General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Bad nominee withdraws. Obvious defeat for everyone who thought he was a bad nominee. [View all]LWolf
(46,179 posts)to have been raised on the rule of good manners: keep politics and religion out of conversations.
Obviously, that's not going to happen on a political discussion board, nor should it. But it serves as a solid example of why that rule was once part of our culture. We could possibly use a little more restraint. Not to stifle free speech or dissent, but to express ourselves with civility. Of course, back when I was a child learning that rule, there was no internet, we didn't spend that much time on the phone, and we generally talked face to face. There was no anonymity, so if we couldn't be civil, everyone knew about it.
Add anonymity to political and religious debate, and the inner bullies come roaring out of hiding, with social inhibitions gone.
Put downs, name calling, etc., etc., etc., are an embedded part of the greater culture. In earlier days on DU, personal attacks against other DUers were specifically prohibited, but it was open season on Republicans; ridicule, derision, name-calling, and general middle school bullying of Republicans was celebrated, and still is, without seeing the inherent hypocrisy.
In the move to DU3 and the jury system, personal attacks on other DUers are rarely acted on. Most jurors reject alerts on those grounds as "whining," "silly," "weakest alert EVER," "Please, give me a break...is this a discussion site or the kissy face place?", "What a petty complaint.", etc.. Those are all in quotes because they are comments from recent juries I've served on.
In other words, DU has evolved into Lord of the Flies, as long as nobody is advocating leaving the party or voting for anyone who isn't a democrat.