Is anyone else ever really surprised at how much some people really can't stand the other side?

Question

It really has surprised me. Other peoples religions (or lack of religion) just never really concerned me. I dont care what they choose to believe. I dont dislike any other group. I dislike some people of other groups, lol, but not the entire group. So many people on here seem to bitter against other groups. Why do you think they are so angry and bitter?

Do you think a lot of people out there really are walking around feeling this much dislike for other groups of people? Or does this message board just bring out the "best" in some people.

this isnt a spam because I have never asked this question before. I asked if you thought people say things worse then they might say in real life. Big difference.

If you equate this question to calling all christians worse than cold blooded murderers then their is just no hope for people like you

mistress
can you not stand all people that dont think like you in real life or is it just in here?

It is not a personal attack to redirect and ask another question based on what they answered.

I asked a question once asking if people like it when other people respond to their answers and most people said they did.

You are the one that is taking this so incredibly personal.

Most of the time when I respond to an answer it is just to further the question or discussion or to get a clarification.

If the person is being a jerk in their answer, then yeah, I might respond to that as well.

It isnt an attack to disagree with someone. You seem to need to learn that.

Mistress
you keep responding to my responses
you must have some serious anger issues
there you go again
lol

Have I reached a whole page yet?

I have pointed out when both religious and non religious people have asked incredibly rude and downright disgusting questions or comments about others. I was truly amazed that more people did not put this person in her place for being so over the top hateful about a whole general group of people.
I really havent reported that often. I really have never reported just for a disagreement of ideas. But when a person asking a question asks other people if they agree that christians are worse than cold blooded murderers and then other people agree with that assertion, it is more than a little disturbing, imo.

I think the use of the report button is perfectly valid when someone generalizes a whole group of people in such a hateful vicious way like she did.
I think if people dont condemn a person like, her, even if they agree with her premise, then they are practically showing support for that kind of behavior.

mistress
I never said you said that. If you reread what I typed I said that you comparing the 2 questions as the same was ridiculous. You said you reported me and then asked how I liked it. Personally, I dont care. But my question is not even close to the same kind of hateful meanspirited crud that the other question was like, and imo, you seem to be treating them as equals.

ariana
I dont have time to report you. I am too busy committing crimes worse than murder. Why cant you just admit that your question was pretty hateful twds all christians?

I never ever said I was reporting anyone that agreed with you. You really do live in your own little disgusting world dont you ariana.

Everytime you type you prove exactly what type of person you are.

I hope you grow up one day.
I hope you dont behave this way in real life so that if we ever did meet each other I wouldnt recognize you because hopefully in the real world you arent this hateful, angry and meanspirited.

ariana
you asked a question that said all christians were worse than murderers and the worst kind of people that possibly walk this earth

Yes you should be condemned. Racists say a lot of things that are from their hearts too, should they not be condemned?

You need to really reread your question and ask yourself if you had any business making such vicious comparisons.

All you had to do was ask if people have experienced the same kind of hyppocrisy that you have without resorting to the horrendous kind of comparisons you did. It wasnt your point or your conclusions that I had any problem with. Yes some christians are hyppocrites. It was the way you presented your question. It absolutely deserved to be condemned.

and bytheway, reading back it may have sounded like I was reporting everyone that agreed with you, but you were the only one I meant. You just cant compare mostly good people to murderers and expect zero reprecussions for that.

Answer 1

I am not surprised at how many people feel animosity towards those who hold differing opinions and beliefs, but I am disappointed at the venom spewed.

While spirituality is an important and serious topic and a very present fact of life here on earth, a little tolerance and understanding would not go amiss.

Many people are bitter, because they tend to not welcome or appreciate those who are different. this is particularly true in the area of spiritual beliefs. Intolerance runs rampant when 'religion' is the subject. Or the absence thereof in a person's life.

Yes, I do believe that there are "a lot of people out there [who] really are walking around feeling this much dislike for other groups of people". However, the anonymity offered by this message board provides a venue for many who would otherwise not be (or are not) as openly hostile to exercise that hostilty freely.

As for those who are, in fact, openly hostile, this message board simply provides a platform to be that way before an audience of millions. So in that sense, it brings out the 'best' of their worst.

The thing is to try to not let it get to you. Which, of course, is easier said than done. But, it can be done. Then again, everyone has their limit to how much abuse, verbal or otherwise, that they are willing to tolerate.

Until tolerance and respect is the norm rather than the anomaly that they are in R & S, those of us who make an effort to understand that everyone will not see thing our (individual) way will remain the minority here.

Hope I helped. God bless you.

Answer 2

I TOOOTALLY agree with you!

Society is so very strange this way. We see movies and TV shows all the time about people standing against one another.

First, however, when it comes to a site like this where many people converge to ask and answer questions of every type imaginable, people get what I call "internet balls". People say things on here that they would NEVER have the nerve to say in real life to another human being.
That's the biggest issue on sites like this or in public message board sites.

I think people have a fanatical way of feeling they are the ALL powerful, all witty, all knowing and that their feelings and ideas rise far above all others. ""groans""

Many people have a huge lack of respect for others (again, especially online). In real life, there are splits amongst different groups whether it involve race, gender, careers, homosexuality, religion, etc.

I believe that there are a couple of reasons people put up a fight against another group of people or "claim" they dislike them. Jealousy and Ignorance are probably the biggest reasons for bigotry and all out hatred.

It's very sad though. I am like you......I may not understand or fully agree with something that another person believes in, worships or practices in their lifestyle. However, I would never disrespect them because of it and threaten them or dis them. It's neither my place nor my right to in the grand scheme of things.

Tollerance, patience and understanding to the best of our ability is the way to live amongst others from all walks of life. I know that's just dreaming, but it's the way it SHOULD be!

Answer 3

It surprises me. I think this is pretty representative of the people in this culture. Anything that differs from our expectations makes us mad. We all expect not to be offended, but a lot of us don't hesitate to offend others.

I wish we could talk about different concepts on here, but it's starting to remind me of a theist/atheist blog carnival I participated in. The Christians came in to witness, the Atheists were really mean and condescending, and there was I, the only Goddess worshipper, trying to provide a little triangulation because I have things in common with both sides, but instead of people trying to understand a new concept or backing up their assertions with science or logic, it devolved into "does not!/does too!" ad infinitum. You can't resolve a direct black vs. white opposition like that. You have to step back and look at the problem a new way.

i don't expect anyone to agree with what I post, but I do expect people to assume that I know what I'm talking about, or at least look at my profile before you assume I don't. I can't tell you how many people told me I spelled a word wrong in a question where I asked if they were familiar with that word. The irony of that astounds me. If I'm asking you whether you know the word, and you don't, the answer is 'no' but very few people could say that - they'd rather assume they knew something I didn't and tell me I'm wrong. It's unbelievable.

Answer 4

Great question! I've been wondering that myself. I've always loved Religions. I've read hundreds of books over the years (Wiccan, Christian, Judaism, Islam, Vedic, etc, etc), I've studied World Religions and always enjoyed talking to people about thier different beliefs and practices. I certainly understand that not all people find the beauty in religions the way that I do, but I don't understand the animosity at all.

It's too bad, I think people would get along alot better if they made the effort to actually understand, respect, and appreciate others.

Answer 5

We live in a very contentious time. It's not religion, it's politics. Politicians 'rabble rouse', they get on a soapbox and target a particular demographic and tell them they're being cheated and exploited, they get them all angry, then they point out some other subgroup to blame. They get votes by getting people angry and setting them against each other. We should know better than to listen to them, because they bring out the worst in people.

Religion didn't used to be like that. But these days religion and politics are twisted around each other so you can't tell which is which. So religious people and non-religious people are also at each other's throats, each group feeling victimized by the other group. Leaders of each group lead their followers off the cliff, teaching them nasty things to say and to think. It's like an insult contest.

This is one reason for the separation of church and politics. People like Thomas Jefferson weren't afraid of the church corrupting government, but of politics corrupting the church, and now that the 'wall of separation' is crumbling, we see this happening right under our noses. Religious leaders who are really political leaders, who conflate a political message with their religious one, get people to forget that religion is about love and tolerance. Theists bash atheists and atheists respond in kind.

A politicians' goal is to polarize people, set them against each other. A religious leader's goal is to reconcile people and show them how to love and respect one another.

Answer 6

It's just this message board. MOST people don't stereotype all people in a group according to the actions of a few.

Then again, there are lot of people who haven't been exposed to the good people of a particular belief/nonbelief system, so that's all they have to go on.

I've traveled a lot...so I understand that there's good and bad in everyone. I know that sounds self-righteous, but it's true. If a person goes out and meets lots of different people, they're less likely to judge certain groups.

Answer 7

This is the internet. Dont expect any real deep and meaningful conversations or debates on any topic. And I agree with you this board does bring the best out in people. Hell im not a religious person I came to this board to post in the psych section (im a psych student) I just can resist this section of Y/A with the whole athiests/agnoistics on one side and christians/catholics on the other.

Answer 8

When I first came on R&S, it really did surprise me of how much some on both sides seemed to have so much hate and anger for the other. Where I live, I have friends of all races, religions, beliefs, and non beliefs. None of them are like that. I think the aninimaty is what brings out the feeling of freedom, to name call, make fun of and be rude to people.

Answer 9

Well, I'm sure there are some. I think many people here are just venting and in real world experience are more tolerant of others. People here are perceived as a belief not a person with many different qualities.

Answer 10

mostly because they feel as if their way is the right way and everyone should follow it as such. It's amazing that I actually found someone on YA! that has the same view points I do, sometimes people are just bitter because they lack discipline in treating others as if they're equals regardless. Aside from that misery always loves company.