Why do answers to political questions tend to degenerate to personal attacks?

Question

Is it just the median I.Q. on this site, or have we as a society fallen so far we are unable to articulate our thoughts and ideas without personal attacks. It reminds me of the show on MYV called Yo Mamma. Please folks, can we just agree to disagree without the attacks on Mothers, Fathers, Sisters, Brothers and even dogs. I think this cheapens the discourse, and makes us all look like illiterate fools to the rest of the world.

Answer 1

You are totally right. Personal insults are not answers - they are meant to distract you from the fact that the person doing the attacking really has no answers.

Everyone should use good manners and play nice. You can tell I have a 5 year old, can't you? ;-)

Answer 2

The current atmosphere of politics is that people attach themselves EMOTIONALLY to a political party or a specific politician -- much the same way a person would route for a specific sports team. You can't convince someone to NOT route for their team....and that's fine, because it's sports, and in the grand scheme of things, it doesn't really matter.

Unfortunately, people have taken that same spirit to the area of politics.......for whatever reason, people define themselves as "Republican" or "Democrat", and there's nothing you can do to change their mind - even if presented with logic & facts. Because - it's not REALLY the issues, the logic or the facts that matter - it's the COMPETITION, it's the winning.

There are so many people who answer political questions on Yahoo! Answers who really have NO IDEA what they're talking about. It's tough to get too involved sometimes - because you just know you're not going to change someone's opinion....they're irrational & won't listen to reason....they're this - and you're a traitor/idiot/moron.

There doesn't seem to really be true intellectual debate anymore. If your mind is totally closed to a different viewpoint - there can never be true intellectual debate.

You're simply not going to find it here....people just want to spew nonsense and fight.....and not REALLY seek out true answers or get involved in a true debate of ideas & philosophy.

Answer 3

It's very common on this site. It's not just with political questions. I've been in the religion and spirituality section a lot, and any honest question regarding religion is answered with personal attacks, even if the person is just asking for information (without stating his/her personal opinions). My guess is that this kind of thing goes on because we're not talking in person. People will say whatever they want. I'm sure some people who are afraid to speak their minds normally, get a thrill out of bashing people on here because it makes them feel more confident, when in reality it changes nothing.

Answer 4

Because a lot of people refuse to beleive they could be wrong....they feel thier limited view of things is the only way things can be....people refuse to listen to the other side, no matter what the topic, be it politics, or religion, or anything for that matter. People need to realize that people with a different background have a different point of view and that they might actually know something that you don't.

Another thing is that many people don't do enough research...so they have one point and when someone throws a monkey wrench in that, the only thing they have left is to get personel. I have my views on things, but that does not mean I am not going to listen to yours....You might actually have something to add to mine, or the other way around....but some people just refuse to see anything different.

Answer 5

It's not just on this board. Here in Minnesota most of the political advertising does the same thing.
What you are talking about is ad hominem argument. It is one of many forms of fallacious reasoning used in debate. In ad hominem argument, the arguer addresses his/her opponent rather than the topic.
It appeals to the audience's emotions rather than their intellect by devaluing the opponents' credibility.
It is a very effective electioneering tool but valueless in solving problems.

Answer 6

When a person runs out of facts or sources to back up their claims they turn to name calling and inflammatory remarks to distract people from seeing the lack of truth in their ideas.

Answer 7

properly there is no longer a lot concrete data to tutor that international warming is guy-made, so i believe they ought to fall decrease back on Gore's assertions. Like with the large graph he used in movie. in case you seem heavily at it, the temperature spikes, and then the Carbon content textile of the ambience spikes later on. they could particularly concentration on international warming, particularly than make any authentic progression to fix the ecosystem, which ought to be carried out.

Answer 8

It reflects political discourse in the nation as a whole. Why would you expect this little corner to be any different?

Answer 9

I'm just here for the fun of it. I try to refrain from personal attacks. Some people take YA way to seriously.

Answer 10

Politics is like religion and each party has its loyalists no matter what .Nothing wrong in the chatolic Church is there .Same as the republican party nothing wrong with a bunch of homo's hanging out .