Is Gransnet leaning more to the left?

Sago OP- "After looking through the thread on the Guardian top 10 books it prompted me to revisit a thread I started in August re the Daily Telegraph top 50 books. The responses were pretty negative on the whole, it would seem posters felt the list was “subjective, tosh, prescriptive, snobbery, silly, objective, woke". The Guardian list was far better received. This got me thinking is Gransnet leaning too far left?"

Any newspapers top 10 or top 50 books, complied at different times by different persons will have ;posters of whatever political persuasion disagreeing with the list. Such a list will always be subject to the person/person compiling the list and their reading preferences rather than their political leanings.

I wonder what it is that got you thinking specifically whether Gransnet become leaning too far left and then going to Trustpilot and Chat GPT? did you not have any thoughts or views yourself as a Gransnet poster? Did finding one single and sole Trsutpilot poster that posted Gransnet has a number of Far Left supporters confirm or alter your personal view? When you turned to Chat GPT it did not mirror the single Trustpilot poster. You indicated Chat GPT indicated had no academic research found strong views on both sides

Do you have any personal observations you wish to share?

It doesn't worry me that many left-leaning posters express strong opposition to the policies of the Conservative Party, Reform and even right-leaning media outlets. I guess it works both ways.

I do agree though, that posters being aggressive and rude to other posters is out of order. And belittling opinions that some value is unacceptable.

Finally, I've noticed that some left-leaning posters have a tendency to think they are always RIGHT!

As a long term member of GN (I joined within months of it being established) what I have noticed is how political discussion is dominated by the party faithful, faithful to their party and party line.

In earlier times, despite people having party allegiances, they were far more open to critiquing their own party's policies and we had very open and wide ranging discussions on social and political issues, now if a political issue comes up, you know before you start what the stance of every contributor will be, if you know which party they support, whether on the right or on the left. It can sometimes be very boring.

How very odd that it seems perfectly OK to lob accusations at “certain” posters, such as “sanctimonious” and “rather disgusting”, then claim that posters are “likely to get a pile on”.

If you don’t enjoy robust debate and challenge, then simply avoid the N&P threads, or as someone suggested to me the other day “Watch Homes under the Hummer”, I’m assuming they meant “Hammer”.

Could someone re post The Daily Telegraph books that seem to indicate one’s political bias (as opposed to The Guardian list?).

MartavTaurus

It doesn't worry me that many left-leaning posters express strong opposition to the policies of the Conservative Party, Reform and even right-leaning media outlets. I guess it works both ways.

I do agree though, that posters being aggressive and rude to other posters is out of order. And belittling opinions that some value is unacceptable.

Finally, I've noticed that some left-leaning posters have a tendency to think they are always RIGHT!

Whilst I agree with what you say, I’d simply add that it’s not just the left leaning who think they’re always correct, I’d suggest everyone who posts here actually truly believes their opinions and views are “right”, otherwise why would they bother posting?

I would say I do think everyone’s views are valid and interesting, but an opinion, including mine, is simply that. It’s not a “fact”, unless, of course, it’s backed up with credible evidence, named sources and stats, where available.

I’m always really appreciative of links and sources from those who produce them, others, I’ve noticed, are not so. 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

MG55

Could someone re post The Daily Telegraph books that seem to indicate one’s political bias (as opposed to The Guardian list?).

See my post upthread which links to the old three and both lists.

Some of the books from Kerridge’s Daily Telegraph list. Some of these also appear on the Guardian list.

Homer’s Iliad,
Plato’s The Last Days of Socrates,
Ovid’s Metamorphoses,
Dante’s The Divine Comedy,
Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales,
Rabalais’ Gargantua and Pantagruel,
Cervantes’, Don Quixote
Burton’s The Anatomy of Melancholy,
Pepys “Diary”,
Milton’s Paradise Lost,
Bunyan’s Pilgrims Progress,
Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels,
Sterne’s The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman,
Gibbon’s The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire,
Shelley’s Frankenstein,
Austen’s Persuasion,
Hardy’s The Mayor of Casterbridge,
Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby,
Didion’s The Year of Magical Thinking,
McCarthy’s The Road,
Tokarczuk’s Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead, Mantel’s “Wolf Hall”,
Ferrante’s My Brilliant Friend …

What has being widely read got to do with one's political affiliations?

... old thread and both lists.

Thanks Graphite

I think GN is predominantly left leaning but I don’t really think there are cliques. These days many seem to be terrified of being labelled far right, particularly in the UK, so right leaning people tend to keep schtum.

Sago

I will stress at no point have I described any posters. As far left.

The Trustpilot quote did.

I simply asked if this forum was leaning too far left.

Unable to sleep, I peeked at GN... saw your OP and am now even more wide awake - only because it's an interesting topic.

But Sago your post is a tad ambiguous, I'm not quite sure I understand what you are suggesting but assume you mean that there are too many left-wing views being expressed?

Graphite

What has being widely read got to do with one's political affiliations?

I think if someone reads widely - it would be quite difficult to tell from the books on their bedside table which political party they supported.

Thank goodness if it’s leaning anywhere it’s not to the extreme right. For most discerning gransnetters it will be more centrist with an eye for whichever way benefits the country as a whole.

As for these book lists I can’t see much relevance in them. The Telegraph list is a far from scintillating choice by goodness who. A list without War and Peace is hardly worth a look. Does that make me a leftie? After all, Tolstoy was said to be the first real Communist.

Does it matter? Progressive politics and its supporters the OP argues is represented by more posters than those who support the right more conservative politics.

Given the parlous state of the right wing politics at present , then why are we surprised?

Arguing to support the right wing conservative politics on offer must be an uphill struggle at the moment, and I don’t envy anyone who tries - it has very little to offer those who have in the past supported traditional Toryism.

Never mind your time will come - not I hope for a decade or so, but be patient in the usual scheme of things the pendulum will swing back.

Maybe Gransnet should do a poll and ask how many Gransnetees have got a copy of 'Das Kapital'. And actually read it.

Margs

Maybe Gransnet should do a poll and ask how many Gransnetees have got a copy of 'Das Kapital'. And actually read it.

I bet the answer would be zero.

Those of us who studied nineteenth century history might have been forced to . Along with other stuff . I remember getting ticked off by my mil for having a copy of Mao’s little red book,too.

Well tbh given that it is a description of nineteenth century capitalism which has stood the test of time even today I think most of us are familiar with its arguments.