This may be a phychological phenomenon . . . but have you noticed?

Question

that people on this message board spend an inordinate amount of time subjugating their political views to people who will clearly never agree or compromise? What is it about American politics that instead of acting on political agendas we continually try to validate our opinions with people who so clearly disagree with us? What would happen if we just ignored those who are clearly just looking for a brawl and strictly dealt with those that are open to reason? Wouldn't we be better off just ignoring loaded bear baiting questions . . .?

Answer 1

I am a very conservative American.  I was not born that way but I have lived a long time and have seen a whole lot.  I know what really happened and what is BS since the end of the 1950's.  

As a result, I feel obligated to engage those who only know what they have been taught by people with an obvious socialist agenda.  I do not call people names or try to bully people into agreeing with me.  What I try to do is help them function on a higher plane by ratcheting down the emotions and allowing logic and reason to emerge.  But for that to happen requires that they hear the truth or at least another point of view of reality.  

Most young people have knowledge that is very, very broad, like an ocean but is only about a foot deep.  There is far more involved in being an American than recycling aluminum cans and labeling everyone who does not agree with you.

I realize that, for the most part, my thoughtful and well written missives remain unread or worse are only given a cursory going over.  But sometimes, just sometimes I manage to get someone to think a little differently about what they are being told.  Once in a while I manage to explain or demonstrate the error in someones assumptions.

If I make them think, it is a victory.  

Anyway, just talking to people who agree with me can get pretty boring.

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Answer 2

never underestimate the  " I told you so. " factor...it makes people feel good about themselves

Answer 3

There would be less aggravation,but there would be less knowledge getting across to the younger generation.

Answer 4

If right-wing ignorami and bullies are allowed to spew false and inflammatory agitprop with impunity, it will just confirm their belief that Liberals are wimps.  I do everything I can to disabuse them of that notion.

Answer 5

Yes.

Answer 6

I already do as you suggest. I go right past the obvious trolling, baiting questions to ones that may inspire real dialogue and ignore the repeat posters with their narrow views of life.

It's a sign of the times: we all want things wrapped up in a bumper sticker phrase, no matter how complex the problem.

Answer 7

Who on earth says "subjugating".  Other than you that is.  I mean really.

Answer 8

Um this IS Yahoo answers. What do you expect on this site? The majority of people that come on here know very little about anything. They do know how to say Republican, Democrat, Conservative and Liberal though.