General Discussion

Tigress DEM

(7,887 posts)

66. Do you think a lot of people mistake harsh free-for-all criticisms as "the only REAL free speech"?

Sun Oct 14, 2012, 04:14 PM

Oct 2012

I think when things were going fine in this country, people had NO IDEA how much civil discourse it took, how much compromise and sucking it up to get the job done there is / was to the political jobs out there.

When you look at the "rules" of the House and Senate, how they call each other "the distinguished gentleman" or "my friend" as Joe Biden called Romney during the debate, people don't GET how especially when we have so much at stake and are so divided about so many issues really DEMANDS that we stick close to the processes our founders set down. Not that they and everything they did was perfection itself, but it's a real good guide to keep us from blowing up at each other long enough to have the required conversations it takes to govern or repair a country.

I wonder if a lot of people just think that all that is required of "free speech" is that they open their mouth and start yapping. In one way that is correct, but irresponsible yapping doesn't really accomplish anything needed.

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What do you think accounts for the rise in incivility? [View all] Stinky The Clown Oct 2012 OP

There hasn't been a rise Drale Oct 2012 #1

Oh, i must disagree with you. Hatchling Oct 2012 #121

Lee Atwater, Fox News, Rush Limbaugh. 'Nuff said. charlyvi Oct 2012 #2

Atwater for starters, nixon's fall madokie Oct 2012 #5

thank you. I was just thinking about watergate. niyad Oct 2012 #8

My apologies to you all but that is BS. cstanleytech Oct 2012 #24

There is a very thin line between civilization and barbarianism as a wise person RKP5637 Oct 2012 #52

Newt developed it into a science. Sekhmets Daughter Oct 2012 #27

Two countries... Bigmack Oct 2012 #3

See, now I would say the TWO COUNTRIES are the Rich and the Poor. Tigress DEM Oct 2012 #64

I wouldn't compare anti-science, anti intellectual Confusious Oct 2012 #77

Those we expect to stand for civility randr Oct 2012 #4

Do you think a lot of people mistake harsh free-for-all criticisms as "the only REAL free speech"? Tigress DEM Oct 2012 #66

Blowhard bullies only back down randr Oct 2012 #68

it has been going on for quite a while. I remember when Pat Schroeder decided to retire from niyad Oct 2012 #6

Bush, Disco, perceived anonymity, and our failure to adopt the Metric System slackmaster Oct 2012 #7

smokers of what? navarth Oct 2012 #83

Smokers of fatties slackmaster Oct 2012 #100

Nonsense. People are more 'civil' now than ever leftstreet Oct 2012 #9

Interesting post. Tigress DEM Oct 2012 #69

Reagan made stupidity respectable. GeorgeGist Oct 2012 #10

+ 1. I was discussing this very phenomenon with a friend last night. nt Zorra Oct 2012 #35

He gave people permission to be uncivil , to be not only ignorant, but to be proud of it. Egalitarian Thug Oct 2012 #93

good question, Stinky grasswire Oct 2012 #11

I love those who wax nostaligic for all white, all straight 50's TV, produced by direct Bluenorthwest Oct 2012 #39

You're absolutely right. MineralMan Oct 2012 #56

Why thank you, Mineral Man. Bluenorthwest Oct 2012 #59

Well, there are a lot of us in Minnesota who are working on MineralMan Oct 2012 #90

And also, no air conditioning. MAYBE in movie theaters or drug stores, which is what I remember raccoon Oct 2012 #94

I don't think AC is in the same category MineralMan Oct 2012 #97

No, it isn't. But every time someone mentions the old days,that's one of the things I think of. nt raccoon Oct 2012 #99

There were many things that weren't so good in the 50s. MineralMan Oct 2012 #107

Good post grasswire. The media certainly has followed the trend toward 'coarseness' lumpy Oct 2012 #74

We are all being assaulted with stressors. porphyrian Oct 2012 #12

People are scared to death of the future and with good reason. raouldukelives Oct 2012 #17

Not necessarily as woo woo as it sounds... porphyrian Oct 2012 #36

+1000 We're being assaulted with stressors and that's part of a plan! LongTomH Oct 2012 #25

Indeed Harry_Scrote Oct 2012 #33

I wonder LiveNudePolitics Oct 2012 #13

Jumpin' Bill Carlisle used to tell a joke about 1 out of 3 people are ugly graham4anything Oct 2012 #14

One reason is anonymity and not knowing our neighbors and fellow citizens. For raccoon Oct 2012 #15

Paradoxically, the fall of Religion. randome Oct 2012 #16

Stress, Alienation, Tribalism, Etc. earthside Oct 2012 #18

For fairness' sake, MineralMan Oct 2012 #19

Good point. nt raccoon Oct 2012 #95

What rise.... whistler162 Oct 2012 #20

I think part of it can be contributed to increased use of electronic devices for Butterbean Oct 2012 #21

are you in England or France? :) aletier_v Oct 2012 #22

From the internet. former9thward Oct 2012 #23

stress from life, from recession, from working harder and earning less JackN415 Oct 2012 #26

I was raised in the 30s depression. People were struggling in every area, yet people lumpy Oct 2012 #80

you are right, there is a cultural shift there... JackN415 Oct 2012 #86

Oh Wow...books could be written about this... Sekhmets Daughter Oct 2012 #28

Certainly could be a factor. lumpy Oct 2012 #78

I think it started with the "put down" that marked 1970s TV sitcoms KansDem Oct 2012 #29

The Beav as FAUST?! Gilbert as SATAN?! LOL! (Faust had no redemption.) Archie's racism and misogyny WinkyDink Oct 2012 #112

Of course! KansDem Oct 2012 #118

FOX "NEWS". OregonBlue Oct 2012 #30

Rancid hateful propaganda tabasco Oct 2012 #31

A Visit to Media Matters = Depression otohara Oct 2012 #62

So an addict deserves scorn? How are you different? rainanna 14 Oct 2012 #115

LOL! tabasco Oct 2012 #125

This message was self-deleted by its author moondust Oct 2012 #32

Drivers on cell phones have made it much more dangerous ...pisses me off. L0oniX Oct 2012 #34

There are likely many factors at play here. surrealAmerican Oct 2012 #37

It's the same as it ever was Generic Brad Oct 2012 #38

I don't agree with your notion that incivility is new or increasing.... Bluenorthwest Oct 2012 #40

Wow. You're quite angry. And, it seems, angry with me. Stinky The Clown Oct 2012 #41

Get real, man. It was not civil when discrimination was the definition of America. Bluenorthwest Oct 2012 #45

I wasn't arguing your point. I was noting your incivility. Stinky The Clown Oct 2012 #46

And I was noting yours. Bluenorthwest Oct 2012 #51

So the fact that gays are tolerated now somehow disproves Stinky's point? Doctor_J Oct 2012 #43

Putting people in jail for existing is very uncivil. The US no longer allows that. Bluenorthwest Oct 2012 #47

you don't know anything about Stinky's community, frankly grasswire Oct 2012 #63

This message was self-deleted by its author Puglover Oct 2012 #70

How civil of you! You don't know my life experience at all... Bluenorthwest Oct 2012 #108

"Whites Only" "Colored Entrance" "No Jews" etc REP Oct 2012 #42

And there you have it. Bluenorthwest Oct 2012 #48

Mostly the fact that AM radio broadcasts lies and hate 24/7 Doctor_J Oct 2012 #44

Many interesting and thoughtful ideas on here OldHippieChick Oct 2012 #49

Great post, Old Hippy. lumpy Oct 2012 #84

Joe Wilson. But that was very rude, disrespectful, and he was a real a-hole for saying it. raccoon Oct 2012 #96

Ignorance and talk radio Whovian Oct 2012 #50

The people who believe that they are right and righteous Fresh_Start Oct 2012 #53

this..... spanone Oct 2012 #54

People are less happy, for a variety of reasons. Also... sibelian Oct 2012 #55

The simple answer: the proliferation of lies, taken as facts. Waiting For Everyman Oct 2012 #57

We are not all guilty of incivility. I am very courteous to people. ywcachieve Oct 2012 #58

I think incivility has gone mainstream felix_numinous Oct 2012 #60

Great post. Thanks lumpy Oct 2012 #85

about past forms of 'entertainment'...during the time of Shakespeare the most Bluenorthwest Oct 2012 #101

Human beings felix_numinous Oct 2012 #119

We are on the verge of Civil War because one side has been cheating and oppressing the other. Tigress DEM Oct 2012 #61

There is no verge. Civil war is inevitable! Great Caesars Ghost Oct 2012 #116

War is only inevitable when folk CHOOSE to be too stupid to resolve their differences. Tigress DEM Oct 2012 #133

one can hold out for so long. Great Caesars Ghost Oct 2012 #134

The lack of H2O Man Oct 2012 #65

Nice one! randome Oct 2012 #72

Clowns. lumberjack_jeff Oct 2012 #67

I think part of it is anonymity on the internet. Kablooie Oct 2012 #71

I think that's a great point. union_maid Oct 2012 #75

Everyone considers him or herself civil woo me with science Oct 2012 #73

i find that folks are fine in the grocery store and on the roads in my little town NMDemDist2 Oct 2012 #76

Rush Limbaugh, 20+ years ago. Period. Faygo Kid Oct 2012 #79

Human nature, the desire to one-up one another. alp227 Oct 2012 #81

IMO it became acceptable with Raygun. "There you go again" said to President Carter Raine Oct 2012 #82

I'm not convinced there has been a rise in incivility fishwax Oct 2012 #87

lack of UBUNTU! NMDemDist2 Oct 2012 #88

Because, in our society, bullies are celebrated, and non-bullies are seen as weak. Dash87 Oct 2012 #89

I just posted to my fb today this very point. flyguyjake Oct 2012 #91

Two things occurring in the 1980's Sherman A1 Oct 2012 #92

I believe it also started during the eighties. lalalu Oct 2012 #105

Happy Days, Seinfeld, The Sopranos. CBGLuthier Oct 2012 #98

Lifestyles of the rich and famous, bad parenting and lack of personal responsibility. lalalu Oct 2012 #102

We're a Spartan society area51 Oct 2012 #103

WWGD? littlemissmartypants Oct 2012 #104

Reduced sense of community. Less societal control on behavior. TwilightGardener Oct 2012 #106

Don't see much of that deaniac21 Oct 2012 #109

"Election season". wtmusic Oct 2012 #110

For late 20th C. America = Right. Wing. Talk. Radio. Hours and hours of "aggrieved" rants. WinkyDink Oct 2012 #111

Let me get this straight: our country is based on ECONOMIC DARWINISM, as is the most unequal of all Romulox Oct 2012 #113

GOP losers...losers in many ways. kelliekat44 Oct 2012 #114

Among Other Reasons... WiffenPoof Oct 2012 #117

For the right-wing agenda to be successful, we must be a nation of strangers who hate each other begin_within Oct 2012 #120

The habit of instant gratification and the increased ability to compartmentalize life. haele Oct 2012 #122

I think the Internet is eroding socialization Prism Oct 2012 #123

George W. mstinamotorcity2 Oct 2012 #124

republicans. barbtries Oct 2012 #126

Incivility in blogs? lordjin Oct 2012 #127

Politically, incivility goes back at least 40 years NHDEMFORLIFE Oct 2012 #128

i'm not seeing it Enrique Oct 2012 #129

When news became entertainment. hrmjustin Oct 2012 #130

Getting old. No matter what time or place you live in, people always get ruder the older you get. Evoman Oct 2012 #131

"Think of your own driving habits. You yelling at other drivers. Other drivers flipping you off." undeterred Oct 2012 #132