Can the liberals and conservatives on this board refrain from petty mudslinging and actually debate politics ?

Question

Or is everyone currently participating in the politics section so misinformed about the others stance on issues that they can not coherently argue an opposing position?

You could all prove me wrong, but how many can refrain from monosyllabic jabs when they are confronted with other opinions?

Velouria, it seems that you are unable to answer simple questions so I will exempt you from this conversation. You can continue with your "pity" comments until you have something productive to contribute.

Death_by_stereo you raise a good point, people do say outlandish things on the internet due to the anonymity it grants them, but doesn't such banter only inhibit the democratic process from taking place because we obscure the real issues with stories of haircuts and ex-wives?

Anti-shiraz, its not politics. Political science for example is the study of government and civics, where does yellow journalism and mudslinging factor in ? yes they have been around for a time but is it necessary?


Big Dave: yes emotions do get carried away but shouldn't we hold ourselves to a higher standard? How does getting emotional about a subject validate our claims any further?


Pfo: questions do have clear answers, even in the political spectrum, there is reasoning and policy that dictates why things occurred, to lower oneself to mudslinging when asked about an issue does not answer the question.

Big N: refering to liberalism as a mental illness simply proves my earlier statements. If you are able to coherently argue an issue then why don't you?

Answer 1

The topic of politics, much like religion, will always be one hotly contested and discussed/argued. And so it should be...in a free country, it is important to share and contrast ideas. That is what makes for the best in any system. Sadly, however, YA is not a forum in which people share and contrast ideas. Rarely do I even see intelligent debate. This appears to be a forum for name calling and childishness. So blinded are people by their own partisanship, they cannot see the potential good in candidates from the 'other side'...nor can they see the bad in their own candidates. And surely - there is good and bad on both sides. BOTH SIDES - neither is exempt from this.

This forum truly has little if anything to do with politics. It is a section for people to make fun of others and their beliefs...that is not intelligent discussion or debate. And frankly, if this is a representation of the voting public in the USA, God help America!!! (Now, as I'm sure you are all suggesting...I'll just go to he11! LOL)

Answer 2

I'm inclined to agree with the people who responded that it isn't possible, for a lot of people anyway. If you'll indulge an aside for a minute, when I watch videos on Youtube, I see a lot of gratuitously abusive comments being exchanged between people who have different opinions of said videos (be they music videos, comedy, vacation footage, etc.) My point being, if people can't even remain civil when discussing trivial things that aren't overly important in the bigger scheme of things, it's no wonder that politics tends to bring out people's antagonism as well.

Answer 3

Most people don't understand their opponents' positions. That's a sad fact of life.

On internet forums, occasionally abortion, for example, is discussed. I always lead in with "can you explain the other side from their point of view" and pitifully few can.

I start with the premise that in most instances the other side does want to do the right thing, but that we disagree on what the right thing is. More and more I see people who start with the premise that the other side wants to intentionally hurt the country and its people.

Answer 4

I've noticed ad hominens are printed with gusto, particularly from those who identify as "conservatives". But, from their writings I've gathered that they're not truly classic conservatives, but neo-conservatives.

I've read many questions and answers where the words "libtard", "lib-wingnuts" and the proclamation "liberalism is a mental disorder" are included - the latter statement is taken from radio's Michael (original name: Weiner) Savage who's written a book with that title.

So, there's lots of parroting from radio neo-cons coming from people who identify as anti-liberal. And, it seems to me, they don't bother to find out what liberalism actually means or if the people they are attacking, are liberal to begin with.

I suspect alot of these self-identified "conservative" attackers are losers in real life - living in their parents basement and getting their jollies from attacking "liberals".
;-)

Answer 5

Let me know which side you are on and then I can give a fair and impartial answer. The answer is no, each side is emotional tied to their believes and do not want to be confused with the facts

Answer 6

people tend to talk a lot of smack when its on the internet..

kind of like the drunk guy at a party who gets the cops called on him. he's yes sir, no sir while the cop is in front of him, but as soon as the cop is down the street.. F the police.. you stupid pig.

so im sure that 85 percent of the smack talked on here is just to get a rise out of people. hell, 100 percent of my badmouthing is just to liven my boring as hell desk job of a day up.

Answer 7

I can. I've asked the same question. I enjoy reading informed answers from both sides. Those who resort to name calling do so because it's all they've got. They're not informed enough to intelligently answer the question

Answer 8

I totally agree with you, but also realize that politics is sometimes a very emotional topic that individuals can't control there emotions.

Answer 9

Possibly. If you got the trolls, children and immature people to leave.

Answer 10

... we are debating politics. This is Yahoo Answers, ask a question, and people try to answer. Political questions have no clear cut black and white answers. All you can do is mudsling, say why this or that is good and tell others why what they think is bad.