Reluctant to join the discussion.

A simple guide to the 'lay of the land' Chew is that there is a group of poster (sic) furious over Brexit, Trump and Britain's 'failure' to take in even more boat people; some of these like to chat about politics only to those who share their views or at least similar ones. They hate to be challenged

Well that would appear to put the lid on any discussion about current affairs .
If one is saddened by Brexit or fearful about Trump, clearly Mair thinks one should only share those views with like-minded people. (The "boat people" reference just comes across as dismissive )
Clearly there are many who have strong feelings as it should be but most of us can debate and discuss without sinking to the level of ad hominem attacks or cheap jibes.
I don't see it as a homogeneous group, as many agree on some issues but disagree on others.
(Opinions on Farage and UKIP tend to be fairly universal however )

We have just the one of those cutesy plaques in our house. Warning, retired person on the premises. Knows it all and plenty of time to tell it. Sums it up for me really

I've occasionally put a toe in the water of a political thread. I've been dragged in, chewed up and spat out on the bank. Life's too short.

Yes, political threads under Gransnet Cafe could work for some. The way to go?

I stay off the political threads now. A lot of the time it comes down to semantics. If you do not weigh every single word before you hit the post button, there will always be someone, as I have found, who will take great delight in pinning you to the wall like a butterfly and pulling your wings off. Life is too short. I live with a man with strong political views which he airs at every opportunity. Gransnet is my escape from that.

Perhaps this thread ought to have come under the all singing all dancing Gransnet Cafe?

I don't understand 'lefties always out themselves'. I would say I'm well to the left of most on GN - I'm a member of the Labour Party and treasurer of our local branch; I voted twice for Jeremy Corbyn as leader (but probably won't again); I voted remain and am still very angry about the result. However, I don't think I've every been nasty or dismissive about anyone else's opinion and have tried (often unsuccessfully) to have adult discussions. I also have avoided many threads because no matter how they begin, the same GNetters arrive and the same comments start flying around - as it has here.

I sometimes have a look at the political threads , they always seem to descend into personal and often sarcastic attacks on other posters . I would like to join in but am put off , maybe I am too sensitive

I think some topics are always going to exercise people, obviously politics and religion. I would not like to see an end to robust discussion on GN even though I am not a political animal. Sometimes posters descend into personal attacks and this is a shame but there is usually someone who defends as well.
Don't let GN become tea and sympathy only, there is room for all topics.

And less of the clichés and labels please grannypiper - that 'saying' you quoted is meaningless.

It's not just on GN though is it? If you have strong views on certain subjects, such as politics or religion, and someone in RL has opposing views then discussion can get very heated and aggressive. People, especially as certain type, will try to shout you down, or bombard with ridiculous questions and made up facts and figures.

That's why I avoid anything but bland subjects with certain people in RL, indeed that's why I avoid certain people in RL.

cant believe the sneering post i have just read on another thread regarding the OP of this thread.I think the saying "lefties always out themselves" may hold a grain of truth.

I could have written the op

It's the aggressive challenging with the implications of beibg completely thick that prevent me doing much at all. I have lots of opinions mostly acquired by observation as I don't have time (or the inclination) to spend ages reading stuff on the internet etc. My observations are as valid as the numbers bandied around but they are often poo pooed!

Maybe there should be two political forums one polite and one for no holds barred?

I think there should be.
But I dont think it would work for long.

But it appears that maybe some of the same posters dont like long threads anyway, so another one could be started. And so on?

Totally agree pearll79.
And glad morethan2 started the thread.

Believe it or not, there are still some gransnetters who dont think the likes of you two and others exist, and no one could possibly be afraid. And if they were, that is their fault

why must politics be an argument?
can we not debate?
can we not share our views, explain, learn even?
is that not the basis of gransnet, to support each other in times of need; share, debate, comfort, grow?

You can challenge me any time you like Mair. I have never had the slightest difficulty defending my viewpoint. Moreover, and perhaps more importantly, I have never had the slightest difficulty admitting that I was wrong when someone has convinced me that is the case. By the way, I am invariably polite because that I was how I was raised.

If you have something to say about a political or news issue, why not say it? No one knows who you are and won't turn up at your front door frothing at the mouth. It might be a refreshing picture or someone might shoot you down in flames. Does that really matter? You can always reply …or not.

Thanks Mair, something for me to keep in mind!

A simple guide to the 'lay of the land' Chew is that there is a group of poster furious over Brexit, Trump and Britain's 'failure' to take in even more boat people; some of these like to chat about politics only to those who share their views or at least similar ones. They hate to be challenged.

Maybe there should be two political forums one polite and one for no holds barred?

How about Vicarage ladies tearoom and Old battle axes?

Fair comment daphne. Maybe I should avoid those topics then until I've learned the lay of the land a bit more. As I said earlier, it was probably my naievity in posting on a well established thread that didn't help matters.

I don't suspect Chewbacca. I know. However, in the spirit of conciliation, I'm not naming anybody.

The nature of this site means that people don't have to be quick with responses. However, it is the one 'serious' political area of the site and I don't think it's unreasonable to hope that people would support opinions with some facts.

As others havery said, some people do want to contribute to a topic but aren't as "clued up" or quick thinking as others. It's not that their opinions or views are invalid but they're not as articulate as others perhaps. Who do you suspect of being a stirrer or troll daphne?