Why must people pick a side and stick so religiously to it?

Question

I'm a Liberal, and let me tell you it is very hard to be a TRUE Liberal; that is, you must question the possibility that your opponent may be right... I have not gained much favor with my fellow Lefties because of this -- I always argue the conservative side when I am in the presence of liberals to:
A. Understand your own argument well...
B. Understand your opponent, and why your opponent is who he/she is.
C. Entertain other possibilities and adapt to changes.
and of course, the conservatives hate my guts because I'm a Lefty...

This is a Democracy, we must listen to each other instead of having a shouting match like Bill O' Riley vs. Donahue... Why do people have to be so stubborn when picking sides?

Can't people offer reasons to their claims instead of blurting out an idea and proclaiming it to be the absolute truth?

Answer 1

Great post, I respect your honesty and look forward to reading more from you. I don't belong to any side, my thoughts are my own and if they don't lend themselves to one side or another then so be it.
I think people are uncomfortable when they can't pigeon hole you. It's so much easier to look at the world in black and white terms than examine the grey.

Answer 2

Most people aren't really individuals or not as much as they consider themselves to be Most people don't think for themselves.Most people don't have an own opinion.Most people think they have both but they are wrong.They believe what others told them.
In that light it makes sense the majority picks a side and sticks to it vigerously. People tend to be conformists because in History and evolution that was an advantage.It's in our genes.There are plenty of psychological tests that suggest people have the hardest time to think for themselves and trust their own judgment against a majority or a perceived majority of those who think different.If you have a group for example of ten people,nine researchers and one real test subject.You show them a green card but all the researchers who are in the experiment say the card is red it will become very hard and for most people even impossible to say the card is green while they saw it with their own eyes.Human genetics favor conformity cos that was necessary and beneficial in evolution.

You make very valuable and valid points. I certainly go out of my way to and think I understand the motives and idea's of my opponents.
Sometimes, I'd even dare to say often even better than they themselves. I like to look at issue's from all sides, tilt the issue, look at it that way flip it over a few times and then have a look at it. I know the Conservative viewpoint. I could set up a conservative profile here and be very popular. I also WANT to know their idea's and where they come from. What makes them tick.
Too many people are too afraid they might "loose" the argument or their convictions to question and continue to question everything including themselves.

Answer 3

You remember Maslowe's Hierarchy of Needs? I'm no psychologist, but I remember it.

People who are primarily working on fulfilling a certain level of needs have different priorities and evince different behavoirs.

The lowest level of needs are physical survival, for instance, and people dealing with that are a lot less concerned with things like how they'll be remembered by history, or whether other people might aprove of thier actions.

Not too much above that are needs dealing with 'acceptance' and 'belonging.' One way to fullfil these needs is to seek membership in some organization, religion, or movement, and vocally support it's dogma.

So, there's a lot of people who don't have to worry about thier survival or security, but are still stuck in the lowest level of social needs (about where most of us were as teenagers, really).

Answer 4

I think part of it relates to psychology. Some people may be predispositioned to certain sides. Other people may not have received enough or a quality education so they may not have been taught to really think for themselves. How we are raised is another factor. Environment and genetics come into play. It is tough.
I'm more like you. I know that I don't have all the answers. I'm still learning and observing. I will always do so. It's a continuous process.

Answer 5

Stubborn...It's not good to be too stubborn.
As a conservative I question everything...then I regularly go back and question it again to see if the facts have changed...everyone should do this...


BTW...my best friend of many many years is a liberal.

Answer 6

The problem is there is very few reps. in congress that vote against their party's extremes. So you have to vote for the larger ideals of the party not on the person.

IE Republicans = fical conservatism, lower taxes, pro-buissness economy (ie job creation)

Democrats = social welfare, large government controls (increased taxes)

Answer 7

You are one of the few intelligent ones. Most people will follow blindly like the Bison jump off a cliff and the whole herd follow.....

Answer 8

Hey, I am a conservative who grew up in a house of 4 liberals.. I wrote the book on listening to the other side :)

haha

Answer 9

Anyone who doesn't review the subject at hand before they come to any conclusion is a fool.

I consider myself to be a very liberal person.

Although I am very conservative when it comes to the 2nd Amendment and the death penalty.

Answer 10

Yea I can not stand that when a debate turns to a shouting match. I have very strong views I try not to get stubborn but I like to make my point and I like to make my point against what my opponent has to say. It is a person's opinion. Don't take it so seriously. One must decide for themselves and how they feel.