Liberals/progressives/conservatives everybody…You know what drives me nuts!?!?

Question

I guarantee that if I knew many of you at work or in my neighborhood, unless you were a shady criminal or a pedophile, I would probably like you and get along well with you.

What is it about this format that causes us to get so hostile? Is it the impersonality of it or is it simply politics? Or the combination thereof?

…

Politics have always divided people throughout history but, it seems that it is always the politicians who dictate the policy and profit from it. This is not to say that we don’t need politicians, we do but, how do we ensure they do what we want? But sometimes what we want is so different that a clear compromise cannot be reached. One side or the other just has to deal…

I am just rambling now, what are your thoughts?

Answer 1

My thoughts are that this is why the terrorists have won.

We are fighting each other over ....well, over things that should be personal decisions and choices, instead of discussing and offering compromises and solutions about PUBLIC POLICIES and foreign issues, etc.

We are hating and fighting each other, and a house divided against itself will not stand.

Every time one of you, one of us, spits and screams and calls names at the other side, there's fifteen minutes taken away from addressing something REAL that we might actually could do something about.

Answer 2

There's an old saying "Don't talk about religion or politics at a party" and it's really true. Those are just two things totally reasonable people can have wildly differing views on.
I clearly remember a few years ago my Dad (who'd been listening to a bit too much Rush Limbaugh) pointing his finger at my blind, College Professor Aunt and yelling "You're the people who are ruining this country" and storming out of the room, and she hadn't done anything except have different opinions than him.
I realised that politics can turn otherwise nice people very nasty (my father would never talk like that normally.)

Answer 3

I blame the media for most of this hostility. It's their business to be controversial, even if this is to the detriment of the people.

And I firmly point a finger at Fox News as the main culprit here.
They deliberately twist the truth and/or very selectively omit facts to create dissension. And some people swallow these distortions hook, line and sinker.

BTW, I am not an American, (but am quite fascinated by the perpetual chaos in US politics) so I look at all these 'happenings' with a fairly unbiased eye. ('Fairly unbiased', because I am as Liberal as you can get)

Answer 4

I think our govt is just a little out of date. Most people don't have to travel for days with their horses and wagons to vote. While representation is good, I think we need to turn over more of the issues to the people rather than giving the government all the power. I think we need more votes on issues and laws, I think we should get rid of the electoral college because it gives more weight to votes in certain states. Congress has kind of a give and take, they bargain too much (vote no on their bill and I'll vote yes on yours) and we tend to lose out on what the people actually want. At the very least we should have an accurate system to make our wishes known to congress. When it all boils down, aside from a few issues, Republicans and Democrats really want the same things, they just disagree on how we should get there. I think all the stereotyping propaganda gets the average person discouraged from participating.

Answer 5

Agree. I think because we aren't sitting around having lunch, drinks whatever. We forget we are in this together. I also think that many (myself include) use this as stress release. Not consciously. Many of us come here while we work as a distraction. Honestly it does make the day go quicker. There may be things happening in all our lives. We come here and read something we think is very far off the mark and we are off and running...our mouths. Then we have what I call the true believers. They are the meanest. So it all comes down to human nature.

Answer 6

This forum provides two things: a soapbox and anonymity. Some handle it responsibly, and some abuse it. Sure there are people like that in the real world, and the political atmosphere is especially poisonous right now, but we'll get over it. Something will bring this country back together, eventually.

People right now are too concerned with their respective sides being right than they are about doing what's right. It's sad.

Answer 7

What is it about this forum that causes people to get so hostile?
Well personaly speaking it's a combination of a few thing's, and the fact that most of us have vested interests ie: loved ones fighting on the front lines of the WAR, and is usualy foremost on our minds, hence the hostility towards those who lied to put them there, but on a lighter note, yes thery'e are a few good folk's on board, and it would be a pleasure to strike up a converstation, there are so many awesomely intelligent folk's on here and yet so many idiots who spoil it.

Answer 8

You know I have a friend from High School who is as liberal as I think you can get. I am very much a conservative, and we can sit down and discuss politics for hours and never slander and sling mud. We use logic, convictions of our opinions, and have a firm understanding of the other persons point of view. We hardly ever agree, but we do agree to disagree. We like hearing the other sides point of view for one reason, it provokes thought on how to come to a solution. Even our solutions differ, but at least we are trying problem resolution instead of spewing hatred. The next time I see him, I will thank him, and Timmy J, if your out here in this forum, thanks for being so patient with me. Little John

Answer 9

Thanks for saying this. I've thought about this lately, though not in thoughts as fully formed as yours.

I think you're right that a lot of people here whom I regard as anethema would actually be funny, interesting people to hang around with. The snarky right-winger who might piss me off here might be, in real life, a Dennis Miller sort of guy who just has a sarcastic but still creative way with expression, and I might really get a laugh out of him or her. Or they might be entirely civil in manner and only *seem* like they're screaming here.

Answer 10

It's the anonymity of this format that brings out the worst in people. Would you scream at someone for being a "Damn liberal" or a "Damn conservative" to their face? Of course not. Yet knowing that we are more than likely not going to meet, it gives some people liberty to bash without repercussion, save Yahoo booting their ID out.