French Election

[Dominic]

Surely you can both just as easily say that his opinion is not worthy of interest because he is black.
Or because he is Jewish.

What a ridiculous statement. Simply ridiculous.

I didn't say his opinion was not worthy of interest, I said "You just shouldn't expect people who did bother to vote to pay much heed to your opinion."

if he was posting on a forum for American Expats, about Brexit, then his opinion would be as valid as any of the other posters. But to post such comments on a forum frequented by people who could be bothered to vote, is the equivalent of an American posting their opinion here. Repeatedly. On and on.

Now, initally, people might welcome the input, but eventually it would just get on people's nerves and they would end up being told to sod off and mind their own business.

[Poppy]

Oops looks like I got it wrong again Lloyd re your right to vote.
May I just say though,when you state that many on here took an interest in the American and French elections,the difference is we can take an interest but are unable to vote as we (at least the majority of us) are not citizens of those countries but you are a citizen of the UK and apparently have the right to vote but chose not to- that is the difference Lloyd and if you cannot see that then you just might be as dimwitted as you choose to call those of us who voted for BREXIT!

[OhSusana]

Surely you can both just as easily say that his opinion is not worthy of interest because he is black.
Or because he is Jewish.

What a ridiculous statement. Simply ridiculous.

I didn't say his opinion was not worthy of interest, I said "You just shouldn't expect people who did bother to vote to pay much heed to your opinion."

if he was posting on a forum for American Expats, about Brexit, then his opinion would be as valid as any of the other posters. But to post such comments on a forum frequented by people who could be bothered to vote, is the equivalent of an American posting their opinion here. Repeatedly. On and on.

Now, initally, people might welcome the input, but eventually it would just get on people's nerves and they would end up being told to sod off and mind their own business.

While I welcome you writing - "I didn't say his opinion was not worthy of interest", I do question what follows.
Yes, obviously my question was rather facetious. But I generated the response I hoped to get - that clearly there is no link between the quality of an argument, and whether a person is black, or white, or Jewish, or German, or whether they voted or not.
These things are obviously irrelevant to the quality of anybody's argument on any forum, or cafe, for that matter, in the world.

In that sense you distance yourself from the -
"anyone who has the right to vote but decides not to bother for whatever reason has no opinion worthy of interest." - point of view.
And I applaud you for that.

However, you then go on to say - in as many words (albeit using the term "people", rather than "I") - that you would tell an American to "sod off" if they disagreed with your views, and your logic behind such a decision would be that they were "American"?!
You display no other reason.
Obviously I do not wish to paraphrase you, but would you agree that is a fair conclusion of what you write above?

And if so, would you also agree that such an opinion might be regarded correctly an say racial intolerance, racism maybe, nationalism, pure prejudice?

To site an example from today.
I was reading the discussion about the fire in London.
Jeba, who I understand is German, made a comment about regulations in Germany and how he was shocked that this did not apply in the UK.
I personally find his points of view always interesting. I welcome others having a free say. Whatever their nationality.
Now - you are saying - if Jeba continued to make comments about this - which, let us say, you and others disagree with, then - and I quote you.

"Now, initally, people might welcome the input, but eventually it would just get on people's nerves and they would end up being told to sod off and mind their own business."

You would tell Jeba to "sod off" ( your own words) and "mind his own business" because - why?
Because he was German? And even though his comments might be the most intelligent and informed on the entire forum?

And that brings us back to my point which you called "ridiculous".
Surely, you initially distance yourself from prejudice, and then you display it openly yourself?

My personal opinion.
Anybody's opinion should be valued and listened too, whether you agree with it or not.
No matter what the topic, Brexit, or a fire in a London tower block. Whatever.
Whether that person is white, black, male, female, American or German is irrelevant.
And if they press their point, they should also be tolerated, and listened to; and should not be told to "sod off and mind their own business".

[Dominic]

I cannot fathom why you are trying to play a race card.

[cyprusgrump]

My personal opinion.
Anybody's opinion should be valued and listened too, whether you agree with it or not.
No matter what the topic, Brexit, or a fire in a London tower block. Whatever.
Whether that person is white, black, male, female, American or German is irrelevant.
And if they press their point, they should also be tolerated, and listened to; and should not be told to "sod off and mind their own business".

Except Paul Staines obviously...

You didn't just disagree with him, in fact you didn't really challenge his opinion at all - you just made a nasty and spiteful attack on his character on this very forum which you claimed made his opinion irrelevant.

OhSusana = Hypocrite.

[OhSusana]

I cannot fathom why you are trying to play a race card.

Let me first say - I do not regard you as a racist. Quite the opposite.
i write this for the benefit of other readers. I already know this, and so do you.
However, I do feel here that you have made an error of judgement on this issue. My opinion, obviously.
I will continue.

[OhSusana]

if he was posting on a forum for American Expats, about Brexit, then his opinion would be as valid as any of the other posters. But to post such comments on a forum frequented by people who could be bothered to vote, is the equivalent of an American posting their opinion here. Repeatedly. On and on.

Now, initally, people might welcome the input, but eventually it would just get on people's nerves and they would end up being told to sod off and mind their own business.

Let us take two imaginary forum members.
Mrs A, who is American, and an American passport holder. and
Mr B, who is British, and a British passport holder.

You mention Brexit - quoted above.
You mention "an American posting their opinion here".

Now - Mr B can post whatever he likes on this forum about Brexit, because he is British. You agree?

Your key phrase is "mind their own business". The implication here is that, for Mrs A, Brexit is not her "own business". So -
Mrs A cannot post whatever she likes about Brexit because she is American. You agree?

Do we agree on that much?! )

[Dominic]

No we disagree. I have never said that anybody couldn't post.

[OhSusana]

No we disagree. I have never said that anybody couldn't post.

Fair point. I am glad to read that. You are right.