etc.
I want to contribute to a site where people exchange viewpoints respectfully so no-one has to feel scared about posting or feel as though they're walking on eggshells.

Sometimes when I go through a thread it feels like a pack of wolves attacking the op

Whitewavemark2

ferry23

"I would be scared to post an opinion that was racist, anti-semetic, homophobic, xenophobic etc, because it is against the law, and I would feel much less as a person."

That's an interesting comment Whitewavemark2. I hope I'm correct in assuming that it's maybe a bit badly worded?

It reads as if you DO have opinions that are racist, or anti semitic etc but you're scared to post them because it's illegal and you know it would show you in a bad light.

😀 what do you think?

ferry23 that’s what I thought too, it was a very badly worded comment.
And while on here will just say well done for spelling anti semitic properly, it’s amazing how many write semetic.

No, am not afraid to say what I think on a subject but try to be careful in the way I express that view.

halfpint1

Sometimes when I go through a thread it feels like a pack of wolves attacking the op

Yeah, like the thread just yesterday.

I’m not scared, but I’ve mostly given up commenting on - or even reading - immigration threads because they are so full of misinformation and bigotry that they were taking up more headspace than something that’s just a diversionary place (for me) warrants.

Occasionally, of course, I wonder if I’m colluding by not bothering, but so far, I haven’t been concerned enough to change my mind.

No.

I attempted to remain polite and direct, however I know there are a large number of people who disagree on any topic, opinions vary. I'm not offended by random internet strangers.

I am generally a person who speaks their mind but I certainly watch what I say on here. Too many wet nellies.

No not at all.

No

but then I don't post very often. I was once accused of being the 'internet police' over a poster who just made up problems.

I love GB news and often get jumped upon from a great height by other posters, but I couldn’t care less…😜

Shinamae

I love GB news and often get jumped upon from a great height by other posters, but I couldn’t care less…😜

And they are probably people who have never watched it! 😝I give anything a chance before arriving at a decision.

If you think Gransnet is bad you should try Mumsnet. The most trivial of comments or even a word will find you on the ducking stool in a flash.

No I am not scared.
I think generally the policing of speech stops people thinking. Most issues are incredibly complex and the way people make sense of them is through language, often they will get that wrong. We learn through making mistakes. The dangers of constantly being policed or even worse policing your own language makes it very difficult for people to think. I am absolutely terrified of people who try to control language.

Galaxy
Not only that: it’s makes the discussion bland and boring.
You only have to look at the news and politics threads to see how little traffic they attract.