Why do so many right-wingers irritate us (rational) folks with their political opinions?

[missingfink]

My (future ex) good friend just can't seem to help himself. The more time goes on, the constant drum-beat of right-wing propaganda comes out of his mouth. I don't need to hear his opinions, I can predict what he will say if I listened to Fox News. My left-wing pals don't do this. Opinions please.

[arcane1]

1. Because they're angry dumb-asses who think parroting equals intelligence n/t

[silverweb]

2. They need validation.

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]I've pondered this point for years, especially with regard to a pair of relatives. They simply cannot agree to disagree but feel the need to hammer me with their talking points at every opportunity, which they call a "discussion."

My conclusion is that the reason they can't just leave it alone is that they're still unhappy because they need validation. I won't listen to them, I won't "debate" with them, I won't accept their sources of information (Fox, Limbaugh, Beck, WSJ Opinion, etc), and I won't explain myself to them. I won't validate them by even acknowledging their talking points and they can't stand it.

Just tell them that multiple studies show neither of you will convert the other, so to stop wasting their time. When they persist, leave. It works, if only temporarily. They can't continue yammering if you've walked out.

On Edit: Here's another very basic reason why trying to "discuss" or "debate" with a RWer is beyond futile: Conservatives make up "facts". How do you "discuss" with a liar?

[Populist_Prole]

6. My experiences seem to bear that out

This line really resonated with me;

They simply cannot agree to disagree but feel the need to hammer me with their talking points at every opportunity

During their "discussions" with me, not only do my own right wing relatives try to politicize everything ( in an attempt to create a forum to talk politics ) but in their attempt to validate themselves, are constantly trying to make really lame equivalencies between me and them or their politics. This they do by defining whatever "ism" they're trying to push so broadly that almost nobody could avoid being labeled as such. Of course this is an utter fail because they distort beyond a reasonable comparison.

[silverweb]

10. There's no neutral ground with them.

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]It's my experience, too, that they politicize everything and want to "debate" everything. Broad-brushing, distorting, and labeling is just part of their arsenal.

During the Clinton and Bush years, I thought it was my duty to be well informed and to share that factual knowledge, so I responded in full to every lie, every bit of misinformation, and every talking point with carefully researched and documented factual information. It just made them angrier, nastier, and more relentless.

Now I know better and don't waste my time.

[Arugula Latte]

3. They have a huge sense of entitlement.

Most of these blowhards are white males who think they are superior to women and minorities. They want to feel in control and powerful. They want to dominate and browbeat their "lessers" (which in their mind includes liberals, who aren't "real" 'murikins like them).

[Dawson Leery]

7. When called out, they fold and show the anger on their faces.

That has been my experience.

[Warpy]

4. It's like any religious cult

They just ditto constantly and out of control or context the same way cult members give religious monologues. Believing in something sensible people think is crazy relies on consensus within the group and those people will alienate friends and families and cling to the group to achieve that consensus.

That's why my response is to walk away laughing while twirling my index finger next to my temple. You can't argue any of them out of this. You can only tell them they've gone nuts.

[Turbineguy]

5. Because they cannot understand how we just don't

BELIEVE!

[tabasco]

8. They make me disbelieve evolution

Nobody can be that damn stupid and survive.

[CANDO]

9. I think they feel powerless.

I know that sounds ridiculous, but the special powers of Rush and Faux news gets them to believe they are the underdog. We know they are the storm troops for the powerful and well connected, but they don't see themselves that way. So they feel driven to spout off at any opportunity in an attempt to sway others to their way of thinking. Its mostly out of desperation that they make loud asses of themselves.