DO I HAVE TO PULL THIS CAR OVER?
Don’t make me stop this car. Seriously. I WILL do it. Johnny, stop hitting your sister! I mean it! Katie, your face will freeze like that. I said stop it! Stop it! KNOCK IT OFF! OK, that’s it. (Sound of car pulling off road)
Fine. We’ll just sit here until you start behaving. Nope. We’re not moving again as long as you’re acting like that. I don’t care that you’re embarrassed to be sitting on the side of the highway. And no, Johnny, I don’t care that you have to pee. You brought this on yourselves. Well, I’m not bored; I brought a book. I think I’ll read it until you decide to stop fighting.
In all seriousness . . .
People! WTF has gotten INTO you? I don’t think I’ve ever seen such rudeness, such lack of respect for others’ opinions, such spitefulness, such . . . plain ol’ meanness around here. (Granted, I’ve steered far clear of I/P diaries . . . )
Is it not clear – or did we forget – that ultimately, we are on the same side? That, at the end of the day, we’re going to have to come together again? That we have the same goals, but we just disagree with what road we should take to get there?
I am pained by what I am seeing. Yes, it’s a fair minority of the posters, but it’s everywhere, in every comment thread. We all feel strong about our candidate, and ALL of our reasons are valid. It’s GOOD that we are passionate – it’s what will help propel us to victory, and help us to keep the fight going to take back our country.
Yes, I know our country is headed to hell in a handbasket weighted with an anvil (or six), and we need a SuperCandidate with a really big cape to help change the trajectory. We all feel our candidate is the one with the longest cape. (Although frankly none of the candidates has one long enough, and Congress apparently lost their capes long ago.) Many feel the need, the passion, to "take it to the mat".
But what does one accomplish if one is passionate and nasty at the same time? Does it win anybody over? Does it help meet any goals other than the one of making the speaker feel better or more superior? Does going into a Moe support diary and insulting him and/or supporters in a nasty way help further anybody’s cause? Does insulting a Curly supporter by calling them stupid or shallow really convince people to take a second look? If it’s not accomplishing something constructive, what’s the point?
I was just wondering why we couldn’t say things like, "I can see your point, but I respectfully disagree. If you look here (link) at Larry’s voting record last year, you can see how he really supported a program to give pooties to all." "Yes, I saw that, but was troubled by this donation from the Canine League; I’m concerned that this might affect his resolve towards the Pootie program." Instead of, "Your opponent HATES pooties! He is in the pocket of DOGS! I can’t believe you’re too blind to see this."
Something about flies, honey, and vinegar comes to mind, but I can’t quite put my finger on it . . .
I’d like to see more of this
And less of this
I was hoping for more – I thought we were better than this. I thought that if we had a valid question or concern about a candidate, we could voice it in a respectful way that got us information on why others sees it the way they do. Maybe there is information we are missing. Maybe there is information they are missing. Maybe it all boils down to how one interprets that information, or to just plain ol’ opinion.
I’ve not responded in any of the wars, nor have I thrown any donuts. That’s not my way. And like nasty invective, there are a whole lot of pastries being thrown around that I feel (personally, IMHO) are a bit unwarranted. (Not all, granted, but it’s just stupid to lob something glazed at someone who simply disagrees, as long as they are respectful about it.) I want to learn more about why supporters feel the way they do about their candidates, not venture into the middle of an angry riot. I might support Curly, but I want to know WHY I should be excited about Moe if he wins. I want to hear the criticisms of all, too – as long as they are done unemotionally and with facts, and with respect for that candidate. Not only does that help me to see what supporters of other candidates see in their candidate, but it helps me learn how to debate the merits of my own candidate. I want to hear reasoned, respectful debate, not hurled insults and dripping sarcasm. I can’t learn more from you if I’m too turned off to listen.
And how much of this aggression is redirected, really? Who is the real target of that anger? The press? (Check.) Republicans? (Check.) The fact that the public just doesn’t seem to understand what’s really going on, what is at stake? (Check.) The public’s fascination with all things shiny, such as American Idol, and the need for fast-and-easy news, rather than the understanding that they need to be involved and really think about the issues for the health of our democracy, of our future? (Check.) Can’t we all just get a bong along?
I see this in-fighting in my profession all of the time, and I’m so tired of it. It doesn’t do anything but divide us. I’m a dog trainer, and there are some interesting analogies, but that’s the topic of another diary. (Although after this first one, I might just continue to let other people say things better than I do :-) as I’ve done for so long.) Sorry for the rambling, but this was just driving me nuts and I had to say it. And I’m sure the first comment will be, "Already diaried, please delete!" Heh :-)
Peace.