So, no one has the freedom to have a different opinion than you, or you lable them, and degrade them. You just proved my point.
One can acknowledge your freedom to have an opinion, and also denounce that opinion as wrong and stupid. Those things are not in conflict. barfo
My dad was a staunch Republican that Clint Eastwood and Charlton Heston could love. I turned out to be a Democrat, a moderate liberal.
Honestly, it's always been pretty normal that in our family we don't talk politics with each other at all... I have a couple of brother in-laws who like to get into it and sometimes try to start it with me, but honestly, I only talk politics in person with people I'm close to and usually in small groups or one on one. The problem is, and you see it every day. In arguments, you never really win. You only lose, because both sides almost always end up pushed further apart. No one is going to convince us that our convictions are wrong, only experiences will change our opinions. I enjoy friendly conversation and discourse, and respectful disagreements can be engaging. Just chances are all an argument will do is further entrench someone in their position, because whether it's meant as a personal affront it will be taken that way.
Upon further reflection, maybe I was a little heavy handed. I actually love this conversation. Mostly because I always think after laying out the inclusion vs exclusion, love vs tough lough, etc argument, people would be like oh yeah, I agree. But no one ever does. I will never understand us humans. So it goes.
There are parts of what you said I agree with. Like Trump... I seriously do not get it, and it's not that I think all of his "political stances" are bad, because some of them, I'm like ok that seems alright. I legit don't get why Evangelicals were so enamored with him, why they can't see that even if he espouses similar views to them, his language and life doesn't at all match up with what they say believe. Climate Change is an interesting issue, I don't know if I 100% agree with you there in terms of how people feel, but your opinion has its validity. The problem is even in this little microcosm of society voicing opinions, concerns, etc even just asking questions can be met with very heavy-handed replies, and it can get people to not even engage, or to take the opposing view just because they feel like they've been attacked. I've had people on here literally tell me because they found a decade-old link suggesting something different that whatever data I put out there didn't matter they were going to take the side they agreed with and said basically I wasn't capable of researching a subject unless I agreed with them... Like how do you have a conversation if right off the bat you're view is right and mine is wrong, and whatever information I find doesn't matter? I only bring that up, because I think some times, that's how arguments seem to be, on important topics too often it's an I'm right, you're wrong.
Thank you. I highly respect your taking time to reflect on this. If more people were open to a free exchange of two way information, on equal terms, we would have a better understanding of each other. And have fewer conflicts. Few topics are black and white. Seldom is one side 100% right, and the other side 100% wrong. The best solution is often somewhere in the middle ground. Calling someones opinion stupid will close the door to debate and an exchange of info. And push the other person away from your opinions. Regardless of what barfo thinks. I have had people give me info that changed my mind on a topic. But calling my original opinion stupid, labeling me, or degrading me is NOT how it happens.
I will engage in an occasional discussion, but I do not go out of my way looking for arguments. I converse with a lot of different people in my job position and I would rather relax once I am home. That's my time to decompress and love life. I'm not looking to change someone's mind about a particular subject or point-of-view anymore. I'm more interested in having a conversation where we can civilly discuss our points-of-view and understand a little more about each other. Personally, it's that sincere connection making a conversation worthwhile. If someone wants to argue and be belligerent about it, then I will just look at them, wait for them to finish their diatribe and simply excuse myself politely from the conversation.
This is the problem. But if you don't see it, it's not worth typing out why. Simply because you never will. Makes me sorry for even responding to this thread.
Very well said and true. I feel I'm responsible to not only be open minded and receptive to other points of views, along with being respectful and civil, but the most important mission we all should consider is how we coach our little nuggets, (kids) and grandkids in this area. And if you don't have either maybe a neighbor kid or relative.
