5 ms·

Peoples willingness to line up behind banners, flags and slogans without bothering to look at what those politicians are actually selling baffles me. I think

by mnd999 6y ago

Peoples willingness to line up behind banners, flags and slogans without bothering to look at what those politicians are actually selling baffles me. I think if people from both sides were willing to ignore that and just sit down and talk about what kind of county they want to live in they would find they have a lot more in common than they think. I think this is what the article is proposing, and I think I agree with it.

II2II 6y ago
Are people willing to line up, or are they being pressured to line up? In many cases, a person's principles are clear from what they say and do. That being said, a refusal to align one's self with a movement is often construed as supporting the other side. There are many reasons for refusing to align: a preference for independent thought, a realization that ideological movements change, an understanding that one's own principles shift (while labels often stick), or simply not buying into some fundamental points. None of that seems to matter when issues are polarized.
BurningFrog 6y ago
We are an inherently tribal species. It's in our DNA.
konjin 6y ago
I think I'm starting to realize why sport was pushed so hard until the 00s. It is complete nonsense that you can get your tribalism out on without impacting any part of your life. Imagine how much better the world would be if people checked game scores instead of tweets.
- throwaway13337 6y ago
  Politics and sports are often linked. From chariot races to football clubs, real politic change happens through sports. Here's an account of the famous chariot race riot in ancient Constantinople: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nika_riots https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nika_riots Humans will make an identity group worth dying for over anything.
  - konjin 6y ago
    That was literally the teams uniting over politics and burning the city down. Bread and circuses was a state policy in the Empire for a reason.
- bassman9000 6y ago
  https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bread_and_circuses https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bread_and_circuses
cozuya 6y ago
There is no reasonable discussion to be had with people that deny science, deny inclusiveness, promote racism, accept white supremacy, and refuse to condemn violence against groups they don't like.
- ryandrake 6y ago
  Remember, the other side is saying the exact same thing: "There is no reasonable discussion to be had with people that deny freedom, want to take away guns, promote socialism, accept killing babies, and refuse to condemn enemies." Nobody is willing to even come to the table anymore because of how totally wrong and evil they see the other side as. Which is kind of the point of the article.
  - cozuya 6y ago
    Except these 2 "sides" are not equivalent. Not in the least. Everything in your quote above is made up or a strawman with the possible exception of "accept killing babies" which is admittedly well phrased.
    - sershe 6y ago
      I personally think about half or so of both quotes are completely made up straw men, while about half of each are justified. Your approach here is "exhibit A" for the comments above.

by mnd999 6y ago

II2II 6y ago

Are people willing to line up, or are they being pressured to line up? In many cases, a person's principles are clear from what they say and do. That being said, a refusal to align one's self with a movement is often construed as supporting the other side. There are many reasons for refusing to align: a preference for independent thought, a realization that ideological movements change, an understanding that one's own principles shift (while labels often stick), or simply not buying into some fundamental points. None of that seems to matter when issues are polarized.

BurningFrog 6y ago

We are an inherently tribal species. It's in our DNA.

konjin 6y ago

I think I'm starting to realize why sport was pushed so hard until the 00s. It is complete nonsense that you can get your tribalism out on without impacting any part of your life. Imagine how much better the world would be if people checked game scores instead of tweets.

throwaway13337 6y ago
Politics and sports are often linked. From chariot races to football clubs, real politic change happens through sports. Here's an account of the famous chariot race riot in ancient Constantinople: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nika_riots https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nika_riots Humans will make an identity group worth dying for over anything.
- konjin 6y ago
  That was literally the teams uniting over politics and burning the city down. Bread and circuses was a state policy in the Empire for a reason.
bassman9000 6y ago
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bread_and_circuses https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bread_and_circuses

cozuya 6y ago

There is no reasonable discussion to be had with people that deny science, deny inclusiveness, promote racism, accept white supremacy, and refuse to condemn violence against groups they don't like.

ryandrake 6y ago
Remember, the other side is saying the exact same thing: "There is no reasonable discussion to be had with people that deny freedom, want to take away guns, promote socialism, accept killing babies, and refuse to condemn enemies." Nobody is willing to even come to the table anymore because of how totally wrong and evil they see the other side as. Which is kind of the point of the article.
- cozuya 6y ago
  Except these 2 "sides" are not equivalent. Not in the least. Everything in your quote above is made up or a strawman with the possible exception of "accept killing babies" which is admittedly well phrased.
  - sershe 6y ago
    I personally think about half or so of both quotes are completely made up straw men, while about half of each are justified. Your approach here is "exhibit A" for the comments above.