Are AB posters representative of the wider population?

[ruby27]

I realise that not all the posters here are British or resident in Britain but they make up the majority, yes? So I apologise to those who are not, if this post appears to exclude you.
I wonder if the political and ideological views that are demonstrated here particularly in News and S and C are an accurate snap shot of the opinions of the wider population of Britain.
The reason I have wondered about this is that in my own personal and professional world I do not meet with such statistically large numbers of people who hold such extreme views, particularly racist and homophobic. I know that there are plenty of posters here who get castigated as PC, do gooder, liberal or just plain stupid.
Is there something about AB that is especially attractive to the right wing, hang em high? If so what is it?

[Oneeyedvic]

flip-flop - yes I do agree with your point - but then I guess racism is always an emotive issue for a lot of people.

The thing which winds me up a lot on AB is people not distinguishing between illegal immigrants and 'normal' immigrants and using the two interchangeably. I guess that is not racism but ignorance. I also think that when you have been on he receiving side of racism, it is easy to perceive racism everywhere.

[jno]

interesting point from vic analysing who might be on AB and when; I hadn't thought of that but I guess that does make a difference. er, 11.04 here, but I work shifts.

[Oneeyedvic]

jno - shhh - not allowed to talk about shift work - it destroys my theory!

Actually, no it doesn't - as you are one of the yoghurt knitting, wooly thinking lah di dah brigade.

Maybe my theory does actually work!

[NJOK]

I also think that there are people who oppose immigration but aren't racist.

But there are also those on this site who seem to think that anything short of burning black people or punching asians can't possibly be racist.

So I agree, flip flop, that some liberals are quick to cry 'racism' when it isn't necessarily there. But the misunderstanding definitely works both ways.

[Leilapups]

I guess you would have to know something about the background of the posters on the news and here to assess if they in any way match the total population. Like Oneeyevic has hypothesised. For instance you said you only found this site by accident but you have stayed you didn't pop straight back out. So what keeps people here - what is it that floats there boat about the topics that have the debates. I think it is because the people here like to debate/argue and contest as a pastime. Is that typical of the general population - I don't think so if I consider the people I know, I am not aware of any of them coming on to here. Unless the are ashamed to admit, maybe

[ruby27]

Theland
Your issue about deciding incredibly complex issues by referendum have been debated previously and I thought overwhelmingly demonstrated it is just not a practical solution and that professional elected politicians, whilst not a structure problem free, is the least problematic.

[ruby27]

flip_flop
I think it is a bit like those pictures where from one perspective you see an old women's face but then look again you see a complete picture of a young women. Depends on the beholder.
Words in themselves are objective, free of any meaning other than is ascribed and socially constructed, when in context. Therefore language is the term of reference we use to make sense of our world, either through speaking, reading or the thoughts we have in response to all sorts of stimuli, such as sight smell, touch etc. So I have a reference for what I consider is racist, when I read posts here that laud the work of Bernard Manning, I interpret that his action, primarily language jokes(sic) are racist and those who admire his words as also sharing racist view. Others here perceive BM, racism differently. I believe my opinions, they believe theirs. Sometimes exchanges of views opinions help us shift our world view, other times it reinforces our original thoughts.
No cant give you link as I can not do that yet, sorry.

[jno]

ruby, to give links, if you have a web page you want to draw someone's attention to, highlight the URL (it's usually the screed near the top of the page with 'Address' by it or something similar; you highlight it by clicking on it, maybe once or twice); then you click control and c. Then go to the post or email you're writing and click control and v. (or if you go to Edit at the top of the page, Copy is the same as Ctrl c and Paste the same as Ctrl v). That should copy the address onto the page. Then hit the space bar once so it's separated. It will usually turn into a link immediately by appearing in red with a line under it - though not on AB posts; you actually have to press Submit and send it first.

Sorry if I'm teaching my granddaughter to suck eggs here.

[Theland]

jno - "Grandaughter!" Wow! Myth exploded!

[Theland]

Ruby - before I go any further, please tell me, are you a Marxist? You can still come to the party if you are you know!

[ruby27]

Theland
No I am not a Marxist or a Christian. My parents were/are Christians but not of the same doctrine, faith as you ,I think because your view points do not accord with the Christianity that I was brought up in.
I had a parent who was conservative with a small c
a parent who was a liberal voter
a grand parent who was racist, I can not bother to spell out the rest
2 grandparents who were Marxist communists.

I am indelibly influenced by Christianity and whilst not a Christian I do consider that much of the values are worth taking and holding onto into a secular life. Ditto for Marxism, Islam and any old religion they tend to come up with similar ideas about how to lead life.

But most of all I am a feminist, social constructionsit, vegetatian

[legend759]

i believe that britain is a rascist country in general.
i think it harks back to thhe days of great britain.
the british empire.
brits expect everyone to speak english,and presume themselves to be superior .
i think people forget we were the thieves of the world.
conquering countries pillaging them
then giving them independance when they became too troublesome .
ab does have a representative mix in my opinion.
though some folk on here im sure like to portray themselves as having higher intellect than the majority and i wonder if this stems from insecurity in their real lives that they manifest here by assuming superiority.
though i could be wrong.

[ruby27]

Oh my god, not because I have had an organism, but in the most unlikely event, though we agree!

Tell me this isn't going to lead to love. I kinda fancy the role of werido!

[legend759]

now im at a loss.
was that representative of anyone you know offline ???

[ruby27]

Sorry
terribly embarrassing but I was so caught up with answering Legend that I have posted a response in the incorrect thread. Gosh I once accidentally tucked my skirt into my knickers and walked around Newcastle, but that that was 20 years ago, didn't think I was still so obvious.

[ruby27]

Bye way Theland. Generally I do not like parties. Will go for some exceptional reasons.

[Theland]

Well I'm sure you make a very interesting and popular guest.

[legend760]

im not convinced of that in the least theland.
skirt in knickers.


so common

[Theland]

But what a talking point!