What gives anyone the right to 'knock' a newspaper?

Iam64 (me too btw)... this:

'I like to keep up with current affairs and political debate but I find the way in which political threads in particular, so quickly seem to become dominated by a simplistic left - right row dispiriting'.

is just how I feel. I suppose it depends on the reason/s for choosing to be on GN. For some it is about looking for friends, or support, or a good chinwag- and that is fine. For me though, being passionate about England, where a large part of my heart will always be, and where we may well return full time at a later stage- because of our grandchildren, DDs and family and friends who are still there, because we visit so often and are lucky to still have property there- keeping up with current affairs there is hugely important. We watch UK TV, news, documentaries, Newsnight, etc- but I though talking to people there about any concerns which are becoming evident in the UK, like immigration, the NHS, education and welfare- would really help. But as you say, this simplisitc left -right (which is sadly so dominant in UK politics due to the First Past the Post system) is indeed dispiriting.

Which is why, again, I will give GN a very good rest- some of you will de delighted to hear.

If nobody has the right not to be criticised, should that also mean that everyone has the right for their opinion to be respected and not sneered at?

No, it doesn't mean that, cees. It means everyone has a right to express their opinion and to criticise the opinions of other people.

As usual people are interpreting criticism of an opinion as criticism of a person. The two things are not the same.

Saying "you are stupid for holding that opinion" is criticism of a person.

Saying "I think that opinion is stupid" is not criticism of a person. It's not awfully polite either, but it's not criticism of a person because the one saying it would think the opinion stupid whoever said it.

My husband holds some opinions that I think are stupid. I don't think he is stupid (far from it!); I just don't agree with him on certain subjects.

Okay then, how about "You would say that, you read the Daily Mail/Express/Guardian" ? Is that sneering at the person or their choice of paper? Not being argumentative, just really interested in how different people perceive things.

And, wouldn't it be extremely judgmental to say that?

I read the Dm and the Times but I'm actually quite a nice person despite that!

Or perhaps because of that kittylester?

I wouldn't go quite that far roseq

My Dfil took the Times and the Telegraph in the week and the News of the World and the People at the weekend. Don't know if the latter two are still going but Dfil was an extremely clever scholarly man. I don't think it matters a jot what paper you read as long as you read it with your brain in gear.

I don't go on Mumsnet much but, having looked at it briefly this morning, it seems to me that there are some equally snippy posts that easily match the ones we get on here.

A politics thread is bound to contain some forthright opinion, though personal sniping is not very nice. I have occasionally found some posts - and some comments that I perceive to be directed at me - annoying but that certainly wouldn't stop me posting.

In my opinion, what is more of an issue is the occasional hyper-critical remarks made on threads where people are voicing particular personal concerns which are causing them anxiety and sadness.

Okay then, how about "You would say that, you read the Daily Mail/Express/Guardian" ? Is that sneering at the person or their choice of paper? Not being argumentative, just really interested in how different people perceive things.

Yes, cees, that would be sneering becuase it is directed at what the person does (reads paper A or B), not what the newspaper says on the subject under discussion.

And as kitty says, it would be judgmental.

Because it is making all sorts of assumptions, based on the assumer's own prejudices, about people who read paper A or B. That's like assuming that all church-goers are fundamentalist religiacs, or something equally ridiculous.

Thatbags......nothing to do with the subject, but should you now change your user name to that05pbags?

?

Thank you Bags

I think Roses is alluding to the 5p charge for supermarket bags, Bags.

Well put Thatbags.
Stirring things up a bit - I read a link to the DM about a topic that interests me - a new book by Damien Lewis (not the handsome actor) about a brave action by the SAS in WW2 in occupied France.
So they do include some decent stuff.
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3268827/Nazi-Hunters-SAS-tracked-SS-monsters-killed-comrades.html

Yes Jane, I was Just watching something on tv about 5p for bags at the time I was typing on here, sorry if that wasn't obvious thatbags

It's big news here, I forget you are in Scotland so are used to the charge by now.