Why can't people speak civil in politics?

Question

They resort to vulgar trash talk and personal attacks even when they know absolutely nothing about an individual.. Good lord, should these people even be discussing politics in the first place?

I just get tired of hearing vulgar personal attacks, name-calling, etc. Why can't people remain respectful and take others opinions into consideration? Most of us are out of pre-school.. It's time everyone acts like it.

Answer 1

Great question. Some people just don't know how to get beyond their own emotions to be able to have reasonable and factual discussion without name calling I guess. It is a societal immaturity of sorts. Parts of our culture just seems to refuse to take responsibilities for their actions. It's the PC thing too. We think things should be a certain way and when they are not, unpleasantness fly. Most would rather sue over nothing than have frank and honest discourse. We all hate conflict and will do any thing to avoid it. We can agree to disagree without getting personal and ugly.

Answer 2

If you are looking at Yahoo Answers, you are getting a skewed view. Many people here, left and right are on the extreme fringes, and the only way to support their twisted views is by attacking the opposition. In the real world, it is a bit kinder and gentler. And by the way, the shout fests on cable are not the real world either.

So, to have a real discourse about real things with real people, look at the letters page in the news paper (they usually filter out the complete wackos). Attend face to face meetings on issues. Stay away from any forum where the participants are anonymous.

But for shear entertainment, there is nothing like the vitriol coupled with poor thinking skills here on Yahoo Answers Politics & Gov forum.

Answer 3

Because the majority of political debate centres around persuading the voters to concentrate on personalities rather than policy.
In this way the biggest mudslinger wins, gets/stays in power and can then ignore the populace.
All democratic populations would be better served if they made known their views on every issue and demanded that their representatives, properly support the majority opinion while protecting the interests of the minority.
The majority opinion on every issue, local to international, for every community is being gathered at myverdict.net

Answer 4

That's why I post in here rather than the "politics" section more. It is a bit more civil in here.

But yes, I have noticed that trend a lot.

My answer is that they have so little to back up their argument that they feel they must resort to personal attack of the person making the argument against them. "Hate Politics" truly took off under the Clinton Administration and is now used against the Bush Administration.

I don't recall it being as prevalent prior to that.

Answer 5

No, but everyone has the right to do it. It's just sad that they don't know what they are talking about, yet make fun of people. In every aspect of life you will run into those who are unintelligent, unwise, ignorant, and arrogant. Just Identify them as who they are to yourself, and ignore anything they say if they are vulgar about it. If they try to be respectful, open your mind. Simple really :-)

Answer 6

Many people can. Many others choose not to.

It's much easier to attack the "other side" than to actually put the time and thought into actually addressing an argument on the merits.

Answer 7

Politics are the informed peoples version of pro wrestling, notice I did not say the intelligent people.

Answer 8

I just wish they would stop attacking each other and DO THEIR JOBS, like things that the people really want and actually help sometimes

Answer 9

I think this kind of behavior has been encouraged by certain radio and TV talk shows. People copy what they hear, and it brings out the worst in them.