I'm new here but...

Tammy - posted on 12/27/2010

I agree that both sides have their fair share of people who just don't play well with others, however, the gold medal does go to the liberals when it comes to name calling and meanspiritedness, in my opinion. One of the things that lead me to conservatism is that I found on any given topic a conservative is MORE likely to not only give their opinion but state why they feel this way and where they got their information and basically provide the foundation for their belief. The liberals predominately start calling names and applying personal attacks once they realize they have nothing to back up their claims. Again, not all liberals do this, however, most do. There is a fairly popular (among liberals) talk show host who is absolutely the most offensive person I have ever heard. He is the most popular amoung liberals. Meaning most liberals love this guy. Instead of taking what Glen Beck says and countering with different facts and information to refute what he says he instead talks about how Glen Beck should kill himself. That is only one instance out of untold numbers of things he says everyday with the same nastiness.

When a conservative does or says something wrong other conservatives will generally call them on the carpet. When a liberal says it, it's ok. Do we really have to go into a list of liberals who have used the "N" word and you hear not a peep in the media?

Helpful tip: One thing I sometimes try to do is set up my "tone" before a post or use :) during some spots to implicate that I'm not in an angry mood or anything. It is immpossible to judge someone's emotional state in type. Funny sarcasm also does not translate well. If I want people to know I'm being sarcastic I usually will use {turn sarcasm on here} before I get sarcastic. Maybe this will help:):):)???

Isobel - posted on 12/17/2010

yeah...I gotta agree that a year ago EVERYBODY was behaving like jack ass children. While I always have tried to remain civil, I must admit that even I was pushed to the point of rudeness and childish name calling with a couple of people.



I apologized LONG ago, and it was sincere. That's more than I can say for any of the nasty ignorant comments that came my way.



Not one conservative ever apologized for calling me stupid, A CLASSLESS BITCH, communist,a baby-killer, or marking all of my posts funny, sending me private messages that called me horrible vile names and attacked my parenting skills, or stalking me from group to group attacking every post I made.



I miss SOME of the people who used to debate, but not the ones who were so mean and nasty that they brought out the worst in everybody.



Now...I will also admit that there are some people on the left who still "debate" like they are talking to those people...and that's not right, and I've told them as much.



Humble pie was never meant to be eaten alone...care to share?

Laura - posted on 12/17/2010

It's interesting that you made this observation Emily because right now the liberals are behaving rather mildly compared to a year to a year and a half ago. I don't know if it's because they actually grew a conscience and realized that the fullout anger, name calling attack is undebatable and immature or if it's because those who really irritate them have been removed taking other conservatives with them which greatly decreased the playing field. Those conservatives that remained probably either don't trust them or don't have the time to debate seeing as how in the past there have been sassy comments towards conservatives who don't respond to their quetions or comments in their time frame. How arrogant do you have to be to expect someone that you don't even know to respond to you in your time frame? Some of us have a life outside of COM and in my real life the liberals aren't as offensive as the ones on COM. I find the liberals on COM to be rude, arrogant, immature and hypocritical. The fact that they are on the R/C community joining in conversations and starting threads when just a short time ago it was the big joke that they can't come over here even just to read for fear of losing to many brain cells. But here they are because THEY want to talk to other conservatives now. Hmmmmm.....change of heart? They call themselves the tolerant party in one breath and in the next they call conservatives really anything under the sun (bigots, racists, cold hearted, etc..) tea party members are ignorant tea baggers, christians are delusional sheep,and anyone of them who lives in too conservative a town is sufficating in the ignorance and really wants to move. Yes, shinning examples of tolerance. That's not to say that I think republicans and conservatives are more tolerant, we all have work to do. But, when you brag about being the tolerant party and make statements like that and they are pretty prevelant on COM along with from the White House, it comes across as being rather hypocritical in my book.

What we need to get back to is the common respect for humans. Both sides are guilty but until both sides realize this there can be no honest conversations or debates and no progress can be made. No one party or individual has all the answers. It's through differing opinions and experiences and knowledge that this Nation became as great as it is and it's only with respect for these differences that we can continue successfully. When you leave out or try to shut down a group of people you lose their experience and intelligence and you will not be as successful as you could have been had you included them. You will only be successful to or for the group you cater to and that is extremely disrespectful to a lot of people who are trying to carve out a life. And before all the liberals that joined this community jump all over me I do recognize that both sides of a debate can be guilty of this. As I said, no one party or individual has all the answers but one has to recognize in themselves, their party, their side first that they don't have all the answers before they start pointing it out that others don't know anything. That might be a place to start...a little humble pie anyone?

Rebecca - posted on 12/16/2010

@Dana and Laura: I actually do know liberals who want him removed! Believe it or not! While I do agree with much that he says, I don't agree with everything, and I don't believe he incites violence, but as we have all stated before, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I wish more liberals were like you and didn't think we should censor everything and everyone whom they don't agree with, but, alas, there are many who do think that way.



As far as the fact checking goes, I don't believe anything that anyone says unless I can fact-check it. Everyone has an angle. And one thing about people in general is that you can't agree with them 100%. I can like GB, but don't agree with every opinion he has. I can agree with his overall political view, but not necessarily every implementation that he suggests. And I can listen to liberals and disagree with 99% of what they say, but give them kudos when they say something that I think is right or enlightened.



There's tons of info and opinions and talking heads on TV and radio, and it is up to each of us to gather the information, sift through it, and form our own educated opinion. But many people, even conservatives, will just listen to whatever someone says (like GB, for example) and not do any other research or check other sources. I NEVER rely on one source to get my information!



Oh, and you're welcome, Dana! I didn't think you meant it the way she took it!



And to both of you, I've enjoyed this polite back and forth with you...it's a change from my previous experiences!



God bless.

Isobel - posted on 12/16/2010

well...Glen Beck is dangerous...I truly believe that he inciting hatred and violence...but that's a different thread entirely...but I don't think he should be removed from the air...they should just put a disclaimer before the show FICTION! NONE OF THIS IS TRUE! The dangerous part is that SOME people believe that he is a journalist, even though he does the circuit and tells everybody who will listen that he doesn't check his facts, that he has no intention of checking his facts...legally he has to tell you to do your own research, that's why he does it.



But then when you google the topic, you (shockingly) get a bunch of propaganda that agrees with him and accept that as fact.



It's dangerous. But it shouldn't be pulled off the air.

Dana - posted on 12/16/2010

Rebecca, thank you for clearing that up with Emily.

As far as your last post, I actually don't know any liberals who want Glenn Beck removed off the air. I know plenty who think he's a vile little man, myself included but, I don't think anyone should remove him.

Rebecca - posted on 12/16/2010

Laura: I understand what you're saying, and I agree with you...but the particular incident I'm speaking about resulted in the moderator giving a stern warning, continued attacks, and the thread ultimately being closed. It was that bad. I don't care if someone disagrees with me and says, "In my opinion, spanking is abuse and should never under any circumstances be implemented." That is simply a statement of their opinion. It is the personal attacks that I have a problem with.



I'm glad to hear a non-Christian say what you just did. Many of them say nasty things like we are brainwashed, in a cult, can't think for ourselves, etc... I also respect non-believers' right to their opinion, even though I don't agree with them. That's probably the most important thing we have in America, the free will to choose for ourselves what our beliefs are, they way we want to live, the activities we choose to do (or not do). Isn't it great? Let's just hope we keep this freedom, because if were up to some people, we wouldn't have free will anymore. See, I can change the channel if I don't want to watch offensive shows on Comedy Central laced with curse words; I don't try to have it removed from the air. Many liberals want that to happen to people like Glenn Beck. Why? We are all entitled to our own opinions. If they don't like it, don't watch!



Sorry, that last bit wasn't directed at you, Laura, just ranting a bit on my part! ;-)

Isobel - posted on 12/16/2010

right...but the spanking thing is just a difference of opinion. Some people think that it's abuse, and some don't...whataya gonna do? I don't think I've ever witnessed somebody being called stupid for being a Christian...I can hang out all day and tell you why I'm not, and all the flaws and blah blah blah...but at the end of the day...I love a LOT of Christians, and while I may believe they are misguided, I respect their right to believe what they believe.

If anybody calls you stupid, you should flag that post immediately, that's not cool.

Rebecca - posted on 12/16/2010

Laura is right, although I will say that regardless of being outnumbered, I still feel attacked. When even one person is calling you terrible names, using curse words, and saying terrible things about Christianity and those who are "stupid" enough to buy into it, it really hurts. I know we shouldn't care about what a stranger says about us, but I almost can't help it. Then of course when 10 more people gang up on you, it makes it that much worse. I thought COM was supposed to be "No T.H.U.M.P.S.?" I was called a child abuser for suggesting a spanking during a topic on discipline. I was called much worse for broadcasting that I was a Christian. I just don't go on those communities any more.

Isobel - posted on 12/16/2010

I think a dry sense of humor doesn't travel well over the internet...when somebody is disagreeing with you and trying to make a joke about it, it's going to sound catty and rude...even if that's not the intention...I know I've felt that way about conservatives sometimes too...and I have to pull myself back and remember that it's all meant to be fun and enlightening NOT bashing from either side.

Another problem is the fact that there simply are not enough conservatives in the debates. When you post ONE comment and are greeted with ten people disagreeing with you, you are going to feel attacked, no matter what words people use.

Rebecca - posted on 12/15/2010

Emily, I can't speak for Dana, but as I read her post I didn't get what you got out of it. I don't think she was telling YOU not to be catty about it. I think she was saying that both sides can be catty and SHE "personally wouldn't be so catty about it." Maybe you can re-read it with that in mind. It's so hard to convey tone of voice in written word!

Kelly - posted on 12/14/2010

I like a good political debate just as much as the next gal and def think that a conservative voice should be heard on a lot of them but I have to agree that the other groups are quite rude at times. I am very respectful in my discussions and try to keep it "all about the facts" but it often turns into a Republican bashing. I let it roll off and do not engage in it. I am willing to have a conversation with a Democrat...shoot my husband is one...as long as it is well informed. When all they can do is name call like we are 10 and on the playground I just leave it to the assumption that they do not have enough knowledge about the subject we are on and have to resort to being childish. It is what it is...if they can not have an interesting thoughtful conversation than I am not going to waste my time or lose IQ points listening to the mindless banter! People often hate what they do not understand...

Gina - posted on 12/11/2010

When I started this, I was very open minded about Liberals, and thought we could actually discuss issues like adults. I found out, that isn't the case. The proof to that too, is if you have checked into it, you will see they have chased most of the conservatives away. The PDM group was started by a conservative, and used to be mostly conservative. Low and behold, it got infiltrated, and a lot of us just got fed up. There is no way to win, so why even discuss it. You will just end up with a big headache. I find it sad they have to come over here to try and strike up a conversation with us. Just ignore them..... that's my advice.

Emily - posted on 12/06/2010

How was I being catty, Dana? I'm new here and I was just voicing some concerns I have about what I have seen. I am looking around this forum and see posts about Obama, etc...but nothing about liberals being stupid or close minded or what have you...but then I look over in Liberal Moms and see all kinds of posts about how we conservatives are nothing but stupid, uneducated and cold hearted. There was nothing catty about that comment.

Dana - posted on 12/06/2010

I think both sides seem to be just as bad right now, it's the political climate. It sucks but, really you can use those adjectives for people on either side. Although, I personally wouldn't be so catty about it.