I have to know, Does it matter?

[Voodoo_Chile]

Right lads I'm starting this thread with the expressed intent to voice an opinion about Right and Left.

Does it matter that the man,women or child is of a viewpoint which might happen to, On this topic, contradicte what your viewpoint might hold?
It boils down to this. Is it nesscary to call a person a "leftie" or a "rightie" or any variation on this, and thus by branding them with this stamp making their opinion invalid.

This might seem like a pointless topic but it really gets on my nerves when I see that kind of crap being thrown around. I know some will say that they are a Liberal or Republican and don't mind but some of us are middle of the road, I myself have leanings to either side. So when I voice an opinion why am I, Even subconsiously branded one or the other?

Ill make it simpler:

1. For Righties(Hypocritical but it speeds it up)-Do you honestly think that every single liberally minded person is trying to infect your precious bodily fluids?

2. For Lefties- Do you honestly think that every Right-Wing person is a gun wielding maniac who sleeps in a water bed filled with oil and dances on the graves of innocents?

If you agree with either or both of the above SEEK HELP NOW!
If you disagree with either or both of the above please dont throw the words around like you do agree with this, as it does not help the continuation of fruitful discussion on any forum.

So I ask you all, Does it matter? If the person's point is valid and accurate and you know it please try to counter or agree with another valid and accurate post and not something to the tune of " You Liberal/Republican scum, You're ruining our planet with your war-mongering/pussy talk"

 

[Raeven0]

I don't follow the left-right system at all. Politics ain't a continuum. A Christian who thinks abortion is a useful institution: right-wing nutjob or pinko commie? Can he even be placed? (Not the best example, I know. If you complain, I gut you. With this convenient ceremonial Japanese dagger.)

Rather, I tend to believe that all hardcore pinkos and nutjobs are conformist morons and don't deserve to be listened to in the first place.

 

[DeusExMachina]

If anything, I see actual agression from the Right to the Left. There's a freaking "conservative dating service" for chrissakes where the tagline is like "I didn't want a bleeding heart, I wanted a heart fulled..." blah blah. I don't associate myself with either side though. Cons and Libs make good suggestions and choices sometimes. But really, all Republicans care about is hating and discriminating against Liberals and Democrats. Liberals and Democrats really don't care.

 

[Sulkdodds]

I've seen quite a lot of lefty anti-right shit, and I'm a lefty.

It is irritating. If Feath wasn't asleep he would post something really clever on the subject.

 

[DeusExMachina]

Feath, that crazy intellectual.

 

[RakuraiTenjin]

If anything, I see actual agression from the Right to the Left. There's a freaking "conservative dating service" for chrissakes where the tagline is like "I didn't want a bleeding heart, I wanted a heart fulled..." blah blah. I don't associate myself with either side though. Cons and Libs make good suggestions and choices sometimes. But really, all Republicans care about is hating and discriminating against Liberals and Democrats. Liberals and Democrats really don't care.

As someone who's political leanings fall categorically more right wing, it goes both ways, definately, don't try and say it comes more from one side or the other. When you're on the other side of the fence you definately see it coming in, so yeah. From an objective point, I can see it going out, too. Not all of it I see going out I think is really wrong, but I see the fact that it is going out.

I don't care what someone's political leanings are or who they are. I try to read posts in politics before even looking at who said it.. usually I can tell if I was able to do that and they post often. It's left wing policies that I find wrong/invalid. And someone left wing is going to post left wing policies, generally speaking, so that's why it seems like the same people are always against the same people. If a 'left winger' by chance says something right, I'll agree with them, but it doesn't have anything to do with who is saying it, it's what they say.

 

[Top Secret]

Man, screw this left right stuff. We need some more dimension. I'll be a top. No, **** that. Let's add the Z axis. I'll be a IN YOUR FACE

 

[DeusExMachina]

Y axis ftw ^_^.

 

[Top Secret]

Y axis ftw ^_^.

SIG'd!

 

[Adabiviak]

One of the problems is that it's a multidimensional question and people are looking for single dimension answers. Are you referring to their social, political, educational, or economic slant? Rarely are they the same. I cannot possibly give you one answer, for it would not be true to the other facets of your question.

 

[Glirk Dient]

1. Honestly, just about every leftie I know tries to force their viewpoints on me or tries to get me to not join the military.

I feel the country is so divided it has become a war to which side will triumph over the other instead of trying to make America better. Everyone just chooses sides based on what the other side chooses simply so they can try to win.

 

[OCybrManO]

I feel the country is so divided it has become a war to which side will triumph over the other instead of trying to make America better. Everyone just chooses sides based on what the other side chooses simply so they can try to win.

1. Honestly, just about every leftie I know tries to force their viewpoints on me or tries to get me to not join the military.

... this statement is not helping your other concern. It's only making it worse.

Also, "just about every leftie" you know probably only applies to the people that feel really strongly about their views... strongly enough to make them heard. Conversely, "just about every rightie" I know constantly talks about how liberals are evil, evolution is a lie, supports some form of racism, and pushes their religious views on me. Now, the reason that's technically true is because I don't know the political stance of most of the people I come in contact with. Only the extremists are visible... so, you're going to naturally get a skewed view. You don't seem to understand that concept.

I, for example, never discuss politics with my friends... and only rarely with family. I just don't feel the need to tell people I'm a slightly left-leaning libertarian. It's not a big deal to me. I don't feel the need to force my views on others... just as I don't want people trying to force their views on me. I don't approve of the war in Iraq, but I understand the convictions of the people that want to join the army. Sometimes, I've even had to defend people who don't share my beliefs from an person in a much more extreme version of my political stance. I care about people more than politics.

You do the same kind of stuff that you bitch about the liberals doing... so, don't think you're morally superior.

In fact, at my college the political demonstrations of the republican students are more abrasive, rude, and in-your-face than the relatively peaceful "hippy" demonstrations. For example, the liberal students tend to hand out fliers or post thing on the bulletin boards around the campus... while their counterparts did things like blocking walkways with people that have huge banners listing all kinds of activities and kinds of people they think are going to Hell, screaming as loud as they can (right outside classrooms) for hours about how liberals are evil and Jesus doesn't like them, driving a big van around the campus with a giant picture of a dead baby on the side and disgusting remarks about pro-choice people... you know, things like that. They disgusted even my religion teacher. For such a "liberal" environment as a university... there were surprisingly few vocal liberals.

I don't hold that against you or any other republicans any moreso than I would choose to associate myself with people that think all religious people are evil... which, in case you still don't understand, is not at all.

 

[Glirk Dient]

I never said I was morally superior by any means. Also note that most of my friends talk about politics so everyone else around joins in. Granted you are correct in saying that only the extremists try to push their views on eachother(both sides) however as extremist as you may consider me I never try to push my views on other people(IRL). The statement that still remains true about my answer to the question is they all try to stop me from joining the military and that's what pisses me off the most. However since they are my friends I tend to just ignore it.

 

[OCybrManO]

I never try to push my views on other people(IRL)

Oh, I know what you mean. I'm the same way. I may be a bit abrasive in the context of halflife2.net... but I'm a really nice guy, IRL. I'm already that way IRL... what's the point in being the same way online? That's no fun! I'm here to entertain myself... not make friends.

 

[The Monkey]

Left-Right is pretty pointless, as it means different thing in different places. In the US, liberals are left-wing, while they in Sweden are right-wing.

 

[Direwolf]

Simple easy answer: no. Not to me at least.

And I think in principle everyone in the left and right would agree (at least anyone worth listening to). The problem is that principle isn't always practice.

Its a very similar situation to racism. No one in a white neighborhood really anymore will say that they have something against black people, but they're not going to invite a gangsta over for dinner anytime soon.

 

[Lemonking]

why would you want a gangsta?

 

[jverne]

"Ladys and gentelmen, are you ready to rrrrrrrrrrummmble!?"

:rolling:

 

[Direwolf]

why would you want a gangsta?

I'm just saying that even if you aren't racist (or in this case partisan), that you're still going to judge people (at least initially) on these kind of superficial or rather unimportant traits. Its just a human reaction.

 

[CptStern]

in my case:

there's conservatives and then there's neo conservatives ...the neo conservatives seem to have drowned out the more moderate conservatives

to a conservative/neo conservative liberals are anything that doesnt fall into one of 2 catagories: conservative and neo-conservative

 

[Sainku]

People who think in terms of left or right and use these generalizations often in their arguments and speeches are immediately disregarded as productive or useful people in regards to politics in my book. Bias gets in the way of reason, and is one of the most annoying things a person can express. I may be classified as a conservative due to my stance on some issues, but the title means nothing to me. I feel no obligation to other conservatives any more than I do to liberals. I would not change my view to match conservative standards and I would not hesitate to speak my mind if I disagreed with one of them.

I'm just saying that even if you aren't racist (or in this case partisan), that you're still going to judge people (at least initially) on these kind of superficial or rather unimportant traits. Its just a human reaction.

It is called natural bias and of course we are going to act on it. It is the same instinct that would tell a black man that it probably isn't a good idea to invite the local gun toting red neck into his house for a tea party. It is a basic human instinct that no one should be ashamed of. It not only effects our decisions based on race, but age, sex and many other things as well. It's not something that is going to stop someone like me for example from inviting my neighbor who is black and I have known all my life over for dinner. It is different from racism because its a matter of trust more than dislike or a feeling of superiority. It is different from racism because you tend not to act in an extreme way but in split seconds that in normal situations probably wouldn't even effect your decisions.

 

[Direwolf]

Thats my stance on it too. I don't feel that its a bad thing at all. But whether or not you should call it racism etc is just semantics really.

 

[skarrob]

I cant believe that No Limit has'nt commented on this thread yet.

 

[Sulkdodds]

Hey that's odd. Where IS No Limit?

 

[kirovman]

Hey that's odd. Where IS No Limit?

The CIA's got him pushing too many pencils!