Domain: tiger-web1.srvr.media3.us Toilet thought of the day: Have politics always been this divisive? | O-T Lounge
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Toilet thought of the day: Have politics always been this divisive?

Posted on 11/9/18 at 8:18 am
Posted by 13SaintTiger
Isle of Capri
Member since Sep 2011
18397 posts
Posted on 11/9/18 at 8:18 am
I’ll be honest, I never have and still don’t keep up with politics. All too often I find people on different sides of the aisle unable to behave and think like the intellectual beings that we are. If it’s not black, it’s white, there can be no grey. If your a minority voting republican something is wrong with you, if you are a white person voting democrat you are a white apologist. Not sure if it’s always been like this but it makes enteracting with people a chore.

I wouldn’t call myself a Democrat or republican, if there is such a thing as conservative liberal (I.e. I’m all about tradition, Christian values, etc but give people the freedom of choice) I’d probably be that. But far too often I find myself not caring about that stuff and just focusing on taking care of my family the best I know how. Luckily, the wife has similar views.
Posted by skullhawk
My house
Member since Nov 2007
27266 posts
Posted on 11/9/18 at 8:19 am to
We had a civil war FWIW
Posted by Salmon
I helped draft the email
Member since Feb 2008
85589 posts
Posted on 11/9/18 at 8:20 am to
Yes. Always.
Posted by RogerTheShrubber
Juneau, AK
Member since Jan 2009
298305 posts
Posted on 11/9/18 at 8:20 am to
No.

Social media and the internet have given the bat shite crazy a platform to make others think their ideas are the norm.

People (both sides) hate the other guy more than they trust their own.
Posted by ElJefe686
Houston
Member since Nov 2012
882 posts
Posted on 11/9/18 at 8:21 am to
No, they haven't always been this divisive. The polarization of politics is scary and saddening to me because it means people are succumbing to binary partisan politics. Nobody is talking, working together, or trying to find better systems and ideas just because someone of another group suggests it.

Remember when we used to not vote out of apathy? Or get upset about someone's tie or color of suit? Yeah, I miss those days.
Posted by 13SaintTiger
Isle of Capri
Member since Sep 2011
18397 posts
Posted on 11/9/18 at 8:21 am to
quote:

We had a civil war FWIW



Touché
Posted by RogerTheShrubber
Juneau, AK
Member since Jan 2009
298305 posts
Posted on 11/9/18 at 8:22 am to
quote:

Yes. Always.


No freaking way.

You had the turmoil of the 60's but I am positive we've surpassed that. Everything is magnified today.
Posted by Salmon
I helped draft the email
Member since Feb 2008
85589 posts
Posted on 11/9/18 at 8:25 am to
quote:

No freaking way.


Yes. Humans are tribal by nature. Politics are intertwined with our core values. Our core values are what we use to align with our tribe. We protect the tribe by arguing our ideas and fighting against ideas that oppose the tribes.

This has been going on forever.

Just because we are more aware of it these days due to the ability to share and exchange our beliefs, does not mean this didn't exist before.

The tree still makes a sound in the forest, even if you are not there to hear it.
This post was edited on 11/9/18 at 9:00 am
Posted by GAAtty70
Member since Nov 2015
905 posts
Posted on 11/9/18 at 8:30 am to
In the past, media and communications limitations kept a lid on the crazy. Politics was something they did in Washington or the state capital.

You would see the nut jobs at local commission meetings and such, but they were pretty much outcasts that no one wanted to associate with.

First step toward what we have today was the overturn of the Federal Fairness Doctrine. That opened the door to partisan talk radio.

Then the internet came along and every a-hole (me included) had an opportunity to speak his mind, informed or not, and have it consumed by more people than a network newscast in the 70s.

Welcome to today.
Posted by RogerTheShrubber
Juneau, AK
Member since Jan 2009
298305 posts
Posted on 11/9/18 at 8:32 am to
quote:


This has been going on forever.


The difference is the scale.

It's overwhelming today.

As a kid growing up in the late 60's and 70's, the old wisdom was to not discuss politics or religion. People still didn't care for the other side but it wasn't this life or death "sky screaming" tantrum throwing, protest every single day crap we're dealing with today.
Posted by Norbert
Member since Oct 2018
3618 posts
Posted on 11/9/18 at 8:32 am to
Not always, but it has been before. We will get through it.

We just have a media that stokes the fire for ratings.
This post was edited on 11/9/18 at 8:33 am
Posted by Salmon
I helped draft the email
Member since Feb 2008
85589 posts
Posted on 11/9/18 at 8:35 am to
quote:

As a kid growing up in the late 60's and 70's, the old wisdom was to not discuss politics or religion. People still didn't care for the other side but it wasn't this life or death "sky screaming" tantrum throwing, protest every single day crap we're dealing with today.


Um, what?

The 60s and 70s were full of political protests
Posted by Bunk Moreland
Member since Dec 2010
66986 posts
Posted on 11/9/18 at 8:35 am to
An offshoot of that is that I think things were a little more peaceful when the only political coverage you'd get is two moderate guys on opposite sides of the aisle on Meet the Press. Despite the free flow of information now, everyone just retreats to their echo chamber website/radio show and has way less tolerance for opposing viewpoints than in the past.
Posted by RogerTheShrubber
Juneau, AK
Member since Jan 2009
298305 posts
Posted on 11/9/18 at 8:38 am to
quote:

The 60s and 70s were full of political protests


The scale of what we have seen the last two years blows it away.

And we're not fighting for civil rights or even over a war. It's about hurt feelings.
Posted by Salmon
I helped draft the email
Member since Feb 2008
85589 posts
Posted on 11/9/18 at 8:39 am to
just look at the 60s

you had the Vietnam War protests, JFK and MLK being assassinated, Civil Rights movement, etc

and then on TV you have William Buckley calling Gore Vidal a queer and telling him that he was going to "sock him in the face" during a political debate

the 60s were divisive as hell

Posted by CarRamrod
Spurbury, VT
Member since Dec 2006
58335 posts
Posted on 11/9/18 at 8:39 am to
quote:

Humans are tribal by nature.
so why must loons condemn those who want to hang out with like minded people. look i dont want to go have a beer with a black transgendered gay asian. But because of that im a white supremacist misogynistic racist?
Posted by GoldenBoy
Winning!
Member since Nov 2004
42080 posts
Posted on 11/9/18 at 8:40 am to
Yes and no. The media amplifies everything today, especially since everything you watch, hear, or see has some kind of slant.
Posted by Salmon
I helped draft the email
Member since Feb 2008
85589 posts
Posted on 11/9/18 at 8:41 am to
quote:

The scale of what we have seen the last two years blows it away.


No. It doesn't.

quote:

And we're not fighting for civil rights or even over a war. It's about hurt feelings.


It is over political power and ideals. The same as it has been forever.

Posted by RogerTheShrubber
Juneau, AK
Member since Jan 2009
298305 posts
Posted on 11/9/18 at 8:42 am to
quote:

the 60s were divisive as hell


Nothing on the scale we have here.

In the 60's protest groups were mainly counterculture Today, these groups are imbedded in society and the media is complicit

Theres no escaping it.
Posted by Salmon
I helped draft the email
Member since Feb 2008
85589 posts
Posted on 11/9/18 at 8:42 am to
quote:

so why must loons condemn those who want to hang out with like minded people.


because you are not part of their tribe

the "loons" hang out with people that think like them
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