4 ms·

> Uniting the country is definitely a commendable goal This is hard and may backfire in a deeply divided country. To me, instead of trying to achieve a common

by ptero 6y ago

> Uniting the country is definitely a commendable goal This is hard and may backfire in a deeply divided country. To me, instead of trying to achieve a common ground (which, in the current situation often means forcing 49% to the position of the 51%; with the chance of a swap in 2-4 years) we should learn to live, share space and collaborate with folks who hold different political views. We can disagree on politics, but it should not prevent us from working as a team on software or sharing a beer after work. We are not at war with the other half of the country. We should respect their opinions and avoid unnecessary confrontations. My 2c.

Blammar 6y ago
I was agreeing with you until your next to last sentence. Sometimes you cannot respect someone else's opinions. I believe the fundamental dichotomy is that, for some of us, our opinions are not who we are. We can change our opinions and remain the same people. For others, their opinions ARE who they are. They cannot separate out their beliefs from themselves, so when you question their opinions, they feel you are attacking them personally.
- kgwgk 6y ago
  > They cannot separate out their beliefs from themselves, so when you question their opinions, they feel you are attacking them personally. And in that case you cannot respect those opinions?
  - Blammar 6y ago
    Not if their opinions are of the flavor of: female genital mutilation is acceptable; there was massive election fraud in the US Nov. 3 election; the earth is flat; etc. At some point you need to draw a line.
    - kgwgk 6y ago
      I misunderstood. I though the problem was related with people feeling attacked when their opinions are questioned. That can also happen with acceptable opinions.
    - disgruntledphd2 6y ago
      Not to dispute your core point, but it's odd how circumcision rarely gets brought up in the context of female genital mutilation.
  - hn_throwaway_99 6y ago
    There are just some issues, though, where it's extremely difficult to find middle ground. Look at gay marriage. There are large percentages of people in the US who would like to return to a time when gay marriage was illegal. If you were married to a same sex spouse, do you think you'd be able to say "oh, that's OK, I respect your difference of opinion." No, you'd do everything in your power to protect your family from being attacked. I mean, just imagine how straight people would react if the government tried to invalidate their marriages.
    - kgwgk 6y ago
      If you were married to a same sex spouse, you may feel personally atacked if your opinion that same-sex marriage should be legal is questioned. I thought the parent comment suggested that the opinions of those who cannot separate out their beliefs from themselves, so when you question their opinions, they feel you are attacking them personally, are less respectable.
crooked-v 6y ago
> We can disagree on politics The problem here is that treating politics as 'just politics' is the realm of people privileged enough that they have never directly suffered because of those politics. Transgender rights, for example, are never 'just politics' for me: they are a basic moral issue that deeply affects the life of one of my close friends.

by ptero 6y ago

Blammar 6y ago

I was agreeing with you until your next to last sentence. Sometimes you cannot respect someone else's opinions. I believe the fundamental dichotomy is that, for some of us, our opinions are not who we are. We can change our opinions and remain the same people. For others, their opinions ARE who they are. They cannot separate out their beliefs from themselves, so when you question their opinions, they feel you are attacking them personally.

kgwgk 6y ago
> They cannot separate out their beliefs from themselves, so when you question their opinions, they feel you are attacking them personally. And in that case you cannot respect those opinions?
- Blammar 6y ago
  Not if their opinions are of the flavor of: female genital mutilation is acceptable; there was massive election fraud in the US Nov. 3 election; the earth is flat; etc. At some point you need to draw a line.
  - kgwgk 6y ago
    I misunderstood. I though the problem was related with people feeling attacked when their opinions are questioned. That can also happen with acceptable opinions.
  - disgruntledphd2 6y ago
    Not to dispute your core point, but it's odd how circumcision rarely gets brought up in the context of female genital mutilation.
- hn_throwaway_99 6y ago
  There are just some issues, though, where it's extremely difficult to find middle ground. Look at gay marriage. There are large percentages of people in the US who would like to return to a time when gay marriage was illegal. If you were married to a same sex spouse, do you think you'd be able to say "oh, that's OK, I respect your difference of opinion." No, you'd do everything in your power to protect your family from being attacked. I mean, just imagine how straight people would react if the government tried to invalidate their marriages.
  - kgwgk 6y ago
    If you were married to a same sex spouse, you may feel personally atacked if your opinion that same-sex marriage should be legal is questioned. I thought the parent comment suggested that the opinions of those who cannot separate out their beliefs from themselves, so when you question their opinions, they feel you are attacking them personally, are less respectable.

crooked-v 6y ago

> We can disagree on politics The problem here is that treating politics as 'just politics' is the realm of people privileged enough that they have never directly suffered because of those politics. Transgender rights, for example, are never 'just politics' for me: they are a basic moral issue that deeply affects the life of one of my close friends.