Avoiding politics

Most people I know are interested in the country's politics. I think though, as someone else commented, it's not something that can be discussed in a few lines in a forum, which is probably why it's not discussed much here. Particularly as things are currently so complicated. However, I do think people are becoming disillusioned and losing faith with our politicians. I find myself that I have discussed/argued so much about BREXIT over the past many many months, that I'm left feeling I've said it all and I've nothing new to say.

Disillusionment seems to colour the views of many - they begin to feel that they can't make any difference and that 'they are all the same'. I have heard this from several friends and acquaintances.
I don't feel that way, and take a great deal of interest in what is going on, reading newspapers and periodicals to attempt to keep informed, but currently if I see one more windblown political correspondent pontificating outside the Houses of Parliament I really feel that apoplexy will result. I just cannot take any more and have consequently given up Brexit for Lent. I feel strange kind of peace.

toscalily I think that comments like saying a perfectly reasonable statement is 'patronising' is the sort of thing which puts some people off posting. It is not nice to feel attacked when you don't deserve it.

Urmston I do understand that you and varian have different views on Brexit and are both passionate (intransigent?) in your opinions but surely if someone can provide a link to prove their point it is better than just a statement which is not backed up? I have asked people to send me a link to back up what they have said e.g. laws being made by unelected bureaucrats but they fail to do so. Surely it would be better if they did?

You can add the BBC to your list of leave media.

I am continually vowing to myself that I will keep off the politics threads. However, then I see a piece of misinformation, out of date information, or deliberate misrepresentation - and off I go again.

My reasoning for doing this is not that I aim to convert the misguided poster, but rather to present the other side of the point at issue, so that others reading the thread can see the alternative 'facts', or opinions and make up their own minds which to believe.

GA no surprise, your name says it all. Just like you I can have political discussions with people who have a different view to me but I do pull away when they sneer or treat my opinion as invalid.

On GN it is very frustrating when I challenge a 'fact' and the poster simply stops posting on that thread but is active elsewhere. When this happens I tend to think the poster is lacking in knowledge of the subject. I get things wrong sometimes but I always apologise, it doesn't hurt!

Religion and politics can bring out the worst in people and cause rows.

I do believe everyone should vote though - or shut up with their complaints

When I worked with Electoral Services, I was shocked at people who weren't bothered about registering (legal requirement), never mind voting. Sadly, more likely to be younger people.
Also, when self registration came in, the families with children away at uni just said they'd pass message on. Given you had to have NI number to register, in their shoes I'd have registered them myself. Going to uni is a year older - not more organised.

Democracy is taken for granted

This just about sums it up:

www.facebook.com/TheOnlyFloridaMan/videos/724690871257879/UzpfSTY3NzkyNjczNDoxMDE1NTc5MjQ3NTc2NjczNQ/

I agree that we should all be interested in politics but the voting figures demonstrate that we are not. Remember all it takes for evil to prosper is for good people to do nothing.

I too an passionately interested in politics. But I will not expose myself to the vitriol that is often poured by posters, (particularly on Brexit threads), with equally passionate views on the opposite side. Left or right leaning, it doesn't matter. I often go over to the other side (mumsnet) and watch with horror as posters are destroyed by post after post. On Brexit, there is only one view to have on mumsnet so it takes a very brave person to oppose that.

I also get angry when a posters makes sweeping statements about people who voted in a certain way as though every single voter is the same. Within any section of voters there will be old and young, clever or stupid, good or bad, those that considered every angle and those who make up their mind on the day. That's what you get when the polling station opens. To say that all remainers are left leaning loonies or all Brexiteers are old and thick shows contempt for fellow human beings.

What has made the past three years seem to divide our population down the middle is social media. Its very easy to state your views, sometimes endlessly, when you have no idea of your target. In real life, we know that our friends and family and the bloke down the pub have differing views but we negotiate around it. By avoiding tricky subjects or accepting that their opposing view is their opinion and only one aspect of them, and we carry on from there. But on forums such as this, the shared background is missing and the nuances and body language cant be seen. This seems to give some posters a free rein to say some dreadful things.

So, Im sure many many gransnetters have an interest in politics but choose not to display those views for fear of a skip loads of poo falling down on them.

I started getting getting interested in politics in the era of Maggie T when she slashed through so much of what we thought was safe. Then I married a very politically aware man. To me, it is vital that we all keep an eye on what politicians are doing - we have a right wing media owned by very rich people (apart from The Guardian and the Mirror), who are following their own agendas (i.e. to make the rich richer). Yes, some people don't bother to vote as they feel powerless in their lives - hence a lot of the rage coming from those people when they feel that, at last, they had the opportunity to be heard (voting Leave) and now feel they are being ignored. We're being distracted by "bread and circuses" from what is really going on. Why don't we talk more about it on here - I guess people are trying to avoid the sort of arguments we've seen elsewhere - families, friendships and even former friendly neighbour relationships torn apart by the whole Referendum mess.

God will self is a proper bore off though isn’t he. Pompous idiot.

I am very much in favour of Citizen's Assemblies such as they use in Ireland and I would have thought this is just the sort of template a forum such as GN could use to help us have better, more knowledgeable conversations.

They could, where we cannot, chose a single subject, employ a proper chair for the discussion, select the "citizen's" who should be limited number and a cross section of members rather than citizens in this case. The are big enough to that they will attract the experts and interest groups needed to inform the members of the group. I don't think Ireland includes politicians.

Other members would not be excluded as obviously discussion threads could go along side what would be a longer process than a usual discussion, perhaps once a week or every couple of weeks for a specific number of "assemblies" on one topic. Voting by the members could also take place at the end which would no doubt lead to further discussion on threads outside the "assembly" thread.

Otherwise all that happens is opinions are swapped - often not based on fact and people get angry because their opinion is not agreed with. Gransnet - or GN & MN combined - could really facilitate and foster interest in political matters rather than just sit back and watch the crash. There was a huge amount of scepticism in Ireland but this method - Citizen's Assemblies - have worked very well. Perhaps GN could wake up the old and out of date political parties and encourage better debate and a way of increasing real knowledge.

The first topic in Ireland was "how we best respond to the challenges and opportunities of an ageing population". I imagine most of us would have an interest in that.

Spoil my day?
For me, it’s all been said above.
So no thanks, no posting about politics here.

Beckett and others have covered it for me.

I used to take a lot more interest in politics and have in the passed even read the manifestos of the major parties but as those manifestos started to merge I did wonder why I bothered.

I do have politics views, I still try to be inform, I do still vote but I will not want to get into an argument over my choices so I don't normally post on this topic.

Interesting post though.

This place just doesn't feel like the right forum for it. Not sure why. I sometimes discuss politics on my local facebook group.

I think you have to have a thick skin to post on the political threads here!!!

If you happen to be a Conservative, Leave Voter with a steady income the first comments you receive are “all right jackery” and that you cannot know or care anything about the poor or disadvantaged.

I keep saying to myself that I am going to no longer post on any political thread, then against my better judgment I am pressing “post”

I must be a sucker for punishment!!!

I personally do not usually comment on the political threads on gransnet because I don't live in the UK.

I always vote, even although I shall be hard put to it to know who to vote for next time we have a general election here in Denmark, as I have become totally disillusioned with the party I have voted for all my life.

I vote in council elections too and referendums, elections for the EU.

Dh does too, but I know many people have stopped voting here too. I hope when they find themselves living in something other than a democracy that they will blame themselves, but knowing human nature, I don't suppose they will.

I was brought up to believe that it is a duty to vote when like us you live in a democracy. I shall continue to do so once I find a party to vote for. Ploughing through election material now, as our election is coming up.

I assume gransneters don't post on politics is because of the arguments it causes, which can become quite vicious at times

I read and watch a lot about politics but wouldn't engage on Gransnet much because a lot of threads could just be headed 'why I hate Corbyn/Megan/etc' or 'Leave voters are all morons' and there is no point in going against the vitriol - and heaven forfend anyone who gets a point wrong. People don't just say, 'I don't think you're right about that' with data to support that, they insult and demean and decide that nothing you say could be in any way valid. I will always acknowledge it if I have made a factual error but not if people have been rude in pointing it out.
I love a good discussion, about politics more than anything, but when people are rude and dogmatic, there is little point and eventually people who do just want a chat stop clicking those topics.

I’m very interested in politics, an active member of campaigning groups and enjoy a good discussion in RL.

On the other hand, I have no desire to engage with randoms on social media who simply cannot cope with differing opinions or, God forbid, a touch of humour without resorting to insults. I was called ignorant just today on GN for a throwaway lighthearted comment. Granted, these people are in the minority, but they certainly make their presence felt. Is it any wonder people don’t engage on here?

Nonnie, what you see as a "*perfectly reasonable statement*"
comes across to me as patronising. "*It is not nice to feel attacked when you don't deserve it.*" If Varian feels so strongly that I have attacked here here than why does she not come back and tell me so? I think what you have done shows precisely the reasons for not getting involved in political threads on here.

(Hope I have got my asterisks & quotes in the right place, please for give me if I have not

Maggiemaybe I have had the same experience. I think it is a golden rule - don't make tongue in cheek comments on Gransnet.

I obviously did not get it right, wanted it in bold

toscalilly put the quotes inside the asterisks and it should work.

Thank you, will try that next time.