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dalesqlThere was an election this week here in the USA. I have my opinions on who got elected and who didn't, and how the election results were good and bad. But that's not what I want to talk about... exactly.
I'm talking about the hyperbole that I've been reading on my friends and acquaintances blogs lately about the election. Both the cheerleading and bashing of this or that candidate or ballot question before the vote, and the celebrations and excoriations over the results of the vote.
One big lack I noticed not only in the press and media, but also in the blogosphere was the simple act of intelligent, calm and reasoned discussion of the pros and cons of this or that issue. Where two or more rational people with differing opinions have a calm and rational discussion of the issue. With reasonable give and take in the conversation, and the willingness to be persuaded and to persuade the other into changing their opinion on whatever matter was under discussion.
I can't recall reading or listening to a single one this election cycle. Not one.
Every time I read or heard a start of one of these discussions, very soon other participants started shouting their opinions as the holy writ and drowned out all rationality. This saddens me.
After the election I read some of those really vicious diatribes about how could the voters have possibly elected that other politician who is blatantly evil, as symbolized by their party affiliation. Also the quiet smugness of the people who had the people or party they wanted to win get elected. Almost nowhere did I read anything about toleration of different viewpoints, or the acceptance that rational people can hold different opinions on a subject. Perhaps some lip service given to the idea that reasonable people can disagree on something. But once those pious phrases pass their lips, the attacks on the other starts right back up.
I don't have a good solution to this extremely distasteful position I find myself in. When I try to educate myself on a particular politician or ballot issue, all that I can easily find is sound bites, bullet points and scurrilous attacks. The lack of reasonable discourse is appalling, and we sorely need more reason and less hysteria.
I'm talking about the hyperbole that I've been reading on my friends and acquaintances blogs lately about the election. Both the cheerleading and bashing of this or that candidate or ballot question before the vote, and the celebrations and excoriations over the results of the vote.
One big lack I noticed not only in the press and media, but also in the blogosphere was the simple act of intelligent, calm and reasoned discussion of the pros and cons of this or that issue. Where two or more rational people with differing opinions have a calm and rational discussion of the issue. With reasonable give and take in the conversation, and the willingness to be persuaded and to persuade the other into changing their opinion on whatever matter was under discussion.
I can't recall reading or listening to a single one this election cycle. Not one.
Every time I read or heard a start of one of these discussions, very soon other participants started shouting their opinions as the holy writ and drowned out all rationality. This saddens me.
After the election I read some of those really vicious diatribes about how could the voters have possibly elected that other politician who is blatantly evil, as symbolized by their party affiliation. Also the quiet smugness of the people who had the people or party they wanted to win get elected. Almost nowhere did I read anything about toleration of different viewpoints, or the acceptance that rational people can hold different opinions on a subject. Perhaps some lip service given to the idea that reasonable people can disagree on something. But once those pious phrases pass their lips, the attacks on the other starts right back up.
I don't have a good solution to this extremely distasteful position I find myself in. When I try to educate myself on a particular politician or ballot issue, all that I can easily find is sound bites, bullet points and scurrilous attacks. The lack of reasonable discourse is appalling, and we sorely need more reason and less hysteria.
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no subject
Date: 2010-11-06 12:05 pm (UTC)But yeah, I hear you. Everyone is screaming, I'm right you're wrong and nobody is listening to the other.
no subject
Date: 2010-11-06 06:27 pm (UTC)I know several reasonable people who have avoided discussing politics on the internet since Usenet's heyday. The more I see, the more wisdom I see in that. But it's not enough of an answer. Sorry; I don't have one, either.
no subject
Date: 2010-11-07 05:42 am (UTC)I heard on the radio that most of the moderates were voted out and those further on the right or left were elected in, so it will mean even more shouting matches to come. Joy.
The guy on the radio also said that "no matter who you voted for, we can all agree to be happy that at least the politcal ads are over!"