| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers 08:15 - Mar 31 with 9503 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 17:10 - Mar 31 with 1204 views | Blueschev |
| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 16:59 - Mar 31 by DJR |
Changing subjects slightly, why I wonder do I come across so many people who are willing to trot out Trump/Farage/Lowe soundbites when in conversation with me?
It can be total strangers on a bus or neighbours.
Given my nature, I tend to politely go along with it whilst trying to change the subject because from what they say there is no way of persuading them otherwise but this is not something I would ever dream of doing.
Does anyone else experience this sort of thing which I am sure never used to go on?
Indeed, only yesterday in Spain, I spoke to someone in an adjoining property who was waxing lyrical about Lowe in preference to Farage, the irony lost on him that he himself was an immigrant to Spain. [Post edited 31 Mar 17:03]
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I used to work with lots of people like that. For the most part I would try and let it slide as there was little point in getting in to a discussion, but on the few occasions that I would take the bait they would almost immediately take a super defensive stance and accuse me of being overly opinionated. It was quite staggering just how sensitive they would become. |  | | |
| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 17:11 - Mar 31 with 1202 views | Herbivore |
| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 16:49 - Mar 31 by DJR |
Orange Book (or classical) liberalism and social conservatism was at the heart of the coalition government. [Post edited 31 Mar 17:13]
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They were an odd mix. The coalition government legalised gay marriage which is not a very socially conservative move. |  |
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| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 17:13 - Mar 31 with 1179 views | bluelagos |
| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 17:11 - Mar 31 by Herbivore |
They were an odd mix. The coalition government legalised gay marriage which is not a very socially conservative move. |
Labour votes Herbs
Majority of Tory MPs either voted against or abstained. Remember pointing that out at the time to one or two Tory cheerleaders. |  |
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| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 17:18 - Mar 31 with 1151 views | Herbivore |
| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 17:13 - Mar 31 by bluelagos |
Labour votes Herbs
Majority of Tory MPs either voted against or abstained. Remember pointing that out at the time to one or two Tory cheerleaders. |
Very true, just felt a slightly odd bill for them to even put forward given what hateful c***s Tories are in general. | |
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| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 17:25 - Mar 31 with 1119 views | urbanpenguin |
| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 16:59 - Mar 31 by DJR |
Changing subjects slightly, why I wonder do I come across so many people who are willing to trot out Trump/Farage/Lowe soundbites when in conversation with me?
It can be total strangers on a bus or neighbours.
Given my nature, I tend to politely go along with it whilst trying to change the subject because from what they say there is no way of persuading them otherwise but this is not something I would ever dream of doing.
Does anyone else experience this sort of thing which I am sure never used to go on?
Indeed, only yesterday in Spain, I spoke to someone in an adjoining property who was waxing lyrical about Lowe in preference to Farage, the irony lost on him that he himself was an immigrant to Spain. [Post edited 31 Mar 17:03]
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I think you will find they were an 'ex-pat'. Obviously, an entirely different thing to an 'immigrant' or 'economic migrant'. | | | |
| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 18:11 - Mar 31 with 1070 views | DJR |
| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 17:11 - Mar 31 by Herbivore |
They were an odd mix. The coalition government legalised gay marriage which is not a very socially conservative move. |
I realise I used the term social conservatism in error. Cameron was socially liberal (at least on the surface) and I believe may have used the term "modern compassionate Conservatism" to describe his philosophy. But as suggested above not all in his party were so enlightened, and he himself had at one time opposed the repeal of "clause 28". [Post edited 31 Mar 18:50]
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| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 18:46 - Mar 31 with 1015 views | WeWereZombies |
| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 12:38 - Mar 31 by lowhouseblue |
left v. right isn't the only spectrum. there is a group on here, and it's true about online politics more generally, who are intolerant and blinkered and who see politics in terms of certainty. they refuse to accept that others can hold different opinions legitimately, reject diversity of view, and a large part of what they post is simply intended to deny the legitimacy of political disagreement. so just as there is a left - right spectrum there is an acceptance v. denial of political plurality spectrum, and we have a group on here who are alas at the denial end of the latter. |
Very decent of you to out yourself like that, maybe you do have a capacity to see others point of view after all. |  |
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| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 18:47 - Mar 31 with 1010 views | Swansea_Blue |
| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 16:59 - Mar 31 by DJR |
Changing subjects slightly, why I wonder do I come across so many people who are willing to trot out Trump/Farage/Lowe soundbites when in conversation with me?
It can be total strangers on a bus or neighbours.
Given my nature, I tend to politely go along with it whilst trying to change the subject because from what they say there is no way of persuading them otherwise but this is not something I would ever dream of doing.
Does anyone else experience this sort of thing which I am sure never used to go on?
Indeed, only yesterday in Spain, I spoke to someone in an adjoining property who was waxing lyrical about Lowe in preference to Farage, the irony lost on him that he himself was an immigrant to Spain. [Post edited 31 Mar 17:03]
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It happens all the time doesn’t it. You can pop into the local shop for some bread and someone moans about small boat crossings (taking place about 280 blinkin miles away). |  |
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| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 18:49 - Mar 31 with 988 views | GlasgowBlue |
| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 17:18 - Mar 31 by Herbivore |
Very true, just felt a slightly odd bill for them to even put forward given what hateful c***s Tories are in general. |
Is that what you mean by engaging with your political opponents Herbie?  |  |
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| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 18:55 - Mar 31 with 979 views | Dubtractor |
Late to the party here, busy day in the office.
Is twtd overwhelmingly left leaning? Yes, without a doubt.
But that would include people who voted for the current Labour Party, who are very close to the centre.
Do I think twtd has lots of the 'loony left', to coin a dismissive phrase beloved of some on the right? Definitely not.
I think it is less that twtd is full of raging lefties, more that there is a lack of right wing posters, or that those posters decide not to engage on politics on here. |  |
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| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 19:02 - Mar 31 with 947 views | DJR |
| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 18:47 - Mar 31 by Swansea_Blue |
It happens all the time doesn’t it. You can pop into the local shop for some bread and someone moans about small boat crossings (taking place about 280 blinkin miles away). |
These people tend to be older rather than younger and I imagine they normally find a willing audience for what they say from those they interact with at bus stops and the like, and so assume everyone shares the same views. | | | |
| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 19:08 - Mar 31 with 925 views | Herbivore |
| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 18:49 - Mar 31 by GlasgowBlue |
Is that what you mean by engaging with your political opponents Herbie? |
I'm building bridges. | |
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| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 19:11 - Mar 31 with 914 views | GlasgowBlue |
| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 19:08 - Mar 31 by Herbivore |
I'm building bridges. |
I'm reminded of the time I was on the Refugees are welcome march in London a few years ago and I was talking to a lovely fellow from the SWP who was wearing a T-shirt with "Tory Scum" emblazoned on it. | |
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| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 19:33 - Mar 31 with 883 views | Plums |
| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 18:55 - Mar 31 by Dubtractor |
Late to the party here, busy day in the office.
Is twtd overwhelmingly left leaning? Yes, without a doubt.
But that would include people who voted for the current Labour Party, who are very close to the centre.
Do I think twtd has lots of the 'loony left', to coin a dismissive phrase beloved of some on the right? Definitely not.
I think it is less that twtd is full of raging lefties, more that there is a lack of right wing posters, or that those posters decide not to engage on politics on here. |
I find the whole 'left wing, right wing' thing quite strange to be honest. I'm not a political scientist but I dabbled in local politics as a youngster, working on the 92 election campaign and also standing (and losing) as a Lib Dem in County and District elections.
For me, political choices are a matter of conscience rather than personal benefit and I'm definitely not a 'party line' tower. At both my selection meetings I clearly stated that if I won, constituency need would always come ahead of whipped agendas. Regardless of where a policy originates, if it makes society better, it deserves support. It's not a football match and I find the tribalism and point scoring very sad.
Do I think this site is left leaning? Not particularly. What, as many have said is that debate rarely surfaces because it seems to be rage first. I can be guilty of that at times but I've always detested racism and have no issue in calling it and its enablers out.
Complex init |  |
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| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 19:56 - Mar 31 with 854 views | NthQldITFC |
| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 17:13 - Mar 31 by bluelagos |
Labour votes Herbs
Majority of Tory MPs either voted against or abstained. Remember pointing that out at the time to one or two Tory cheerleaders. |
They weren't actual cheerleaders, they just like to dress up as cheerleaders, silly. |  |
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| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 20:25 - Mar 31 with 814 views | Kropotkin123 |
| 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. |
Agreed.
I'd add more explicitly that this trap has deliberately been cultivated to control discourses, rather than something that has just come about from grass roots politics. See also "woke". |  |
| Submit your 1-24 league prediction here -https://www.twtd.co.uk/forum/514096/page:1 - for the opportunity to get a free Ipswich top. | | Poll: | Would you rather | | Blog: | Round Four: Eagle |
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| This forum has always…. on 23:12 - Mar 31 with 728 views | reusersfreekicks |
| This forum has always…. on 08:47 - Mar 31 by urbanpenguin |
You're very welcome to stay around if you want to actually discuss something, if not then a buzzphrase and departure is fine. |
That's all he ever does |  | | |
| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 02:16 - Apr 1 with 654 views | KBsSocks |
| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 12:38 - Mar 31 by lowhouseblue |
left v. right isn't the only spectrum. there is a group on here, and it's true about online politics more generally, who are intolerant and blinkered and who see politics in terms of certainty. they refuse to accept that others can hold different opinions legitimately, reject diversity of view, and a large part of what they post is simply intended to deny the legitimacy of political disagreement. so just as there is a left - right spectrum there is an acceptance v. denial of political plurality spectrum, and we have a group on here who are alas at the denial end of the latter. |
... not including yourself, or including yourself ? |  |
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| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 02:45 - Apr 1 with 636 views | Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
I mean just look how busy it is during the working day!
(Sorry couldn’t resist) |  |
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| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 07:36 - Apr 1 with 536 views | unbelievablue |
| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 02:45 - Apr 1 by Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
I mean just look how busy it is during the working day!
(Sorry couldn’t resist) |
That did make me laugh tbf. |  |
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| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 09:03 - Apr 1 with 454 views | baxterbasics |
| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 19:02 - Mar 31 by DJR |
These people tend to be older rather than younger and I imagine they normally find a willing audience for what they say from those they interact with at bus stops and the like, and so assume everyone shares the same views. |
You say that, but there does seem to be a number of younger men being seduced by Reform and Restore.
Two of my daughters' other halves for example. Both early to mid 20s. One is team Nigel, he's not the sharpest tool in the box, and very much working class origin. Can barely have a convo about anything without him slipping in a complaint about Muslims. The other - recently Uni graduated, very middle class family, and a big admirer of Rupert Lowe. He and my daughter (mainly because she'll parrot whatever he thinks) both regularly defend Trump and repeat MAGA talking points. None of them would class themselves as "extreme right."
I know much of this stems from using social media / You Tube as their main source of news and current affairs reporting. Traditional media journalism not getting a look in at all. Without openly challenging every statement and risking family rifts, I do my best to subtly guide them towards the centre and more mainstream politics. I also encourage them to get their news from a range of sources and viewpoints. But this can feel like a losing battle.
My own youngest son (20) has recently joined the Conservative party and has already been out leafleting for the locals, and to a Badenoch rally. He's about to go to uni and has ambitions to enter parliament. I'm fine with this but let's see if the party survives the next election.
On the flip side, my youngest daughter (19) says she'll "probably" vote Green. But I'd say there's a 50/50 chance she won't bother at all. Try and have an actual discussion about philosophy & ideology and she quickly gets bored. Tik-Tok generation innit. |  |
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| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 10:53 - Apr 1 with 397 views | jayessess |
| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 09:10 - Apr 1 by DJR |
I don't deny younger people are being won over to Reform. I was just talking about the sort of people I come across in everyday life who do tend to be older.
And maybe it's because I am an old codger myself. [Post edited 1 Apr 9:24]
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Your hunch about older voters is reflected in polling. Greens streets ahead with 18-24s, Reform miles ahead with over 50s.
https://ygo-assets-websites-ed [Post edited 1 Apr 11:14]
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| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 11:01 - Apr 1 with 373 views | Herbivore |
| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 10:53 - Apr 1 by jayessess |
Your hunch about older voters is reflected in polling. Greens streets ahead with 18-24s, Reform miles ahead with over 50s.
https://ygo-assets-websites-ed [Post edited 1 Apr 11:14]
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Indeed. There will be exceptions and there's a worryingly decent chunk of younger adults who have quite backwards views about the world (largely mirroring some of the more toxic content creators on the socials) but they are very much a minority and the majority of young people tend to lean towards more progressive politics still. | |
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| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 11:20 - Apr 1 with 337 views | WeWereZombies |
| TWTD is a hotbed of left wingers on 02:45 - Apr 1 by Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
I mean just look how busy it is during the working day!
(Sorry couldn’t resist) |
Very true, the right wing element only turn up when school's out... | |
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