'Unspoken' forum rules?

And is it really fair that a very interesting discussion should be zapped because it's meandered a bit?

Don't feel your posts have been ignored, henetha. People will have read and considered them. Only a small proportion of posts elicit direct replies.

If we had a like button you'd know people have appreciated your input, but of course it could also lead to problems.

*It'd be interesting to hear if people who do regard themselves as a little or a lot right-wing ever feel they have been assessed on GN as left-wing too.

I think there are very few really right-wing people posting on GN, if any, depending on one's definition of "really right-wing".*

Once again I totally agree Baggs.
I don't think we have any rabid far right posters on GN thankfully. The few who are not left wing seem moderate and slightly right of centre.

I can only speak for myself but I am a floating voter really who has Labour Party roots but like many others I became very disillusioned and decided I'd vote where common sense and the best leader prevailed. That now makes me a 'Tory' and so by connection, despised by most who post on the Politics forum. It's not easy when you're such a nice person .... [ wink]

So be it but like most people I want a fair deal for ALL, workers and weaker or disadvantaged members of society, not just certain sections of society and I feel that party is the one best trying within sensible perimeters to do this and not bankrupt the country or tax to death workers or penalise those ordinary people striving to get on in life. They have lots of bases to cover and don't get everything right but show me a party in recent history which has governed and pleased all people? Very few governments, Labour or Conservative leave office having 'got it right'. That perfect party does not exist.

I loathe the way because of the emergence of a loud and hostile far left that so many people feel they have to keep quiet about preferring the Conservative Party over Labour. There is a sort of horrible intimidation from some quarters (and social media is awash with it) in admitting being to the right rather than left of centre. No Conservative in my circle of friends is mean or selfish or wealthy. We are all very ordinary and from working class backgrounds. We have all known struggle.

I think the Conservative party has a massive PR job to do. Some posters on GN seem to have a preconceived idea of what a person is like because of the way they vote and yes the Politics forum is not for the faint-hearted.

That is about the only dodgy area of GN for me. You will be shot down in flames by so many for owning views which don't match the majority view sadly. I take my iron tablets and gird my loins before entering.

Then you need to curb your imaganins Trisher

Some left wing posters are all the things you have described as well Day6. We have been labelled as 'hostile', 'far left' and 'intimidating' and yet all we have done is say that policies which punish the poor and vulnerable are wrong. If there is one shred of evidence that this Conservative government have in any way provided * a fair deal for ALL, workers and weaker or disadvantaged members of society, not just certain sections of society and I feel that party is the one best trying within sensible perimeters to do this and not bankrupt the country or tax to death workers or penalise those ordinary people striving to get on in life.*
please post it.
I too have wavered from Labour and visited Lib Dems and Greens, but never been tempted by the Conservatives because they have never believed in a caring society, just the survival of the strongest.

Sorry my post as largely about politics too but I agree with Maggiemaybe that the most interesting or robust discussions tend to go all over the place and most should be allowed to refer to pertinent GN happenings elsewhere.

If this thread was moderated and chopped about it would be bland, disjointed and not half as interesting. I cannot see anything here that screams 'out of order.'

The best threads tend to be slightly controversial imo.

Oh, hello too Tom.

Oh that's been said before as well Annie never did any good. Started when I was about 5 I think and my mum told me I had to stop imagining there were things under my bed. I still had nightmares. Without imagination what are we?

I've just been reading through this thread for the first time.

Eloethan, I found your analysis thoughtful and interesting.

grannyactivist, your early experience was heartwarming - the best of GN

If there is one shred of evidence that this Conservative government have in any way provided a fair deal for ALL, workers and weaker or disadvantaged members of society, not just certain sections of society and I feel that party is the one best trying within sensible perimeters to do this and not bankrupt the country or tax to death workers or penalise those ordinary people striving to get on in life.*
please post it.*

Gawd trisher - that sounds like a homework assignment.

There aren't enough hours in the day for me to read and send links...nor do I feel inclined to do so because...well for one thing, I am just not that intense!

I like current affairs and have an interest in politics but that is just one of many interests and pastimes which require my time and efforts.

Here - a brief overview for you from the PM herself.

Quite a lot in here helping the poor and disadvantaged.

"For whenever we are tested as a nation, this (Conservative) party steps up to the plate. Seven years ago, our challenge was to repair the damage of Labour’s great recession – and we did it. The deficit is down. Spending is under control. And our economy is growing again.

But we didn’t limit ourselves to that ambition. We have achieved so much more.

An income tax cut for over 30 million people.
Four million taken out of paying it at all.
Employment up to a record high.
Unemployment down to a historic low.
Income inequality at its lowest for thirty years.
More women in work than ever before.
Over 11,000 more doctors in our NHS.
Over 11,000 more nurses on our hospital wards.
Free childcare for 3 and 4 year olds doubled.
1.8 million more children in good or outstanding schools.
3 million more apprenticeships.
Crime down by more than a third.

More young people from disadvantaged backgrounds going to university than at any time in the history of our country.

Britain leading the world in tackling climate change, eradicating global poverty, and countering terrorism wherever it rears its head.

Same sex marriage on the statute book, so that two people who love each other can get married, no matter what their gender…

And a National Living Wage - giving a pay rise to the lowest earners – introduced not by the Labour Party, but by us, the Conservative Party.

So let us never allow the Left to pretend they have a monopoly on compassion."

Tom welcome from meArgey

Maybe pop over to the Argey for a pint and a little light relief. Sounds lije you need it

Proof read nina

nina that's more thread about thread stuff and anyway he wouldn't stand a chance. I've looked in the cafe. The remains of the blokes who visited are still on display!

Day6 Deeds speak louder than words. Try more people on zero hours contracts i.e unlovable wages than ever before. More people using foodbanks. More debt. More homeless. Just because they say it doesn't make it true you know. Would post a few links but out to lunch!

Tom You would be a brave man to venture into the Argy.

Much of what you say Day6 resonates with me, I'm not happy with certain Tory policies, they appear to be making a pig's ear in rolling out Universal Credit. However when I casted my vote it was more a question of damage limitation, I have these discussions with one of my sons who is an avid JC supporter, but like most of his peers late twenties, they have no knowledge of how bad things became in the 1970s, it didn't come much worse than people unable to bury their loved ones.

I know this has been brought up adinfinitum, but extreme socialism never ends up helping the poorest, whilst the upper echelons of socialist hierarchies do very well out of it. The thing that repulses me the most about JC and his cohorts, behind his benovlence he doesn't appear to be taking on the bullyboys is there a Tory equivalent of John McDonnell who said to deposed MP, Esther McVey "you are a stain on humanity and should be lynched???" just one example, then of course there is the ongoing denial of the anti semitism, all this from so called progressive politics, which on the contrary seems completely regressive.

Oh don't bring up anti-semitism again
For anyone who doubts Corbyn's commitment listen and understand, this isn't one generation it is many and we are committed to equality and anti-racism.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Qj-wtH5CBc

I am uncomfortable with some on the far left going on and on about people who have wealth, I am not including tax dodgers, when that awful tower fire happened the first demand was to take over empty houses from the owners, no matter the costs of converting a luxury house into flats or the time it would take, it was just let's get those houses. There is a thread of envy running through much and I don't like it. Envy is nasty. Many people have comfortable lives because they have worked damn hard. I live in a council bungalow, my four siblings own their homes, I have worked hard too but being a widow it meant one wage for a part time job, they had two wages in full time jobs, it's the way the world wags . I never expected or thought of having their life styles , we don't have the same life experiences

The attacks on Branson for living abroad, who wouldn't choose to live in a warm climate , but how many people does he employ .

Pity Corbyn hadn't attended the Friends of Israel fringe at the conference, why did he refuse .

Some may find this amusing, at one labour conference we had our usual Welsh night, Mo Mowlam came in to cries of English out, she said - prove I haven't Welsh blood , caused much laughter.

Ssh, you lot, Tom's listening!

I liked Mo Mowlam.

I think that what Tom Gransnet says is obvious, we don’t have threads about actual threads and arguments about them.We can generalise and say we don’t much care for the politics pages for whatever reasons, or think that there shouldn’t be too many games, or cliques etc.
This isn’t a thread for the interrogation of posters as to why they think or say what they do, but the OP started it wondering about any ‘unwritten rules’ which really there aren’t any, just GN guidelines.

Anniebach what’s the saying, ‘it’s a wise child that knows it’s own Father’?

So true lemon ?

Sorry but I don't get that?

Do not think there are unwritten rules but just a sense of self preservation. I love watching some of the exchanges but they are braver than I would be. Agree that the far left dominate.

Welcome Tom. Buckle up and stay strong . Make of it what you will ...

Interesting to see how this post, like many, has meandered.
Just the way of it, but glad to see some earnest discussion. I tend to avoid the political threads as I think my views would be savaged and I don't have the level of knowledge that some have here. But I am a bit of a lefty.

Back to the intent of the OP though ... the way this post has developed makes me reflect that I am not one for a lot of conflict. Some people thrive on it, but I don't like it - so I will stay away from areas where that evidently happens.
However, there is a world of difference between avoiding the cut and thrust of vigorous argy bargy and wanting everything 'fluffy', 'nice' or 'sugar-coated.' Can't stand that either.

If we can't have a 'be kind' rule, can we have a 'be respectful' one instead? That shouldn't have to be difficult.