One for those who never go on the News and Politics Forum

dragonfly46

Well I am sure more of us would contribute if we were not shot down in flames for having opposing views to the majority of posters who believe their way is the right way.

Indeed.

Some posters are truly know-it-alls on all topics.

henetha

Absolutely. One superior poster told me to go back to my knitting.

What?? That must have been before my time . As an avid knitter and regular poster on N&P I would have leapt to your defence armed with a knitting needle!

Absolutely. One superior poster told me to go back to my knitting.

X post Cressy saying much the same.

When I joined GN I was interested in the politics threads because there were a couple of posters who, during a discussion, would explain -in simple terms- the advantages and consequences of supporting various parties. I'm not sure what changed, maybe covid related, but the tone of these threads suddenly became very derogatory and superior towards those who just wanted to join in or those who held different views.
For example, telling posters to go back to their baking threads or back to their chats on say fashion was an insult to their intelligence, totally unnecessary, and I am not surprised that these posters then decided to no longer engage in discussions.

MaizieD

I feel there's a sub text of "I don't like having to defend my views".

Having seen posters being ripped to shreds in other sections of this site I don't feel that N & P is uniquely awful. 🤔

That's how I feel, too.

Obviously we go where we feel comfortable, but I find the RF and Estrangement forums to be far worse than N&P.

It's a shame when people stay away from N&P threads because they are sick of the same people saying the same things, though. That won't change unless new people come along and say different things, will it? Discussion boards are what we make them.

I never had much interest in politics when I was young(er) but over the last ten years or so I have gradually started to form my own political views. I fully accept I am late to the plate and often feel this thread could do much to educate me. However I have no wish to be ridiculed which I see is often the case here. I am all for robust debate but not for humiliating those who may not be so well informed as others. I accept that people who have spent time researching and forming their opinions might feel frustrated by the likes of me but I wish they would remember that that those posters have an opportunity to educate and inform. They won’t achieve that though through ridicule and banging their heads against a metaphorical wall. They also need to accept that their way is not necessarily the right way however much they are convinced it is. I suppose what I am saying is that there are those who are able to debate whilst respecting their ‘opponent’ and those who are not really interested in what anyone else has to say. Well I think that’s what I’m trying to say…..😬

Looking at that rather patronising video my racial prejudice came out - he’s American!

I find on the politics thread there are actually only a couple of people who are pains in the proverbial and if you never respond to their particular wit and sarcasm it is ok. There are some quite lively and interesting discussions there, albeit mostly very biased but still - you gotta hear all sides and sometimes they do have a point.

I feel there's a sub text of "I don't like having to defend my views".

Having seen posters being ripped to shreds in other sections of this site I don't feel that N & P is uniquely awful. 🤔

varian

What do politics have to do with me????

www.instagram.com/reel/Cm71SjLI8Rr/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D&fbclid=IwAR0eyj8UJnV6QrMjGHB_558e5NlChlZkIx-vBukZilXBwSi2e_mLgIneoYY

How patronising.

Just because some of us do not use this platform to air our political views does not mean we have no interest or knowledge.

Well I am sure more of us would contribute if we were not shot down in flames for having opposing views to the majority of posters who believe their way is the right way.

As one who enjoys debating on the N&P thread, I am sorry to read that people are so put off by the challenging arguments.

I wish this was not the case as I’m sure that there would be some really good contributors.

But of course people make their own choice, which is just as it should be.

Yeah, agree mainly, the N &P threads should come with a subtitle ‘come and ‘ave a go if yer think yer ‘ard enough’.😖

Interesting thread.

Same as ShazzaKanazza too. I'm deeply interested in politics and always have been, but I'm no match for some snippy posters on here and prefer to keep quiet, mostly, for the sake of my blood pressure.

ShazzaKanazza

I am very interested in news and politics and think I am quite intelligent in my political views but I just choose not to join in with the political ones on here as I feel things can get nasty very quickly.

Exactly this.
It all gets rather like PMQs and I don't watch that either. I prefer less confrontational threads.
That does not mean I am not interested in the world around me.

I can't say I've noticed much personal savagery on the N&P thread.
Plenty of robust views and challenging arguments. You may not want to make political statements but politics runs through all of our lives in different ways because it determines how public money is spent and what laws are enacted. I think it's better to have a say however ineffective that may be.

I am very interested in news and politics and think I am quite intelligent in my political views but I just choose not to join in with the political ones on here as I feel things can get nasty very quickly.

I grew up in a very argumentative atmosphere with politics being rammed down our throats, so it's the last thing I want to discuss. I come on here for more light-hearted fare.

I’m another who’s generally interested, but rarely visit the politics threads any more because too often it’s the same old people with the same old predictable bangings-on, or having a go at each other.

You can believe in and work for equality and justice without having to "prove it" by engaging in lynchings and public executions.

Many of the "debates" in the news and politics threads are the equavalent of those lynchings, and many of those who dip a tentative toe in the discussions receive a public mauling for their audacity and never return. That is why the threads are full of the same people saying the same predictable things and re-enacting the same fights over and over, and why others stay away.

It is not because they don't think politics has anything to do with them, it is because they don't want to have anything to do with the personal savagery that the discussion is likely to descend to. They are not likely to change anyone else's vote in that polarised bear-pit, so what matters is how they vote themselves, and that they vote at all.

I did think about starting a gentle thread for gentle comments about politics.

But didnt know how it would go or how it would be taken.

Perhaps this can be it!

Baggs

That video, though funny, says as clearly as daylight why people don't go on N&P threads on GN: the scathing condescension they expect – having witnessed it from afar – to be met with should they dare to disagree with the usual N&P enthusiasts.

I suggest that many people's avoidance of GN N&P threads is for that reason and in no way an indication of their lack of interest in political matters.

Some will also stay away out of despair at the quality of many of our current politicians (of all stripes).

This!

Just because people don't post doesn't mean they are disinterested. Or think politics have nothing to do with them. Huge assumption there.

It's not obligatory to post on those threads and there are a number of reasons why people may choose not to do so.