I'm in a political mood. Call it the new president (who I think will be far better than the old one, but I know not all agree), or whatever. Anyways
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I got the same impression on many occasions. Dems definitely no pure-hearted souls either, but I often thought they're more open to still discuss and get to know other opinions (while there are short viewed morons among them just as well obviously) than Reps. They often try to convince you, but not listen. That's only noticed from the few I know, obviously. Preferably that doesn't count for all of them.
Mostly the most reasonable (on both site) don't seem to talk about their political views so much, lol. I loved to get to hear more of them actually, since they're calmer in bringing their point of view across.
Still I often get the impression one site is more determinate in the way of arguing (judging from the ones who do). Maybe that's only because I tend to one opinion rather than to another (although I'm quite firmly neither Rep nor Dem), but I just like more to try to understand the other opinion, not searching for weak parts of it only. :)
I wish more reasonable people would chime in! I try to sometimes but I have to choose my spots carefully.
I think that the side that sees things in black and white more is more obstinate, since there is only a right or wrong answer, with no shades of grey. I like shades of grey.
I'm really liberal and there are some issues I'm not budging on. But I listen to everyone's opinion and don't start fights over political/social issues.
I was raised Catholic too and the mantra of "don't question the church" got old real fast for me.
The "don't question the church" I like the Jesuit position better than the mainstream one - they're OK with questioning, because it leads to deeper faith in the end. And I appreciate that.
I agree about the Jesuits. I wasn't taught by them but I know a woman who was a Jesuit nun when she was younger. I was pleasantly surprised when she talked about how they were different from the mainstream.
Yeah, they really are - they're considered among the most liberal of the orders.
One of my college buddies is now a Jesuit priest. He's not the one out of us I would have picked out to become one, either - I've got plenty of good drinking stories about that guy!
Everyone has a right to their beliefs, and some of it has more to do with agreement in philosophy than anything else. ;)
Just because one person finds it offensive doesn't mean everyone else does, or that it should be censored. Certainly it seems evident to me that people have wildly different opinions on what they believe to be nastiness or hatred. I find that more true the older I get -- it's subjective.
It's of course easier to get along with those who think the same - points of disagreement tend to disappear.
I don't think that we should censor opinions that are different, but I do ask that some respect be shown to the other side. Saying "you suck" or "what color is the sky in your world" or throwing shoes at the white house lawn isn't a mature response or a respectful response.
I do hold those who hold a microphone in their hands to a higher standard, since they have more power to influence others. So when they blatently mischaracterize people's positions it either shows a total lack of understanding or it's being completely disrespectful.
Heck, Obama (who is evidently becoming comfortable showing a slight temper, and I don't mind this...yet) told Republicans to stop listening to Limbaugh and use their own brains. I think this was an appropriate response to Limbaugh saying he hoped Obama failed.
I love Glenn Beck, and I also think Machosauce is brilliant. Glenn Beck isn't even a republican -- he's a conservative, and he dishes it out when he sees fit. But they all have opinions, the same as everyone else, and I love the way they deliver them. I'd love to see him on tour sometime. His show is hysterical.
I don't mind when they have opinions that differ from mine, but I do mind when they purposefully mischaracterize the opposition's position to make a point. And I mind when liberal commentators do the same - it's disrespectful and in the end I think a stronger argument is made when the "real" position is rebutted, not when the "imagined" position is rebutted.
I will respect anyone who disagrees with me as long as they've thought about it.
You may remember we had major dramaz at Thanksgiving over Prop 8. I obviously hate it with a passion but my dad's new family are all for it. And I wouldn't have a problem with it but none of them have any good reasons for supporting it. My step-sister who voted for it said by the end of the conversation that she wished she'd voted against it because when you get down to it, it really doesn't hurt anyone.
But the right did a good job of fearmongering and the left didn't counter it in time. It's a shame but there it is.
I don't know why, but in my own life conservatives are more guilty of this behavior than liberals. I love a good political argument, as long as people are being reasonable. When people are ganged up on and told they're wrong because of whatever inflexible reason all it does is lead to hard feelings.I agree. This election illuminated this view particularly well. I find in general that most liberals are willing to learn, ask questions and challenge long held beliefs as opposed to conservatives, who sometimes mistake tradition for clinging to a past we are no longer in touch with (oop, sorry). I was very distressed when conservatives both here and IRL refused to entertain my questions about Palin and why I should support her, which made her a polarizing figure and one reason I was glad the Repubs lost. I don't want to hate, I want to know what's going on
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I was thinking of you earlier - I need an icon that says "soapbox" :D
Regarding the rest, I didn't dislike Palin because of the media. Or because of her beliefs. I just thought she was not qualified to be VP. Biden's got an idiot mouth himself but a) it was known well-before the election what a loose cannon his mouth is; and b) he's gained the experience necessary to be VP. The thing with Palin was, even if the interviews were edited to remove any of the good stuff, she still said what she said!
Yeah, you're not one of the folks I was disappointed in. You and I may differ a bit in our beliefs, but I think we respect each other enough not to dance around these things.
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Still I often get the impression one site is more determinate in the way of arguing (judging from the ones who do). Maybe that's only because I tend to one opinion rather than to another (although I'm quite firmly neither Rep nor Dem), but I just like more to try to understand the other opinion, not searching for weak parts of it only. :)
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I think that the side that sees things in black and white more is more obstinate, since there is only a right or wrong answer, with no shades of grey. I like shades of grey.
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I was raised Catholic too and the mantra of "don't question the church" got old real fast for me.
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One of my college buddies is now a Jesuit priest. He's not the one out of us I would have picked out to become one, either - I've got plenty of good drinking stories about that guy!
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Just because one person finds it offensive doesn't mean everyone else does, or that it should be censored. Certainly it seems evident to me that people have wildly different opinions on what they believe to be nastiness or hatred. I find that more true the older I get -- it's subjective.
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I don't think that we should censor opinions that are different, but I do ask that some respect be shown to the other side. Saying "you suck" or "what color is the sky in your world" or throwing shoes at the white house lawn isn't a mature response or a respectful response.
I do hold those who hold a microphone in their hands to a higher standard, since they have more power to influence others. So when they blatently mischaracterize people's positions it either shows a total lack of understanding or it's being completely disrespectful.
Heck, Obama (who is evidently becoming comfortable showing a slight temper, and I don't mind this...yet) told Republicans to stop listening to Limbaugh and use their own brains. I think this was an appropriate response to Limbaugh saying he hoped Obama failed.
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You may remember we had major dramaz at Thanksgiving over Prop 8. I obviously hate it with a passion but my dad's new family are all for it. And I wouldn't have a problem with it but none of them have any good reasons for supporting it. My step-sister who voted for it said by the end of the conversation that she wished she'd voted against it because when you get down to it, it really doesn't hurt anyone.
But the right did a good job of fearmongering and the left didn't counter it in time. It's a shame but there it is.
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Regarding the rest, I didn't dislike Palin because of the media. Or because of her beliefs. I just thought she was not qualified to be VP. Biden's got an idiot mouth himself but a) it was known well-before the election what a loose cannon his mouth is; and b) he's gained the experience necessary to be VP. The thing with Palin was, even if the interviews were edited to remove any of the good stuff, she still said what she said!
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In a good way?
I need an icon that says "soapbox" :D
I'd make you one, but would you use it? Xp
Yeah, you're not one of the folks I was disappointed in. You and I may differ a bit in our beliefs, but I think we respect each other enough not to dance around these things.
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