Are many people incapable of critical thought in the arena of political ideas?

Question

The basis of this question relates specifically to Yahoo Answers, but can be applied to a broader spectrum. There are many well crafted questions where no opinion is stated by the asker. However, I notice that no matter how well the question is phrased there are always a certain number of people who immediately determine that they know the motivations of asker and immediately adopt an attack posture. Often times they don't even bother to answer the actual question, but rather just voice their discontent, or outrage that it would even be asked. What is your opinion?

James R: Are saying that my answer to your question lacked critical thought?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AiISr5YXtds9XCxLpKq.Tjbsy6IX?qid=20070705065236AAT47Jp&show=7#profile-info-20b1b9f6d3f341a8b698e60d452c96acaa

Answer 1

I doubt it is a lack of ability. But I think many today are told what to think, and not how to think.

I blame public education. And the media.

Answer 2

It is impossible many time to receive anything but hate filled answers or even emails at times when you are asking a legitimate question. Now there are many on both side liberal and conservative who do not go the the venomous language that will ensure that the 2008 election will be worse than in 2000 and 2004 and the winner will only be accepted by those who voted for them. But using the community standard ploy and as you say not even answering the question makes this far from critical thinking where we can debate the issues in the public forum.

Answer 3

Yahoo! Answers = Yahoo! Knee-Jerk-Reactions.

I randomly responded to a question unrelated to politics. A mother was bothered about an older gentleman who was "watching" little kids at a roller rink and ask what she should do. She also said that she confronted the "watching" stranger and made a big, embarrassing scene. I suggested that she should act more politely--tactfully--and then follow a few precautionary steps.

Outraged emails flooded my inbox the next day. How dare I suggest that this mother keep her cool and act with some sense instead of monkey-screeching?

I speak quite a bit of German, so I checked out the German version of Yahoo! Answers, the two categories that I frequent the most: philosophy and politics. While the same intelligence-level existed in the philosophy section as does in the U. S. section, the German politics section was much more intelligent and civilized...

Answer 4

I bet you're a neocon.

Just kidding! Yeah, I absolutely agree. Not only do they assume they know the motivations of the asker, they also can't seem to answer the question objectively. If I hear that some completely unrelated event is because of Bush or the liberals or illegal immigration, I'm going to scream.

Answer 5

As a liberal, i will admit that MSNBC is a liberal information source. however the universal Con thinks each and every information source different than Fox is liberal, purely because of the fact they do no longer placed a unfavorable spin to Obama sneezing or tying his footwear. real information and numbers may well be manipulated to recommend despite you like them too. each and every decision ANY president has ever made could have some obtainable unfavorable destiny ingredient to it in case you seem confusing sufficient, despite if that unfavorable effect and the possibility is a strategies much less then the glaring helpful. Fox "information" is the only source committed to stunning concern and hate of their visitors by skill of magnifying those negatives, at the same time as completely ignoring or brushing off the positives. And at the same time as you seem sensible sufficient to collect materials and distinguish actuality from concern and rhetoric, maximum of their visitors hate liberals and Obama plenty, they decline to take heed to all of us else. in case you question me if I had a reliable day or undesirable day, and that i say to you, "I made a great kind of money, ate a scrumptious meal for lunch and tossed the soccer around with my son for an hour", you will anticipate the day grow to be stable, because of the fact those activities in my day have been all actuality. yet what i did no longer inform you grow to be, the money I made all is going to a bill i'm previous due on, the meal I had grow to be severe in ldl cholesterol and undesirable for my already severe blood tension and tossing the ball around with my son will bring about plenty discomfort the following day I is genuinely no longer waiting to circulate to paintings and make ANY funds, what style of day did I surely have? The inference you will get from this surely relies upon on my schedule while reporting this to you. If i want sympathy, i could inform you the undesirable, if i want admiration, i could inform you the forged. What do you think of Fox "information" schedule is while reporting on Obama and liberals?

Answer 6

I totally agree. It happens to me all the time. Many of my questions are innocent questions and I often never state any opinions. But depending on the basis of my question, the answerers like to ASSUME what they know about me. For example, I've been called a Liberal, bigot, racist, dumb, and the list goes on. There are times when I tell people to calm down and not to take things so serious. It's ridiculous how upset people get over a question.

Answer 7

Yes, they do seem to be, at least here. I'm an old poli sci major and active politically, so I come to the Politics here by reflex, I guess. Unfortunately so, since you're dead-on as to the typical level of debate. I try to counter it by spending at least half my time in Polls & Surveys, talking about David Bowie songs and whether or not I like wearing pants. This helps take the edge off.

Answer 8

I'd say your answered your own question. Most people are fully capable of criticizing thought, but very few people are capable of constructive thought.

When your position is logically indefensible in a debate, the next best thing is to attack the opposition, and shoot for a tie.

Answer 9

Waaaaay Too Many .

In fact , just yesterday in a 360 I asked if we could implement "Intelligent Discernment Day" on Yahoo Answers . Just a dream , I know , but wouldn't it be great if some people could achieve intelligent discernment and still be able to hold-on to their political views ? Then again , once they achieved that , their political views would likely change .

Answer 10

There are many people who seem to think they have the inside scoop on almost everything, even someone else's motives...so yes there are some lack of critical thinking skills involved.

Answer 11

Yes, I have been accused of being on both the right and the left because of my question. Debate seems to be impossible at times on this forum.