I hate you, you hate me...

[GroundStrength]

Why do we all hate each other so much on the basis of political beliefs?

Why does a conservative hate liberal, a democrat hate a republican?

What the hell are we thinking?

We may not agree but Jesus H. Christ why the level of vitriol?

I think that we really begin to take a step back a look at what is causing this.

Why do you HATE Bill Clinton?

Why do you HATE George W. Bush?

Why do you not just disagree with their politics and work to ensure that your party's message gets out?

Is it the faceless anonymity of internet forums and talk radio? What happened to discussing things over a beer.

I am sure that at the TAM meetings many of you realize that the other is not the devil.

Thoughts?

[Beerina]

Maybe the problem is related to people seeking power so they can tell other people what to do?

Maybe the best solution is to just follow the Rule of Leaving Other People the Hell Alone.

Seriously. It's the common thread between politics and religion. I no more wish to bark at the moon in just such a way, or you'll shoot me than I want to join your health care system or you'll shoot me.

[Jocko]

Wild guess here, but since one's politics is indicative of their entire ethos, it necessarily becomes a personal matter. President X represents my beliefs, therefore criticism of him is a criticism of my beliefs. President Y is antithetical to my beliefs, therefore everything he does is an affront to my beliefs.

That's extreme and there are exceptions to be sure, but I think that's what it boils down to. We take politics personally because it's a personal matter, moreso than, for instance, one's favorite football team - we have no control how those are run. And like Beerina says, it's a matter of who you're happy to let run your life in many ways.

[Darth Rotor]

Why do we all hate each other so much on the basis of political beliefs?

Why does a conservative hate liberal, a democrat hate a republican?

What the hell are we thinking?

We may not agree but Jesus H. Christ why the level of vitriol?

Why do you HATE Bill Clinton?

Why do you HATE George W. Bush?

Why do you not just disagree with their politics and work to ensure that your party's message gets out?

Is it the faceless anonymity of internet forums and talk radio? What happened to discussing things over a beer.

I am sure that at the TAM meetings many of you realize that the other is not the devil.

Thoughts?
What if I don't hate any of those characters. The beer idea is a great one. :)

Wasn't JC's middle name "Ben?" (Yeshua Ben Josef as in Yeshua son of Josef) So, that Jesus H Christ really should be Jesus B Christ, which He be! :D

DR

[Cleon]

Wasn't JC's middle name "Ben?" (Yeshua Ben Josef as in Yeshua son of Josef) So, that Jesus H Christ really should be Jesus B Christ, which He be! :D


No, "H" is correct. Specifically, it's "Harold."

As in:

"Our Father, who art in Heaven, Harold be thy name..."

And, for you Jesus-Day celebrants:

"Hark, the Harold's angels sing, glory to the newborn king..."

[Darth Rotor]

No, "H" is correct. Specifically, it's "Harold."

As in:

"Our Father, who art in Heaven, Harold be thy name..."

And, for you Jesus-Day celebrants:

"Hark, the Harold's angels sing, glory to the newborn king..."
Ya larn sumtin' new every day. *spits out tobacco juice* Thanks, pilgrim. :)

DR

[senorpogo]

Wild guess here, but since one's politics is indicative of their entire ethos, it necessarily becomes a personal matter. President X represents my beliefs, therefore criticism of him is a criticism of my beliefs. President Y is antithetical to my beliefs, therefore everything he does is an affront to my beliefs.

Agreed.

I think it's also worth noting that many see thier politics as a matter of literal life and death. If candidate X isn't elected to oppose abortion, think of all the innocents that will die? If candidate Y isn't elected to oppose the War in Iraq, think of all the innocents that will die? If we don't outlaw guns, think of all the innocents that will die? If we don't keep guns legal, think of all the innocents that will die?

So it's natural that the level of discourse becomes heated. While I'm always for a beer over arguing, I can't really wrong someone for being passionate about something what they perceive as life and death issues.

[TragicMonkey]

The important thing to remember about political candidates is that they are all really ugly. I mean, I realize that not everybody is model-hot like the people on the WB network, but heck, politicians seem to be scraped from the bottom of Uglyville's biggest barrel of ugly. The one marked "Extra Ugly: Finest, For Export". Which is why I'm always surprised when they even have sex scandals, because it's like, who with? Then I remember there are blind people out there, and they are allowed to have fulfilling sex lives. But I think they could do better than politicians.