A question for those considering themselves politically right of center.?

Question

How do you react when you are in a room full of people that mock anything not supported by the mainstream left? I attend college classes everyday, and it never ceases to amaze me how much hate and self righteousness poors out from the faculty and students.

I'm often too afraid of the potential consequences of voicing my opinion. These people are preaching tolerance, but I certainly don't think my point of view would be tolerated.

Has anyone else experienced this? If so, what did you do? How did it turn out?

Thanks.

Answer 1

I'm not right, but very, very far left. Hope you don't mind my $0.02 here, but I don't think you're getting the best advice from either side.

First, let's distinguish outside of college from IN college: Not talking about your views, while a reasonable thing outside college (for some people), seems to me to be an unfortunate choice IN college -- this SHOULD be a time when all reasonable views are up for discussion.

Yet, I can understand your hesitation, as the dominant culture is to the left.

The trick is to keep the discussion on the views: the facts and the lines of reasoning, and not devolve into character assassination. Unfortunately, few people have learned to do this. If you can, and if you can identify others who can, this will be a Very Good Thing for all of you.

The basis for discussion should be: Each person is the best source of information regarding what they themselves think. No fair responding to "But I don't think that" with "Yes you do." You want people to take you seriously as a sincere and fair person; you need to do the same.

There is very little rational discussion in our cute little culture these days. Mostly, people stereotype and demonize the opposition (this isn't a left/right thing, both sides are guilty). So, how to get past all the crud?

First, I suggest you not try this in class, but in outside of class contexts. (There are, unfortunately, many closed-minded profs, but there are the open-minded, too, who would be worth your time to discuss things with.) You might try going to the office hours of any profs you think may be open to fair-minded discussion. But I think you're best off starting with students, then taking the results of this process to the more thoughtful profs.

I would encourage you to engage other students in open discussion of your views. You will carry an extra burden of needing to keep calm, and stick to facts and reason, when many will be shocked at what you have to say. Some students will, in fact, not be worth the bother trying to discuss things, as they will not be open-minded. Don't bother with them. Find those who respond to calm, well-reasoned discussion. (Some of these may seem out of control at first, but if they later approach you and seem interested to understand your views, give them another chance.)

So, you need to make sure you understand THEIR views, and what are the bases for your disagreement with them.

When people "Straw Man" you -- that is, when they attribute to you beliefs you don't in fact hold, calmly say that you don't believe what they've said.

It's a good practice for both sides to give the opposing view, and to accept correction. "What is it that you think I think about this and why do I think it?" When they say something that you don't think, interrupt them, and let them know that isn't what you think.

Do this yourself. Say, "This is what I understand your position to be...." Then give it accurately. If they say that you've gotten it wrong, listen to them, and try again, giving your new understanding of their views. You aren't in a position to disagree, unless you understand what it is that they think.

Again, I am the best judge of what I think, as you are the best judge of what you think. Everyone in the discussion needs to accept this.

If you hold yourself to this standard of fair-mindedness, you can then hold others to the same standard. Those who are fair-minded will then learn from your views; those who aren't, aren't worth bothering with.

Sorry for the long-windedness of this response.

Answer 2

Be confident. Do not be pushy though. Most importantly know not only the pertinent facts but the logic behind what you believe. Liberals tend to think and believe emotionally and have a hard time dealing with pragmatic logic. However...you should avoid becoming argumentive and refuse to converse if they start to interrupt you. Simply state that you will only have a debate if polite respect is shown on both sides. Furthermore be able to show the diplomacy needed to not irk your professor overly much. Most professors like a student that can support his or her views, but not at the expense of their rapport and respect they feel is due them. It's a fine line and I'm glad I am not in college anymore. Do your best and remember...there's always a party to go to afterwards!

Answer 3

A good calm response with the facts will deflate an entire room of leftist banter. Both my brother and my wife experienced this in college, my brother got a low grade, and my wife actually ended up rallying a lot of other students that were conservative, but afraid to say so. You never know. You will make an impact either way. Good luck

Answer 4

Here's my two cents worth, friend.

I think you need to read the responses on this board posted by conservatives and ask yourself if they are being tolerant of liberal/anti-war views. Clearly there is hate on both sides, but my gut feel is that there is more hate and intolerance expressed by the conservatives...at least, on these boards.

Also, when conservatives get together, are they accepting and eager to hear liberal views? I think it's only natural that any group of like-minded people will mock views that run against the view of the group.

Answer 5

I've never quite been in the same situation but I do consider myself right of the political spectrum and it's very evident that when I'm around someone from the left, it just gets frustrating to casually talk to them about politics cause they don't have an open mind and it seems like they just refuse to hear out anybody else with a different opinion and although they say that they're open minded...there's a fine line between just saying you are and then actually opening up to reality. but I am a loud mouth and voice my opinion but let me tell you.. they do not like to hear it. lol

Answer 6

Many of my college friends were liberal. We had enough class and intelligence to talk politics, share differences and disagree without calling each other names or insulting the other.

This is something that I find lacking with the youth of today. No tolerance towards another opinion other than their own. They also lack the intelligence to debate without it turning to name calling when they can't show support for their ideas.

It is a shame that we have lost the art of debate.

Answer 7

it quite is a fine looking attitude. i'm African American and by no skill seen my self more desirable helpful. A 3 hundred and sixty 5 days in the past I went to Ghana and it appeared as if the Africans there felt an same way. We were noted as brothers and our divisions did not seem to remember. even with the undeniable fact that, i became informed that some Africans easily view African-individuals as inferior, because our ancestors were "weak" adequate to be captured. decrease back on subject matter, i imagine some would imagine themselves more desirable helpful as a results of unfavourable portrayal of Africa. Africa is continuously linked with AIDS, conflict, and so on. in the period in-between, united statesa. is continuously uplifted. hence of their concepts, being an African American might want to be more desirable helpful than basically being African.

Answer 8

Yes, you are correct in your fear. As, I have talked to several persons that have faced backlash from classmates and professors. One kid actually took his professor to some type of complaint hearing (through the school) and won because he was able to prove that the professor singled him out and unjustly failed him. But, boy was he shunned on campus after that.

However, I don't think that should be the reason you don't state your opinion. You need to figure out for yourself when it is worth it for you to go up against such intolerance.

American college campuses are filled with the left over hippy "socialist" groups. They couldn't make it in the real world, so they hid in the comfort and protection of the college campus. To think, WE PAY (parents, students, tax payers) lots of money for our "future" to be filled with this crap. Good Luck!

Answer 9

I'm on the left, but a lot of my friends on are on the right. We just don't talk about it. Actually, neither side is really that tolerant of the other. We all have our own views and are not likely to se swayed by the other side.

Answer 10

I imagine you feel the same way as a left of the center feels when constantly surrounded by extreme rights. I'm not usually afraid, mostly disgusted. I don't have to face it everyday, but when you live in a huge family of Christian Bush people (God is on his side) it's hard to keep your cool. Last time, I stated my mind, I ended up saying, "oh for Christ sake" four of them threw them selves to their knees and started moaning about saving me from hell. I felt like kicking their behinds. Instead, I just said bullsh*t and went to get a beer with my one ally!