Why do so few people on here talk about issues, rather than just insult the other side?

Question

Both sides are guilty of this, (I admit, I've been guilty of this as well) although each side only accuses the other of doing it.

Are we, as a society, truly as mean spirited and small minded as we appear on the Internet? Is it the anonymity of on-line communication that causes us to lose our civility, or are we truly incapable of anything but base emotional appeals and attacks?

If the internet represents where we are as a society, then I truly fear for our future.

Answer 1

Look at the level of broadcast political commentary!  It really is abysmal, even, by those with better manners.

In reality, national political discussion has little to do with working through issues properly, and more to do the ratings, or winning.

People here are simply a reflection of this.

Answer 2

It's a lot easier to repeat the rants of talk radio clowns and the headlines of supermarket tabloids than it is to actually research a candidates position on the Iraq War, the economy, energy, the environment, health care, education, or other important issues.

Answer 3

I learned years ago that liberal democrats do not want to debate, they'll only discuss the issues with folks they're in total agreement with.

Al Gore is a very good example of the liberal debate. When pushing his global worming scam, he said debate is over before there had ever been a debate.

You either agree with the liberals, or you can listen to'em whine.    

Answer 4

I am trying to reason your idea of "both sides".

You do not say where you are from, other than the "internet".

One could, I suppose, break everything, everywhere into two sides, one right and one wrong.

If you are from the United States then the "both sides" term is quite apt. The US has coagulated into an icky-sticky gum--- by limiting ourselves to a two-party system, we have effectively cutoff public discourse beyond a simple liberal vs. neo-conartist, Blue State vs. Red State slapfest.

Consider this: The reason that there are laws against a single entity owning too many news outlets (print or broadcast) is that it protects against an information monopoly. Were this same logic expanded into the political arena, the notion of people needing to pick between the Democratic and the Republican parties would be scrutinized, and perhaps Green Party, Peace and Freedom Party, and, yes, even American n**i Party voters and candidates would feel less marginalized.

In many other countries, myriad parties and fragments of parties form coalition governments, creating a more genuine give-and-take than we see in the States. Imagine if Barack Obama tallied enough votes in November to be considered the election "winner", but had to form a coalition with, say, supporters of the Green Party in order to effectively move forward a program of change. Suppose that in order to maintain anything more than a token voice in the Congress and Senate, the Republicans then had to welcome more n***s under their wings.

Unfortunately, that is not how the US is structured. We are, in fact, structured to maintain our weak two-party system in order to keep the populace at odds, too distracted by petty differences to realize that no matter who wins at the ballot box, the corporations and the moneyed few will remain in power. This is the sweetly logical format of our Capitalist state: keep the people at each other, quibbling over yacht taxes and farm subsidies and Homeland inSecurity and lunch programs, and they will never stop to question the insanity of their own circumstance---sons and daughters dead for oil, rapidly-shrinking icecaps, the destruction visited on our only home by the infernal combustion engine.

So yes, the vitriolic exchanges seen frequently on Yahoo Answers are, at least for me in the White Estates of America, normalcy. We love it and therefore we deserve it. We do not seem to have it in us to strive for more.

oh, PS==Trotsky is alright with me as well

Answer 5

People confuse the right to free speech with freedom to say anything they want.   A lot does have to deal with the anonymity of the net but also a lack of responsibility and accountability of what is said.  That is why we appear bitter and ugly nowadays.  We lack any responsibility for what we say and hide behind the first amendment if confronted...believing slander is protected.

Answer 6

United we stand, Divided we fall.



Too bad the right views that as a communist belief.

Answer 7

I agree and I do find more of this on Yahoo, I dont really know why-but not to be partisan, tho it is partisan, I do feel that the floodgates have opened on some really ugly personality traits (racism, hatred, etc) with the people who attack Obama based on nothing...I think it gives a large number of people who have been holding and festering these dark feelings in their hearts for years a big target and now is their chance to let it out, very ugly, very scary, very sickening about the fate of humans on this planet, Scary for our children. Obama represents everything that can be-our potential as thinking beings, McCain is Bush and the rest is a given...

Answer 8

you asked a good question. i feel so few people on here talk about

issues rather than just insult the other side for they are shallow.

Answer 9

Your questions and point of view if a great one.  I apologize for us all.  Actually, yes we are mean-spirited to each other and filled with anger and hatred and mostly FEAR.  And, you are right it is not nice! But you must give us credit, as we were even more barbaric centuries ago, and we are still evolving and becoming better human beings.  It will take us a few more centuries but do not give up on us.  Because most of us really do want to be good people.  

Answer 10

You're right, both political parties want us to fight each other. They find it easier to rule us when we are divided, and not paying attention to them stealing all the taxpayer money

Answer 11

Trotsky..if you want reasoned political discourse..tune into CSPAN dude.

Answer 12

Sadly the political field on both side is nothing more than a dog & pony show & now, a rock concert when you consider Obamamania