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Post by freecharlie on Jul 27, 2016 2:24:22 GMT
I do think that in this forum, it is often the liberals shutting down the conservatives. Unfortunately, I see more of the ugliness come from specific conservatives and they are loud and post often, so it might seem like it is the other way.
I land on both sides of the aisle. Some topics I fall to the left and some to the right. I think I have been on both sides of the shutting down.
What I would love to see is the name calling of peas and their side to stop. I'd like to see a stop to the name calling of the canidates for instance, Killary or Dump or cheeto man. I'd like to see an end to the political memes that are just put to inflame.
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Kath
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Posts: 446
Jun 26, 2014 12:15:31 GMT
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Post by Kath on Jul 27, 2016 2:29:29 GMT
Anyway, there's 50% of the country in polls who support Donald Trump over Hillary and that's 50% that aren't talking on this board. I read something that said that many of his supporters are white men over the age of 30. Since this board is mainly women, that may account for some of the discrepancy.
You forgot the word "uneducated" white men over the age of 30. I'm sure you're right. I see them all over the comments sections of news articles with rarely a woman in site voicing opinions or making a stand. I often wonder why that is. It's a completely different discussion when men are involved. Women run away or something. I don't know. Of course, I never post or say anything.
Oh, I think much of the discrepancy is due to Trump himself. Many Republicans, even those who are planning to vote for him, are ashamed of him and might find it hard to defend him vocally. And I think the Democrats are even more revved up than usual for the same reason ... Trump is sooooo awful. I don't think anyone will be surprised and hopefully not offended to hear me make these statements. I just find him incredibly polarizing and indefensible. Mitt Romney is lookin' mighty fine these days.
Haha, never thought I'd hear you say that. Where's Jonda? He needs to read this.
I agree about wondering if people don't feel they can talk or express their views openly right now. I've noticed the same thing here at work. I'm in a very liberal state and if you are not a Hilary supporter you are given the cold shoulder the minute you open your mouth. I will not be voting for Donald at all, but that doesn't mean that everything Hilary says or does or wants is the best or only way. But if you are not one of her supporters you are definitely met with opposition. It's exhausting and who wants to keep pushing or fighting about it. I also feel this way. I've been a republican my entire life, though I don't feel like my party fairly represents me any longer. Nor am I a Democrat even though my social views are fairly left. That said, I feel like I can't criticize Hillary without being ostracized. I also feel that way about any positive things I might say about Trump. Look, both of them have very high negatives but we still have to choose. I'd really like to have a discussion about their positives without the discussion being shut down by the negatives. That puts me on the defensive, which is exhausting. Neither of the two is defensible so I feel like the discussion would be better served by focusing on their strengths. ETA: Staying home and refusing to vote is not an option for me. Sav
eSaveSaveSaveI hope we do have a discussion at some point about each candidate's strengths. This probably is the major appeal to Donald Trump, his strength and unwillingness to back down against (hopefully) America's real enemies (ISIS, greedy politicians and corporations, the national debt level, etc).
I agree about wondering if people don't feel they can talk or express their views openly right now. I've noticed the same thing here at work. I'm in a very liberal state and if you are not a Hilary supporter you are given the cold shoulder the minute you open your mouth. I will not be voting for Donald at all, but that doesn't mean that everything Hilary says or does or wants is the best or only way. But if you are not one of her supporters you are definitely met with opposition. It's exhausting and who wants to keep pushing or fighting about it. Isn't that the thing though? Both sides are implying that if you just listened, just learned, just researched more, just UNDERSTOOD better you would see how vile, contemptible, and horrendously evil the other side is. But you know, whether I agree with them or not, there are some really smart, well read women here who have done their research and aren't blind to the faults of their candidate, they have just chosen differently. They have made decisions about what they are comfortable accepting in their choice. I have a pretty strong view, but I do recognize that there are issues with my choice. I just feel that my choice is the direction I want to see the country take. It isn't because I don't understand, it isn't because I didn't do my research or follow current events or follow past events, it is because I know what I can live with. The mean spiritedness shouldn't be a part of these discussions but it is and THAT is exhausting to me. Agree with the feeling of exhaustion. Reading is easier than getting involved in a discussion and having to defend a position. Especially if you don't really even know what position you're taking or why you would take a position for either of those two people who if you knew them in real life and they lived in your neighborhood and were regular people, you would not care to associate with them due to deviousness, slander, boasting, narcissism, affairs, rumors of rape, etc. They would be the crazies down the street that we all love to discuss on this board. These are the people we are being asked to vote on, crazy 1 or crazy 2. It's the choice of would you rather be run over by an 18-wheeler or hit by a train?
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Post by mom on Jul 27, 2016 2:29:32 GMT
I cant speak for others, but I know I have felt very much attacked for my conservative views.
Its been insinuated that I am racist. Im not.
Its been insinuated that I am homophobic. Couldn't not be further from the truth.
I am actually very liberal in my social views but very conservative in other areas.
I hope I have not acted towards others like I feel like have happened to me. While I don't agree with some, I have tried to remain respectful and to listen. I can admit when I am wrong, or when others have valid points.
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Kath
Full Member
Posts: 446
Jun 26, 2014 12:15:31 GMT
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Post by Kath on Jul 27, 2016 2:38:21 GMT
Hi, Kath
Hey, girl. Good to see you.
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Post by gmcwife1 on Jul 27, 2016 2:44:19 GMT
I cant speak for others, but I know I have felt very much attacked for my conservative views. Its been insinuated that I am racist. Im not. Its been insinuated that I am homophobic. Couldn't not be further from the truth. I am actually very liberal in my social views but very conservative in other areas. I hope I have not acted towards others like I feel like have happened to me. While I don't agree with some, I have tried to remain respectful and to listen. I can admit when I am wrong, or when others have valid points. This is exactly the same for me. My personality is just conservative in general, I take a while to make decisions, I really think things over, I rarely rush into anything, I just always took the safe/conservative path. But I don't even feel comfortable using that word any more, it's been turned into a dirty word. Yet with all my conservative tendencies, like you I'm very liberal in my social views.
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Deleted
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May 17, 2024 5:17:31 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2016 3:22:47 GMT
Yes, I agree, both sides do that. But for the most part, I'm only seeing the Left side here (for lack of a better categorization) shutting down opposing view altogether by branding the PERSON they're talking to as stupid, evil, racist, bigoted, homophobic, paranoid, living in fear, mentally deficient, etc. It also isn't new, or only in relation to Trump or the election, nor is it only present here. It's something of an epidemic on college campuses. This is an interesting book actually written by someone on the Left: This is an article from 2 years ago, so it isn't completely new: The left is entering a new phase of ideological agitation — no longer trying to win the debate but stopping debate altogether, banishing from public discourse any and all opposition.But that sort of proves my point in a way. It is our view point that guides our perceptions. Your perception is such that you feel that your side is being shut down more overwhelmingly, and the other side feels that their views are denigrated and shut down more often. And both sides can provide proof that they are right. The thing is, it IS coming from BOTH sides and it is shutting down conversations. No one side gets to cry martyr on this, no one is innocent. I'm not sure how I proved your point in any way. I'm not seeing articles and books written about the Right trying to silence opposing views. I'm not seeing numerous reports on an epidemic of Conservatives in colleges shutting down conversation from the left, protesting speakers from the Left and providing safe spaces from the horrors of having to listen to opposing views. I'm not seeing the Right threatening bodily harm or financial ruin to those they disagree with as in gay wedding cases. Disclaimer: I'm in favor of gay rights and think everyone should be able to marry and have the same rights. Acknowledging that religion has taught otherwise for centuries and many people haven't evolved to that yet, does not negate my beliefs.
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Post by leftturnonly on Jul 27, 2016 3:54:47 GMT
Donald Trump is a nearly impossible person to defend on societal moral grounds, which probably also contributes to the one-sidedness. Anyway, there's 50% of the country in polls who support Donald Trump over Hillary and that's 50% that aren't talking on this board. I love discussion and opposing views and the debating back and forth about whose candidate stinks more and this time around, it just feels like deafening silence. Like half the population isn't talking or afraid to talk. The greatness of our country lies in our differences and uniqueness and our ability to accept each other, even with opposing views, in a peaceful manner because at the end of the day, we're all Americans. But now it feels like people are afraid to talk, to speak their views, and I find it worrisome, not only on this board but in American society in general. The posts on this board are definitely more left-leaning than when I joined just before Obama's inauguration. I have never seen it mostly conservative. Oh, I think much of the discrepancy is due to Trump himself. Many Republicans, even those who are planning to vote for him, are ashamed of him and might find it hard to defend him vocally. And I think the Democrats are even more revved up than usual for the same reason ... Trump is sooooo awful. I don't think anyone will be surprised and hopefully not offended to hear me make these statements. I just find him incredibly polarizing and indefensible. Mitt Romney is lookin' mighty fine these days. I'm not ashamed of him. I didn't vote for him. I won't defend him. If I vote for him, like it looks like I will, it will be a vote for the safety of my country. Hillary has been part of the administration that has spent the last 8 years enforcing policies I thought would destabilize the middle east and endanger us even more Today, there is a terrorist attack somewhere in the world every 82 hours. JV team my ass. I always thought Mitt Romney was mighty fine. You guys should have listened to me.
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Post by leftturnonly on Jul 27, 2016 3:59:09 GMT
I have a pretty strong view, but I do recognize that there are issues with my choice. I just feel that my choice is the direction I want to see the country take. It isn't because I don't understand, it isn't because I didn't do my research or follow current events or follow past events, it is because I know what I can live with. I'd love to pick and choose from each candidate and make the perfect president.
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Post by leftturnonly on Jul 27, 2016 4:09:12 GMT
I cant speak for others, but I know I have felt very much attacked for my conservative views. Its been insinuated that I am racist. Im not. Its been insinuated that I am homophobic. Couldn't not be further from the truth. I am actually very liberal in my social views but very conservative in other areas. I hope I have not acted towards others like I feel like have happened to me. While I don't agree with some, I have tried to remain respectful and to listen. I can admit when I am wrong, or when others have valid points. This is exactly the same for me. My personality is just conservative in general, I take a while to make decisions, I really think things over, I rarely rush into anything, I just always took the safe/conservative path. But I don't even feel comfortable using that word any more, it's been turned into a dirty word. Yet with all my conservative tendencies, like you I'm very liberal in my social views. I'm conservative by nature and I go with my gut. Sometimes I take the safe path. Other times, not so much. Down and dirty conservative. Eh, I've been called worse.
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Post by lucyg on Jul 27, 2016 5:17:12 GMT
I always thought Mitt Romney was mighty fine. You guys should have listened to me. MR isn't lookin' mighty fine compared to Obama. He is lookin' mighty fine compared to Trump. Just so we're clear.
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Post by leftturnonly on Jul 27, 2016 5:32:19 GMT
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