| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers 08:15 - Mar 31 with 8994 views | urbanpenguin |
People keep writing on here that TWTD is full of "left wingers", or even worse "the far woke".
But is it? I didn't want to do a poll because that would only descend into a binfire, but I am nonetheless interested in the fact some people think this website has an Overton Window further to the left than other places in the world.
I suspect that what's actually happening is that those people who otherwise post on Twitter/X or in closed family Facebook groups are here suddenly encountering different views and counter opinions where normally there's a bubble of agreement.
That doesn't mean that everybody here is left wing, just that perhaps it slightly more reflects a broader society, but they cannot get their minds around that and so just believe and shout that they are drowning in a sea of lefties.
Or perhaps, for no logical reason I can imagine, a thirty year old website run by a couple of football fans has somehow turned into a Suffolk amalgam of Tribune, Pravda and The Morning Star, just with more content about Bontcho. [Post edited 31 Mar 8:17]
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| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 08:20 - Mar 31 with 3543 views | Herbivore |
There's about 4 or 5 posters who are genuinely further left than centre left on the entire board. The idea that we're all communists (I mean, I am, but I'm one of the exceptions) is for the birds. We've normalised politics that is quite far to the right of centre in this country so anyone who isn't right of centre is now a lefty according to many on here. |  |
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| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 08:21 - Mar 31 with 3528 views | urbanpenguin |
| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 08:20 - Mar 31 by Herbivore |
There's about 4 or 5 posters who are genuinely further left than centre left on the entire board. The idea that we're all communists (I mean, I am, but I'm one of the exceptions) is for the birds. We've normalised politics that is quite far to the right of centre in this country so anyone who isn't right of centre is now a lefty according to many on here. |
Well exactly, to the point where they exclaim that Starmer, Labour or the Guardian are far left, which is patently absurd and pretty laughable for anybody who has actually listened to any of them. | | | |
| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 08:22 - Mar 31 with 3526 views | NedPlimpton |
Always considered myself reasonably centrist/slightly left of centre, but have found myself coming across more "far woke" as critical thinking, evidenced based approaches, compassion for fellow man seem to be becoming less and less the norm in modern politics |  | | |
| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 08:29 - Mar 31 with 3480 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 08:20 - Mar 31 by Herbivore |
There's about 4 or 5 posters who are genuinely further left than centre left on the entire board. The idea that we're all communists (I mean, I am, but I'm one of the exceptions) is for the birds. We've normalised politics that is quite far to the right of centre in this country so anyone who isn't right of centre is now a lefty according to many on here. |
And the very fact that many on here make that claim shows that many on here are not at all left of centre.
Anyone of any political view is welcome to post on here as long as they are civil and don't repeatedly troll.
It is notable that many who claim right wing positions do not engage in debate at all. I am sure that must be true of those on the left too (and certainly there are some on both sides who repeatedly engage in poor ways).
I do find there is more left-leaning ideology on here than I find in circles outside here which intrigues me. |  |
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| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 08:33 - Mar 31 with 3397 views | urbanpenguin |
| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 08:29 - Mar 31 by Nthsuffolkblue |
And the very fact that many on here make that claim shows that many on here are not at all left of centre.
Anyone of any political view is welcome to post on here as long as they are civil and don't repeatedly troll.
It is notable that many who claim right wing positions do not engage in debate at all. I am sure that must be true of those on the left too (and certainly there are some on both sides who repeatedly engage in poor ways).
I do find there is more left-leaning ideology on here than I find in circles outside here which intrigues me. |
Why do you think that it "must be true" that people on the left don't engage in debate when I would argue that their position is formed from (internal and external) political debate rather than, as I see tl far right posters as a determined and deliberate push away from and rejection of political thought or debate. | | | |
| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 08:34 - Mar 31 with 3391 views | Herbivore |
| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 08:21 - Mar 31 by urbanpenguin |
Well exactly, to the point where they exclaim that Starmer, Labour or the Guardian are far left, which is patently absurd and pretty laughable for anybody who has actually listened to any of them. |
The UK has fallen into the American made trap of considering liberal attitudes to be left wing. Classical liberalism is a centre right ideology. Being liberal and being left wing are two very different things. You're right on the Guardian, it's very much a liberal publication with some mild nods to reducing inequality but it's hardly The Socialist Worker. Labour currently are centre right, anyone who thinks Labour are of the left doesn't understand politics. | |
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| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 08:37 - Mar 31 with 3362 views | bluelagos |
| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 08:34 - Mar 31 by Herbivore |
The UK has fallen into the American made trap of considering liberal attitudes to be left wing. Classical liberalism is a centre right ideology. Being liberal and being left wing are two very different things. You're right on the Guardian, it's very much a liberal publication with some mild nods to reducing inequality but it's hardly The Socialist Worker. Labour currently are centre right, anyone who thinks Labour are of the left doesn't understand politics. |
They are also authoritarian. iD cards and banning protest groups like Palestine Action. |  |
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| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 08:38 - Mar 31 with 3359 views | Herbivore |
| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 08:29 - Mar 31 by Nthsuffolkblue |
And the very fact that many on here make that claim shows that many on here are not at all left of centre.
Anyone of any political view is welcome to post on here as long as they are civil and don't repeatedly troll.
It is notable that many who claim right wing positions do not engage in debate at all. I am sure that must be true of those on the left too (and certainly there are some on both sides who repeatedly engage in poor ways).
I do find there is more left-leaning ideology on here than I find in circles outside here which intrigues me. |
And yet some posters constantly berate the left for not being willing to engage in debate with those they disagree with. It's patently not true. We've tried, repeatedly. I've asked Benters some thought provoking questions about his politics recently and his support for Farage in the face of what Farage stands for and have done so perfectly reasonably. He doesn't respond or throws in a glib one liner. A couple of posters recently described Zach Polanski as dangerous because he supports decriminalising drug use, I provided an argument - backed up by actual evidence - for why that's not a remotely dangerous policy but is quite a sensible policy that has worked elsewhere. They disappeared rather than engaging in debate. I'm not sure what more we can do. | |
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| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 08:38 - Mar 31 with 3343 views | WeWereZombies |
| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 08:20 - Mar 31 by Herbivore |
There's about 4 or 5 posters who are genuinely further left than centre left on the entire board. The idea that we're all communists (I mean, I am, but I'm one of the exceptions) is for the birds. We've normalised politics that is quite far to the right of centre in this country so anyone who isn't right of centre is now a lefty according to many on here. |
You're not alone.
Bloots if a commie too.
Def into. |  |
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| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 08:39 - Mar 31 with 3322 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 08:33 - Mar 31 by urbanpenguin |
Why do you think that it "must be true" that people on the left don't engage in debate when I would argue that their position is formed from (internal and external) political debate rather than, as I see tl far right posters as a determined and deliberate push away from and rejection of political thought or debate. |
That's another possibility.
What I said wasn't a generalisation of all people on left (nor of all on the right). What I meant was that I don't notice people making a left-leaning comment and refusing to answer when that comment gets challenged. That seems to happen a lot with some (not all) right-leaning comments. I am sure it must happen with some left-leaning posters but it isn't something I have especially noticed. | |
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| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 08:40 - Mar 31 with 3312 views | GlasgowBlue |
I consider myself socially liberal/ fiscally conservative. Although I was recently described by another poster as somebody who “demonises the poor, attacks minorities and generally makes the world a worse place”. So who knows. |  |
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| This forum has always…. on 08:40 - Mar 31 with 3323 views | Bloots |
….been a massive lefty bumfest.
Over recent years it’s been exacerbated by a handful of the far woke also being the loudest, most frequent and most aggressive posters.
End of political editorial. |  |
| "....a smegma of a man” - TWTD User (Apr 2026) |
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| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 08:41 - Mar 31 with 3277 views | Swansea_Blue |
| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 08:22 - Mar 31 by NedPlimpton |
Always considered myself reasonably centrist/slightly left of centre, but have found myself coming across more "far woke" as critical thinking, evidenced based approaches, compassion for fellow man seem to be becoming less and less the norm in modern politics |
Yep. It does feel like the centre ground is drifting rightwards. At least in terms of rhetoric/national conversation. But then that’s not surprising as the UK press is dominated by well-funded right wing press and commentators/influencers. You could be centre right and out of kilter with some of the fairly extreme positions on display in politics at the moment. |  |
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| This forum has always…. on 08:44 - Mar 31 with 3232 views | WeWereZombies |
| This forum has always…. on 08:40 - Mar 31 by Bloots |
….been a massive lefty bumfest.
Over recent years it’s been exacerbated by a handful of the far woke also being the loudest, most frequent and most aggressive posters.
End of political editorial. |
Spoken like a true Maoist/Lenninist, you've got my vote...and full support if you start rounding up Trotskyists like Benters too. | |
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| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 08:46 - Mar 31 with 3179 views | Herbivore |
| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 08:40 - Mar 31 by GlasgowBlue |
I consider myself socially liberal/ fiscally conservative. Although I was recently described by another poster as somebody who “demonises the poor, attacks minorities and generally makes the world a worse place”. So who knows. |
You probably fall into the classical liberal position really. | |
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| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 08:47 - Mar 31 with 3178 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 08:38 - Mar 31 by Herbivore |
And yet some posters constantly berate the left for not being willing to engage in debate with those they disagree with. It's patently not true. We've tried, repeatedly. I've asked Benters some thought provoking questions about his politics recently and his support for Farage in the face of what Farage stands for and have done so perfectly reasonably. He doesn't respond or throws in a glib one liner. A couple of posters recently described Zach Polanski as dangerous because he supports decriminalising drug use, I provided an argument - backed up by actual evidence - for why that's not a remotely dangerous policy but is quite a sensible policy that has worked elsewhere. They disappeared rather than engaging in debate. I'm not sure what more we can do. |
Clearly not the thread for it and not an argument I want to get into today either, but I just thought I would point out that legalising drug use (whilst I get there are arguments for it) is one of the reasons I do not support Greens nationally. The number of people openly walking around smoking cannabis now is an indicator to the impact of its legalisation. Yes, there must be better ways of dealing with addicts and organised crime but I don't see legalisation as the answer at all. | |
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| This forum has always…. on 08:47 - Mar 31 with 3176 views | urbanpenguin |
| This forum has always…. on 08:40 - Mar 31 by Bloots |
….been a massive lefty bumfest.
Over recent years it’s been exacerbated by a handful of the far woke also being the loudest, most frequent and most aggressive posters.
End of political editorial. |
You're very welcome to stay around if you want to actually discuss something, if not then a buzzphrase and departure is fine. | | | |
| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 08:49 - Mar 31 with 3145 views | Herbivore |
| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 08:47 - Mar 31 by Nthsuffolkblue |
Clearly not the thread for it and not an argument I want to get into today either, but I just thought I would point out that legalising drug use (whilst I get there are arguments for it) is one of the reasons I do not support Greens nationally. The number of people openly walking around smoking cannabis now is an indicator to the impact of its legalisation. Yes, there must be better ways of dealing with addicts and organised crime but I don't see legalisation as the answer at all. |
I'm not sure the fact that people aren't put off using illegal substances because they are illegal (which is currently the case with people openly smoking cannabis) is necessarily an argument against decriminalising drug misuse. Certainly the evidence from elsewhere doesn't necessarily back up that drug use increases when it's decriminalised (often it's the opposite). But let's save that for another thread. [Post edited 31 Mar 8:49]
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| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 08:51 - Mar 31 with 3114 views | urbanpenguin |
| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 08:49 - Mar 31 by Herbivore |
I'm not sure the fact that people aren't put off using illegal substances because they are illegal (which is currently the case with people openly smoking cannabis) is necessarily an argument against decriminalising drug misuse. Certainly the evidence from elsewhere doesn't necessarily back up that drug use increases when it's decriminalised (often it's the opposite). But let's save that for another thread. [Post edited 31 Mar 8:49]
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I've been to California a couple of times in the last three years and frankly one of its only redeeming features any more is that cannabis shops are legal, pleasant and extremely professional. | | | |
| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 08:51 - Mar 31 with 3111 views | baxterbasics |
Hotbed? I believe the correct term is "bumfest" (as per Bloots above)
I think the majority here are very much in the 'centrist dad' bracket (a couple of mums too). With a handful of loons at either end.
One thing I learned in my politics degree years: the centre point can move, it is not fixed, it depends on where the public as a whole are at. The public centre tends to drift in the opposite direction of the government in power over time.
I agree we need to avoid the Americanism of using 'liberal' and 'left wing' interchangeably. They are not the same.
Also, I'm not sure everyone agrees on what 'left' and 'right' actually mean. To me, and I think most academically correct, it merely refers to what level of intervention a government should make in the economy and/or peoples everyday lives. Which is not the same thing as how racist/tolerant/compassionate/selfish you are, or how authoritarian/libertarian. But we seem to mix this up in our public discourse. |  |
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| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 08:53 - Mar 31 with 3067 views | urbanpenguin |
| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 08:51 - Mar 31 by baxterbasics |
Hotbed? I believe the correct term is "bumfest" (as per Bloots above)
I think the majority here are very much in the 'centrist dad' bracket (a couple of mums too). With a handful of loons at either end.
One thing I learned in my politics degree years: the centre point can move, it is not fixed, it depends on where the public as a whole are at. The public centre tends to drift in the opposite direction of the government in power over time.
I agree we need to avoid the Americanism of using 'liberal' and 'left wing' interchangeably. They are not the same.
Also, I'm not sure everyone agrees on what 'left' and 'right' actually mean. To me, and I think most academically correct, it merely refers to what level of intervention a government should make in the economy and/or peoples everyday lives. Which is not the same thing as how racist/tolerant/compassionate/selfish you are, or how authoritarian/libertarian. But we seem to mix this up in our public discourse. |
But surely the centre of the Overton Window has very much been to the right of the governments for many years now, pulled there by Murdoch, Musk, Farage et al? It's been dragging government after government further right with the promise of more votes if only they punch down just a little bit more. | | | |
| Little known fact…. on 08:54 - Mar 31 with 3069 views | Bloots |
| This forum has always…. on 08:44 - Mar 31 by WeWereZombies |
Spoken like a true Maoist/Lenninist, you've got my vote...and full support if you start rounding up Trotskyists like Benters too. |
….old Benters can be found every weekend standing outside Clacton pier sporting rainbow hair, wearing a Che Guevara t-shirt and selling copies of the Morning Star. | |
| "....a smegma of a man” - TWTD User (Apr 2026) |
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| Little known fact…. on 08:59 - Mar 31 with 2999 views | urbanpenguin |
| Little known fact…. on 08:54 - Mar 31 by Bloots |
….old Benters can be found every weekend standing outside Clacton pier sporting rainbow hair, wearing a Che Guevara t-shirt and selling copies of the Morning Star. |
Well I live in London, so I guess in their heads I'm surrounded by both a dangerous, lawless, violent place of destruction, Soddom and Ghomorra overseen by Islamist Sadiq Khan and ALSO a woke bumfest where everybody has blue hair, spends £10 on a coffee and £15 on a pint, luxuriates in elitist culture and doesn't know anybody from 'the real world'.
I'm not sure how these two London's are the same place, I guess it's a kind of city in a city. | | | |
| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 09:00 - Mar 31 with 2984 views | solemio |
Surely being Far Woke is preferable to being Fast Asleep. |  | | |
| Little known fact…. on 09:03 - Mar 31 with 2948 views | TheMoralMajority |
| Little known fact…. on 08:59 - Mar 31 by urbanpenguin |
Well I live in London, so I guess in their heads I'm surrounded by both a dangerous, lawless, violent place of destruction, Soddom and Ghomorra overseen by Islamist Sadiq Khan and ALSO a woke bumfest where everybody has blue hair, spends £10 on a coffee and £15 on a pint, luxuriates in elitist culture and doesn't know anybody from 'the real world'.
I'm not sure how these two London's are the same place, I guess it's a kind of city in a city. |
I am also a Londoner, and I have to say, apart from being stabbed on a daily basis, my life has been fundamentally improved by the introduction of Sharia Law. |  |
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