Socio-Political question

[The Large One]

There are some on here (no names - yet) who refer to 'Lefties' in the derogatory sense, especially on subjects such as criminality, immigration, world politics, penal reform, urban driving, the environment and so on. They use the phrase purely as what they perceive is an insult to people who they disagree with on certain issues. I do it myself with the Tories, but then I can satisfy myself with my own belief in what modern-day Conservatism is and what - and who - it represents. Altough I do use that term very sparingly.

What gets me is that when 'Lefties' (often in assocation with 'reds', 'liberals' and 'namby-pamby') is used in the form it is on here, it tends to have very little value, because it is often a sign-off from a rant or a point of order, and not used within the context of said argument. So, for those that use this phrase, can they let me know what they believe a 'leftie' is, what are the values represented by 'lefties', and what they find so insulting about 'lefties'?

I've asked several times, but the people who use this phrase don't seem to want to reply, and I am genuinely curious.

 

[Lammy]

I think it's basically used to dismiss the comments of anyone who thinks along the lines of;

- Prison is for reform not just punishment

- All immigrants are not all evil spungers stealing our jobs

- Perhaps we should be considering others and the environment when we empty our paddling pool every day during a drought and drive around in a 4x4.

etc...

 

[Grendel]

I've asked several times, but the people who use this phrase don't seem to want to reply, and I am genuinely curious.

They're probably too busy foaming at the mouth and masturbating over pictures of Nick Griffin to respond.

 

[Trufflehound]

- Perhaps we should be considering others and the environment when we empty our paddling pool every day during a drought and drive around in a 4x4.

That's about the gist of it.

"Lefties" are people who feel guilty about such behaviour, know it's wrong, and so respond by stopping doing it.

"Righties"/tories/whatever are people who feel guilty about such behaviour, know it's wrong, but are too selfish to stop, so they respond by getting defensive and irritable and lashing out at "lefties" and anyone else who dares to suggest there is an alternative.

 

[Tubby Mondays]

Youve probably answered you question with the observation that when you have asked these people to explain what they mean by the term they are unable to give you an answer, much in the same way as they are unable to provide a rounded argument for the rubbish that they spout.

See: the general term for anyone from asia being known as 'pakis'. If it is pointed out that someone is in fact from India, the response will invariably be 'Theyre all pakis'. What a well rounded argument.

The nadir (or height) of this type of reasoning was exemplified by some half wit on a documentary on Combat 18 a few years ago. After railing against blacks, sorry wogs, pakis, etc, he claimed that he hoped to sell enough copies of his toilet paper to retire to the West Indies. Whether this heavyweight of political science was aware of the indigenous population in the West Indies was unclear.

 

[bhaexpress]

Are you trying to drive us all looney or something TLO ? Actually its akin to the way we as Brighton fans get called gay just because some of the people who live in the city are. Its a rather feeble attempt at provoking irritation and says that the persons using such terms as an intended slight are in fact witless morons.

 

[Mr Banana]

It's one of those comforting phrases that says more about those using it than those to whom it is directed. It is almost invariably the refuge of those too terrified to envisage a life involving any depth of thought, giving their brainlessness away by spluttering it wildly at the end of largely incohesive arguments.

Richard Littlejohn and Jeremy Clarkson are easily the best and most entertaining examples of this. Sadly, the term 'righty' has not caught on (or been changed from 'inarticulate dullard') yet, as 'lefties' generally possess the vocabulary with which to express their views without needing to resort to language splicing.

I've made my own version of it where I just call anyone who slags off things I like racist. It works five times as effectively.

 

[bhaexpress]

It's one of those comforting phrases that says more about those using it than those to whom it is directed. It is almost invariably the refuge of those too terrified to envisage a life involving any depth of thought, giving their brainlessness away by spluttering it wildly at the end of largely incohesive arguments.

Richard Littlejohn and Jeremy Clarkson are easily the best and most entertaining examples of this. Sadly, the term 'righty' has not caught on (or been changed from 'inarticulate dullard') yet, as 'lefties' generally possess the vocabulary with which to express their views without needing to resort to language splicing.

I've made my own version of it where I just call anyone who slags off things I like racist. It works five times as effectively.

Why bother with the word 'righty' when 'wanker' is more than sufficient ?

 

[Man of Harveys]

Why do the bigots never post on threads like this? I think you need put "tax-dodging filthy immigrant scum taking our money AGAIN!" in the title even to get their attention.

 

[Gwylan]

Why do the bigots never post on threads like this? I think you need put "tax-dodging filthy immigrant scum taking our money AGAIN!" in the title even to get their attention.

Don't you mean "tax-dodging filthy Muslim immigrant scum taking our money AGAIN!"?

 

[readingstockport]

What always amazes me is the fact the right wing wankers - hi looney - never seem to rail against the white american immigrants who are much much more likely to dodge taxes using financial vehicles set up by other white american immigrants than any non-white imigrant is.

Anyone would think that their rants are in fact based on racist bigotry and not fact.

 

[withdeanwombat]

Dunno about all this.Aren't Lefties southpaws?

 

[Franks Wild Years]

And another thing.
People who refer to the Labour government as a left wing government.

Hello ? Which bit exactly is left wing ?

 

[On the Left Wing]

There are some on here (no names - yet) who refer to 'Lefties' in the derogatory sense, especially on subjects such as criminality, immigration, world politics, penal reform, urban driving, the environment and so on. They use the phrase purely as what they perceive is an insult to people who they disagree with on certain issues. I do it myself with the Tories, but then I can satisfy myself with my own belief in what modern-day Conservatism is and what - and who - it represents. Altough I do use that term very sparingly.

What gets me is that when 'Lefties' (often in assocation with 'reds', 'liberals' and 'namby-pamby') is used in the form it is on here, it tends to have very little value, because it is often a sign-off from a rant or a point of order, and not used within the context of said argument. So, for those that use this phrase, can they let me know what they believe a 'leftie' is, what are the values represented by 'lefties', and what they find so insulting about 'lefties'?

I've asked several times, but the people who use this phrase don't seem to want to reply, and I am genuinely curious.

hear hear!

 

[The Large One]

Interestingly, this thread is now two hours old and none of the people who I had in mind on this have yet replied.

My question still stands, as my curiosity is genuine.

 

[Mr Banana]

Interestingly, this thread is now two hours old and none of the people who I had in mind on this have yet replied.

My question still stands, as my curiosity is genuine.

They aren't gonna be able to explain what it means, so stop poncing around like a leftie and just get on with naming names so that the rest of us can wade through the pages of intermittently unboring catfighting.

 

[coventrygull]

Well lefties to me are usually middle class people who desperately try to identify with the working class and the ethnic population but because they live in their nice middle class world haven't really got a clue.

Hence most lefties go on to find nice jobs in the city when they are older and join the labour party because they think they are socialists.

 

[Southover Street Seagull]

I have asked why they think that New Labour are lefties before and they don't give an answer. I have also put this link in to see what their political stance is after they take the test on it. But still no answer. The truth is they are not really interested in what is a real lefty or what a real righty is, they have their warped view and that is all that counts.

Here is the link: http://www.politicalcompass.org/

 

[coventrygull]

I have asked why they think that New Labour are lefties before and they don't give an answer. I have also put this link in to see what their political stance is after they take the test on it. But still no answer. The truth is they are not really interested in what is a real lefty or what a real righty is, they have their warped view and that is all that counts.

Here is the link: http://www.politicalcompass.org/

I don't think new labour are lefties but then again I am not a rightie no more

 

[HampshireSeagulls]

Who did you have in mind?

I think "lefty" is quite subjective, and depends on your view on different subjects. Anything which may be seen as more permissive can be viewed as "lefty", whereas the stock answer for anything more prohobitive is classed as "fascism", or draws out the BNP comments.