We don't need no politics

[vilakins]

We have a general election in about three months, and last night our neighbour came round to ask which party we supported. The answer is Labour (a lot more left-wing than the British version); why do you ask? It turns out he's a rabid National (IOW Conservative) supporter and wanted to ask us if we'd offer the grass on our side of the shared driveway for a National hoarding.

"No way, Roy," we said, as politely as we could (he's a very nice neighbour apart from his politics).

He's still free to offer them the much smaller strip on his side. I'm hoping they don't want it even though there's a street opposite where people would have to look at the bloody thing while trying to merge into traffic. If they do put a hoarding there though, I'll have to (aaaargh!) drive past the thing every day and have random people thinking I agree with it. Or do a Hone Heke and cut the thing down each night. Ahem.

I'm very annoyed as though that strip's his, we do share the driveway; why should we be forced to share his politics as well?

[wonders how to put this view across to him as nicely as possible]

Comments

[hafren.livejournal.com]

Well, seems to me the only way to make sure you aren't associated with it is to put a different hoarding on your side of the grass. Either from the other party or simply saying "we don't agree with that there thing".

It can be very difficult when you like someone apart from their politics. When I was younger I used to just drop people when I found that out about them, but either I've got less committed or have more diverse interests, because now there are a lot of people I couldn't do without. I tend to try not to find out now.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

[sigh] The last lot of neighbours wouldn't speak to us because we didn't cut our trees low enough to please them, then sold off their back property (so that in fact three houses share the drive) without telling us. I really don't want that sort of nastiness again. These people are very nice and also laughed and forgave us when we broke into their place on Christmas Day a week after they moved in, to rescue our cat and turn their alarm off which Tessa had set off--having that blaring for hours would have really ruined the whole area's Christmas. I went round later with a bottle of wine and confessed and they were lovely unlike the previous owners. We've got on well ever since.

It would be sort of funny to have a Labour hoarding there too, but I think I'll just let it go if the site gets picked. I'm hoping it really isn't a big enough strip their side to have a sign angled to be seen from the street opposite; cars on our road won't see anything while approaching because of trees. I'd cross my fingers if I were superstitious.

Maybe I should just try to say that although it's his land that side, the area is shared and in effect common and we really don't like the idea as we don't have the same views. I'm not very good at this sort of thing.

[zoefruitcake.livejournal.com]

I think that although I would hate the fact that the hording was there I would bite my tongue in favour of friendly neighbours

[communicator.livejournal.com]

I would too. Elections come and go, but you have to get along with people for years to come.

He's probably embarrassed too vilakins - if he came round to ask you, he may have thought you had the same views as him. In his shoes I'd quietly drop the whole thing, but I suppose you can't rely on that.

If it was me I'd make a joke of it next time you see him: 'Bet you never knew I was one of those mad commies!'

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

LOL, I might do that!

At one office I worked in, there was a really right-wing guy. In the end we turned it all into a joke; much better than arguing. I'd give him the clenched fist salute every morning and he'd laugh and call me a red. :-)

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's pretty much what I'm doing, and venting here. :-(

[daiseechain.livejournal.com]

I like the Hone Heke idea. :)

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Hee. Well so far it hasn't appeared. :-P