Is Gransnet leaning more to the left?

Just looked up the Jane Eyre banning.
It's apparently for:

Bigamy and Infidelity - Rochester’s attempt to marry Jane while keeping his living wife, locked in the attic.

​Violence and Mental Illness - scenes involving Bertha burning down the Hall, biting her brother

​Child Abuse and Cruelty - harsh treatment Jane suffers at Gateshead Hall and the Lowood School.

​Passionate and Romantic - Themes of intense emotional and romantic passion outside traditional societal norms.

These are the reasons in parts of Texas. Apparently.

And, diverting slightly, some GNs are actually buddies, from the frequently advertised regional meet ups.

M0nica

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.

I do agree, steadfast pov that never waver. I think it's important to critique one's own party flaws, they all have them in abundance, which is why I don't have any particular blind faith to one political ideology, they're all destined to disappoint in some shape or form. Blair, Cameron Clegg, Johnson, Truss, Starmer, all bear witness to that. Right now, across the channel the palpable Gallic discontent with Macron. Then there's the horror of the increasingly unpredictable, mercurial Madman Across the Water

As regards to those arbitrary best book lists, who actually cares what's on them, they're rarely the ones the average person would read and gain any pleasure from, bar a handful, given the subjective nature of books. Most of these compiled lists are more likely prescribed for English Literature undergraduates to plough through to show they have a wide ranging knowledge of their subject matter.

How many of you have read Jane Eyre?

Did you know that this classic is being banned in some USA states?

If you really want an indication of what would constitute a 'far right' reading list, why not check out what else has been banned?

❤️ but not in a cliquey way!

*MartavTaurus

Actually didn’t realise really it was against the rules to make reference to another thread, it happens quite often by a good few ousters

Oh Cossy, I hope you have a sense of humour, and I do love you, but ousters!!!
😂 sorry for the emoji. Xx*

I do have a sense of humour and my typos are renowned and constant and I cannot excuse any of them as I’m not dyslexic, simply careless!

Your comment made me laugh, and I’m glad my “carelessness” made you smile too.

Wish you and everyone else on here a good day

Kandinsky

I accept my own comment ( thinking about it now ) wasn’t the best, and I will in future ignore all her posts ( how I wish there was a ‘block poster’ function ) - but bringing up my spelling error on here and smiling about it was extremely unkind, and only done to humiliate me.
I’m just glad I’m not that unkind.

Some of your many comments directed at me have been extremely pointed and quite unkind and never once have I highlighted them previously Kandinsky.

Sometimes things we say, do, and write come back and bite us on the bottom, and this certainly applies to me in many cases, as I fully admit I’m challenging, but I’m also open, honest and compassionate.

If I upset or offended you in any way by highlighting one typo, then I genuinely and publicly apologise, as it wasn’t my intention.

Actually didn’t realise really it was against the rules to make reference to another thread, it happens quite often by a good few ousters

Oh Cossy, I hope you have a sense of humour, and I do love you, but ousters!!!
😂 sorry for the emoji. Xx

I accept my own comment ( thinking about it now ) wasn’t the best, and I will in future ignore all her posts ( how I wish there was a ‘block poster’ function ) - but bringing up my spelling error on here and smiling about it was extremely unkind, and only done to humiliate me.
I’m just glad I’m not that unkind.

* bad grammar there
Of who, not whom ........ for the nitpickers!

Kandinsky

These contributors also like to belittle others or make sarcastic remarks about grammar, spelling etc

Whilst I agree with you about the spelling aspect, your own comment itself was rather belittling. It didn't deal with the matter being discussed, it was directed at the poster for raising it.

MaizieD

^…bringing something said on another thread onto this one ( against the rules I thought? )^

If you’re going to pick nits in this way how about castigating the OP for talking about 2 gnet threads about books in her initial post?

Or maybe this nitpick is taking the gnet ‘condition’ of not starting threads about threads to a totally absurd conclusion?

Good point, which kind of confuses the issue about cliqueness mentioned in the OP.

How else do GNs form relationships, albeit remotely, if they don't build on what they know about a poster from previous threads?

I'm always aware of whom amongst my GN buddies might want to talk about dogs, fashion, food, travel, literature, because I sometimes refer back to what they have written previously. That isn't cliquey though. Same with News and Politics I guess.

The list of Great Books listed here seemed to err on the side of very old and very worthy. I have read only a few of them.
I have read the two more recent books - Wolf Hall which I think was a masterpiece, and the Elena Ferrante trilogy, which I, and my book group, thought quite poor.
I'm unsure that this is related to our political perspectives.
My book group is very diverse in voting intentions, and we were in agreement on the Elena Ferrante series .

Kandinsky

*These contributors also like to belittle others or make sarcastic remarks about grammar, spelling etc*

Cossy

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”

Just to prove the opening post is correct this particular poster couldn’t resist:

A) bringing something said on another thread onto this one ( against the rules I thought? )
And worse,
B) highlighting a spelling mistake/ typo and smiling about it.
I could be dyslexic for all she knows, still I’m glad she finds it amusing.

I won’t report her, rather let everyone see her for what she is.

That’s terribly kind of kind of you, and had your original comment not been so utterly patronising in the first instance, I simply would not have dreamt of quoting it.

Actually didn’t realise really it was against the rules to make reference to another thread, it happens quite often by a good few ousters, but for breaking the rules, I apologise, and I won’t repeat my error.

Btw, I make typos and spelling mistakes on most of my posts and all are welcome to critique.

Io think there’s a saying along the lines of , “if you cannot take it, don’t dish it out”.

I fully admit I challenge and can be, at times, a challenging person.

I do try my best to stay away from personal insults, and aside from this comment, I’ve actually never criticised any posters spelling or grammar.

Perhaps you feel it’s ok to dig at me, but that I shouldn’t respond?

Perhaps your response here actually says more about you than me?

Who knows.

Perhaps in this instance it would best for the both of to us agree to disagree and refrain from commenting on each others posts, as we both appear to “rub each other up the wrong way”.

Life is far too short and precious to fall out or in any other way get upset by a stranger, I mean that in all sincerity and for both of us. Neither of us know each other in RL and I’m sure you’re a good person.

…bringing something said on another thread onto this one ( against the rules I thought? )

If you’re going to pick nits in this way how about castigating the OP for talking about 2 gnet threads about books in her initial post?

Or maybe this nitpick is taking the gnet ‘condition’ of not starting threads about threads to a totally absurd conclusion?

Spot on.
I occasionally post on political themed threads but get shouted down by the same GN's who think their opinions are the right ones and are the only ones that count. Some replies are downright rude.
I will be giving them a miss in future. I don't need the aggro.

These contributors also like to belittle others or make sarcastic remarks about grammar, spelling etc

Cossy

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”

Just to prove the opening post is correct this particular poster couldn’t resist:

A) bringing something said on another thread onto this one ( against the rules I thought? )
And worse,
B) highlighting a spelling mistake/ typo and smiling about it.
I could be dyslexic for all she knows, still I’m glad she finds it amusing.

I won’t report her, rather let everyone see her for what she is.

I remember reading a few excerpts from das Kapital as part of my German degree. More to study the language than anything about die Ökonomie. I understood neither.
I think I remember learning that the Russians rushed to translate it first in their interests. Then the French.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.