General Discussion

RZM

(8,556 posts)

166. I took issue with the OP because I think it's false

Wed Jul 11, 2012, 04:27 PM

Jul 2012

Not that disagreeing with me is a hanging offense. Hell, I disagree with me all the time. But very few people here advocate being 'nice' to conservatives. As a poster above mentioned, one person's 'nice' is another's 'it's sad that family lost their home in a fire.'

And another angle is the lazy dismissal of conservatives as 'stupid' and 'crazy,' as well as admonitions of posters who aren't entirely on board with those criticisms. You can see that all over this thread. Many replies have a positively Bushian 'with us or against us' quality. If you're not suitably angry, vicious, or wiling to go along with certain blanket characterizations of the other side, you're one of them.

That IS anti-intellectual. What this boils down to is the inherent difficult of really understanding what makes somebody else tick. That's very difficult to do, especially when that person's beliefs are so different from your own. That's why, IMO, you see so many false caricatures of conservatives here. This is a site full of liberals and any liberal is automatically at a disadvantage trying to get into a conservative's head, precisely because they aren't conservative. Same thing goes on in reverse on the conservative boards.

'Crazy' and 'stupid' are often just shorthand for 'I don't get what makes them tick,' because figuring that out is a difficult thing to do.

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What is with the rise in be nice to "conservatives" posts here? [View all] Cary Jul 2012 OP

They don't like it when we hurt their little feelings. Poor babies. Autumn Jul 2012 #1

yep Go Vols Jul 2012 #7

Fuck them all to hell. I can be nice to them when I'm dead Autumn Jul 2012 #12

I hate plus posts but +1000000000 nt Demonaut Jul 2012 #218

+1.000 freshwest Jul 2012 #231

Maybe because we are different? jberryhill Jul 2012 #2

Different? Er, there's another word for that, and it ain't so nice. Zalatix Jul 2012 #9

Exactly! Be nice to a conservative and they take you for being a Mark, and RKP5637 Jul 2012 #16

They'll say that we're becoming the monsters we fight. Zalatix Jul 2012 #34

They are fascists. They are to the right of conservatives on the legitimate political spectrum. Cary Jul 2012 #36

Yep, in fact I would call them fascist terrorists. Yep, IMO Eisenhower RKP5637 Jul 2012 #43

The problem with that is that it became paralyzed by money. It NEEDS to be dynamic. That's patrice Jul 2012 #85

EXCELLENT!!! I wonder, how would that come about. In a democracy one would RKP5637 Jul 2012 #115

GRASSROOTS "Conservatives" I fly that one by LIKE it too. DU is so focused up high, they forget patrice Jul 2012 #131

't'would be nice, but we need to know--NOW!!!! Ship of Fools Jul 2012 #158

Rachel Maddow did a great piece on this. bvar22 Jul 2012 #87

I would point you to Thom Hartmann Cary Jul 2012 #88

I've been listening to Thom for a number of years now. bvar22 Jul 2012 #96

Thanks for the link!!! n/t RKP5637 Jul 2012 #116

Thanks, I had missed that. MissMarple Jul 2012 #184

Bingo! WinstonSmith4740 Jul 2012 #119

Certainly not Teddy Roosevelt. He'd be a Communist. Zalatix Jul 2012 #152

The completely explains the RW politicians ability to convince and continue to convince Sheepshank Jul 2012 #252

You know, often I think they really want to be punished, it seems they are RKP5637 Jul 2012 #260

You should catch up on your cartooney notion of "Darwin" jberryhill Jul 2012 #31

What religious nonsense? Your argument is nonsense. Zalatix Jul 2012 #39

Unfortunately, you're correct. BlueCaliDem Jul 2012 #89

Yes, being charitable to Conservitards is like handling serpents. My faith ain't that strong. Zalatix Jul 2012 #92

Remember right after the 2008 election? deutsey Jul 2012 #117

Ayup!!! +1,000! Zalatix Jul 2012 #123

Exactly Cary Jul 2012 #136

I think that was only because the Democratic party's establishment Marr Jul 2012 #168

That is plausible to me, unfortunately n/t deutsey Jul 2012 #192

Hear hear! N/T GopperStopper2680 Jul 2012 #146

Yes. One main difference is Doctor_J Jul 2012 #30

Ooooh, that stung. Zalatix Jul 2012 #40

Oh really? jberryhill Jul 2012 #182

Ah, yes, it's been a great 20 years, hasn't it Doctor_J Jul 2012 #191

I assume that in 1992 the law did not prevent you from marrying someone you loved? (nt) Nye Bevan Jul 2012 #201

I assume you believe that DOMA repeal offsets the last 20 year debacle? Doctor_J Jul 2012 #214

Some of us are sick of being door mats for the Right. Odin2005 Jul 2012 #107

Yes, we are different to what their right wing noise machine propagandists told them sabrina 1 Jul 2012 #141

Yeah, we're not pushing "rich first" bullshit. Marr Jul 2012 #156

That hasn't gotten us very far. Zoeisright Jul 2012 #181

Well, let me put it this way... pipi_k Jul 2012 #246

Fetishization of the "center." Scootaloo Jul 2012 #3

You aren't confusing fascists with conservatives, are you? A Simple Game Jul 2012 #11

There's no difference in today's Repig party. hifiguy Jul 2012 #24

Yep! That's what I was trying to say in my post #16, but you said it far better!!! n/t RKP5637 Jul 2012 #29

+ 1000% mazzarro Jul 2012 #63

I'm sure you don't mean that aint_no_life_nowhere Jul 2012 #38

I most certainly do mean it. And if enough people don't understand A Simple Game Jul 2012 #53

How do we lose if we flush Conservatives down the toilet? Zalatix Jul 2012 #67

"Conservatives are not our enemy" aint_no_life_nowhere Jul 2012 #91

the cons are the strong arm of the 1% while the republicons are in our way they are but puppets of leftyohiolib Jul 2012 #124

You're right, the 1% does need the willful ignorance of the left also. And for far too sabrina 1 Jul 2012 #147

Answers to your 3 questions: Gemini Cat Jul 2012 #263

Cause & effect PETRUS Jul 2012 #58

I think you nailed it! LongTomH Jul 2012 #86

Why have you opened your eyes and they haven't? aint_no_life_nowhere Jul 2012 #97

Glad you asked. PETRUS Jul 2012 #137

Fear and desperation are part of it aint_no_life_nowhere Jul 2012 #161

Yup. PETRUS Jul 2012 #176

No, there is no confusion at all. I'm CERTAIN. Scootaloo Jul 2012 #74

hmm... chervilant Jul 2012 #127

Very nice post, thank you. A Simple Game Jul 2012 #138

What if its the truth??????? mstinamotorcity Jul 2012 #148

What do we call chervilant Jul 2012 #244

The key difference is... Scootaloo Jul 2012 #190

hmm... chervilant Jul 2012 #245

By your logic we should have called for peace negotiations with the Confederates Zalatix Jul 2012 #234

You're confusing the 1% with cons Doctor_J Jul 2012 #121

I'm not confused about anything. A Simple Game Jul 2012 #140

Cute & cuddly 1%-ers PETRUS Jul 2012 #180

Your post is nonsense Doctor_J Jul 2012 #189

Okay... PETRUS Jul 2012 #200

don't know about the word "enemy" but my anger toward the right is not just the 1% progressivebydesign Jul 2012 #157

I call them reactionaries Fantastic Anarchist Jul 2012 #183

A term from the '60s, I remember it well. n/t A Simple Game Jul 2012 #185

Since the French Revolution ... Fantastic Anarchist Jul 2012 #199

Self Promoting Conservatism? fredamae Jul 2012 #4

The best way to understand the enemy is to befriend them. HopeHoops Jul 2012 #5

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer (for different reasons, of course). nt patrice Jul 2012 #8

That quote dates back to Sun Tsu. HopeHoops Jul 2012 #17

I don't want to understand them. I want to take the Doctor_J Jul 2012 #19

It's NOT "Kumbaya". Understanding is rational. This is about a priority on problem solving, instead patrice Jul 2012 #32

And while you are busy.. 99Forever Jul 2012 #54

Isn't your use of "they" the same thing that you hate in others? THEY are not all the same. patrice Jul 2012 #70

You can deal with assholes trying to destroy you .. 99Forever Jul 2012 #79

I am not telling you how to do whatever you're doing. I am saying there are MORE than only zero-sum patrice Jul 2012 #98

I'm living with the results.. 99Forever Jul 2012 #104

+1 "Get half the poor people to fight the other half" works all too well. KurtNYC Jul 2012 #197

THAT. is. exactly. what. DU. is for. patrice Jul 2012 #251

how much more do you need to understand them? frylock Jul 2012 #122

I don't know. Understanding is very situation-specific. It requires concrete effort, principles are patrice Jul 2012 #128

well by all means then let us continue to study and analyze the right-wing idealogues.. frylock Jul 2012 #186

Situation specific means out there in the real world lives of people, many of whom happen to be patrice Jul 2012 #188

you don't seem understand fuckall.. frylock Jul 2012 #203

Hit and run. How courageous! patrice Jul 2012 #248

If you want to understand Conservatives, Democrat OR Republican, bvar22 Jul 2012 #145

Agreed on the Kumbaya stuff. Still, you have to understand them to fight them. HopeHoops Jul 2012 #35

Completely agree. Understanding is essential. This is why relying on LABELS only is damaging. patrice Jul 2012 #55

Agreed. There are some brave souls who watch FOX so we know what's going on. HopeHoops Jul 2012 #61

I very strongly want to do the work of authentic revolution, but I CAN'T do that job either. patrice Jul 2012 #72

It takes a person stronger than I am. HopeHoops Jul 2012 #82

The reality is that margins are thin. Maybe not where you are, but definitely elsewhere and patrice Jul 2012 #6

+++ 1,000 +++ I recently had occasion to do a lot of traveling in the US and RKP5637 Jul 2012 #22

Actually, I've been feeling like there's been an uptick in agitating. Gidney N Cloyd Jul 2012 #10

Given that some people ARE going to be different from you, how do you feel about differences patrice Jul 2012 #13

There are no remaining Repukes like Ike Doctor_J Jul 2012 #18

The ones in "power" are and when you cede ground that may not be that uniform, you lose. patrice Jul 2012 #23

Come on Doctor_J Jul 2012 #27

Reason? I see practically no reason anywhere. And even if I did, even if some few attempts HAD been patrice Jul 2012 #44

44 years, if you consider the loss to Nixon. AnotherMcIntosh Jul 2012 #45

Agreed. And think of the tragedy of generations of people looking at generations of "leaders" and patrice Jul 2012 #80

These assumptions that absolutely millions of people are completely = to whatever LABEL we put on patrice Jul 2012 #26

About 50/50 Doctor_J Jul 2012 #14

The moles I can understand. Cary Jul 2012 #46

YOU joined this site on May 9, 2012. Funny how quickly you've become an "expert"! nt Romulox Jul 2012 #266

Exactly. AnotherMcIntosh Jul 2012 #47

Funny how you could flip that argument around entirely RZM Jul 2012 #106

This message was self-deleted by its author RZM Jul 2012 #108

They are out neighbors, our family, our coworkers... Blanks Jul 2012 #15

Wrong Doctor_J Jul 2012 #20

I don't follow... Blanks Jul 2012 #42

You're suggesting that we JUSTIFY what they are doing, by doing it to them? Do you think that's how patrice Jul 2012 #49

Yes, and by that logic we should have dropped birthday cards and See's Candy Zalatix Jul 2012 #68

I have heard Bernie refer to "conservatives" as fascists and sociopaths Cary Jul 2012 #78

Senator Sanders calls things what they are, one of the reasons I follow him. BUT have you EVER seen patrice Jul 2012 #111

No one here is talking about doing to fascist sociopaths what they do to us. Cary Jul 2012 #125

Not necessary to talk about it. We have encoded the oppressor so deeply within ourselves that we patrice Jul 2012 #254

Re our own worst enemies on tbis board Cary Jul 2012 #255

Yes. But I live in a state that's ALWAYS written off. I'm represented by hand-picked Koch slaves patrice Jul 2012 #256

I'm truly sorry that you have been out of work Cary Jul 2012 #258

What I need is to find one honest-to-god Leftie candidate with half a chance of success to patrice Jul 2012 #259

Well said! randome Jul 2012 #37

Maybe. But they're still idiots. n/t lumberjack_jeff Jul 2012 #57

Don't worry, there's provocation on an hourly basis, so yes, striking BACK not OUT sabrina 1 Jul 2012 #151

Nice? No. PDJane Jul 2012 #21

Cool, but honest, restraint is a powerful position. nt patrice Jul 2012 #50

Yes, it has really been successful over the last 20 years Doctor_J Jul 2012 #112

Okay, so is "our leadership" intellectually competent or not. I keep hearing that they aren't & patrice Jul 2012 #249

And, btw, wouldn't Sen. Sanders say it isn't about "them" anyway? You are saying here that WE patrice Jul 2012 #250

i haven't seen the posts to which you refer. barbtries Jul 2012 #25

IMHO, there are people who believe BumRushDaShow Jul 2012 #33

Except nobody said that. Son of Gob Jul 2012 #170

Huh? BumRushDaShow Jul 2012 #195

In general? Son of Gob Jul 2012 #202

Excuse me? BumRushDaShow Jul 2012 #205

Do you even know what stalking is? Son of Gob Jul 2012 #208

Yes you are stalking BumRushDaShow Jul 2012 #213

You clearly aren't a reasonable person Son of Gob Jul 2012 #221

fuck them and the dressage horses they rode in on. n/t 2pooped2pop Jul 2012 #28

My parents are conservative Inkfreak Jul 2012 #41

Yeah. Screaming, labeling, name calling. That does nothing but ensure that the war goes on. randome Jul 2012 #52

I'm not referring to real life interactions Cary Jul 2012 #56

'Real life' includes Republicans, like it or not. randome Jul 2012 #76

Do some research on sociopaths Cary Jul 2012 #84

where are all the 'nice to conservative' posts? WI_DEM Jul 2012 #48

Here's one here, that always draws the RW trolls like moths to the flame: freshwest Jul 2012 #233

Link? n/t FSogol Jul 2012 #51

Why? n/t Cary Jul 2012 #60

Because I don't see a single "be nice to conservatives" post. FSogol Jul 2012 #62

I don't understand how you can miss them. Cary Jul 2012 #73

Your honor...The defendent is sooo guilty, we are not going to produce FSogol Jul 2012 #77

This isn't a court of law Cary Jul 2012 #81

Since you can't back up your OP. GeorgeGist Jul 2012 #163

Oooh. I hit a vein with you, eh? Cary Jul 2012 #164

I think the OP is refering (errantly) to my thread KurtNYC Jul 2012 #113

In part, but there are a number of other people like you. Cary Jul 2012 #135

People like me?! I am a beautiful and unique snowflake! KurtNYC Jul 2012 #149

You forgot delicate and sensttive snowflake, too.. Like all of us, LOL! freshwest Jul 2012 #232

"That's how guilty he is." DocMac Jul 2012 #179

ohshit. Wait Wut Jul 2012 #269

do we have any "be nice to conservatives" posts cause i havnt seen any let alone a rise in them leftyohiolib Jul 2012 #59

Personally I am of the sunlight is the best disinfectant stripe Cary Jul 2012 #65

This is a war. That's the way THEY look at it. Bake Jul 2012 #64

I agree but for different reasons Bake. Cary Jul 2012 #71

f*ck conservatives. I don't tolerate them in my life and I will not be nice. bowens43 Jul 2012 #66

It's "third way" DU. nt Maven Jul 2012 #69

Because something has not happened does not mean that it cannot happen. Please don't mistake patrice Jul 2012 #90

Remove the fucking carpet. Which is what we need to do with conservative and Autumn Jul 2012 #95

Insult is the last resort of the resource-less. Tell me specifically what is wrong with that logic, patrice Jul 2012 #99

You assume everyone CAN "remove the carpet" and those who can't DON'T MATTER. nt patrice Jul 2012 #100

Just LIKE Republicans assume everyone CAN earn a decent living & those who can't DON'T MATTER. patrice Jul 2012 #101

Just LIKE Republicans assume everyone CAN buy HC ins. & those who can't DON'T MATTER patrice Jul 2012 #102

Oh you mean a REAL carpet. Shit I thought you were going all zen Autumn Jul 2012 #153

BTW, you have heard about redistricting have you not? patrice Jul 2012 #103

Your analogy is so utterly flawed it's not worth unpacking. Maven Jul 2012 #230

Beaneath you, huh? Please, oh please, favor us with the gift of your superior abilities, or I guess patrice Jul 2012 #253

I haven't seen any of those, but IMO, those conservatives can kiss my hairy old ass! nt MADem Jul 2012 #75

I'm always nice to children, mental defectives, and psychotics. Warpy Jul 2012 #83

Conservatives ARE my Political Enemies.... bvar22 Jul 2012 #93

One person's "be nice to conservatives" Capt. Obvious Jul 2012 #94

They are DLC infiltrators. Odin2005 Jul 2012 #105

Chomsky self-identifies as a Conservative & says U.S. Conservatism has come to mean the opposite patrice Jul 2012 #109

Taking apart simplistic arguments does not constitute 'heaping praise' RZM Jul 2012 #110

+ a gazillion chervilant Jul 2012 #118

Pfeh Cary Jul 2012 #132

I stand by my post RZM Jul 2012 #139

Right Cary Jul 2012 #154

If you're so smart, why did you post this OP in the wrong forum? RZM Jul 2012 #160

I am smart enough to know when people are being jerks for no reason other than to be jerks Cary Jul 2012 #162

I took issue with the OP because I think it's false RZM Jul 2012 #166

So you really ought to simply say that instead of launching into personal attacks Cary Jul 2012 #167

FYI RZM Jul 2012 #169

No, your original criticism wasn't limited to my argument. Cary Jul 2012 #171

I have studied it all from Leo Straus to Ayn Rand to Cary Jul 2012 #174

Fits with my theory that the specific insults that people pick actually betray THEIR own KurtNYC Jul 2012 #206

When someone is defecating in my mess kit, I'm not going to politely ask them to please stop. retread Jul 2012 #114

I despise conservative thinking now more than ever. SpankMe Jul 2012 #120

It helps move DU rightward. Octafish Jul 2012 #126

and it's been effective... up until now fascisthunter Jul 2012 #198

Professional Serfs. Octafish Jul 2012 #204

+1. and boy is it moving. HiPointDem Jul 2012 #243

Who besides me jumped in here to look for somebody who was being nice? Spitfire of ATJ Jul 2012 #129

Ignore the trolls malaise Jul 2012 #130

On a personal level, sure. Be nice. Quantess Jul 2012 #133

Every day, I find myself having an increasing Jamaal510 Jul 2012 #134

Yep, it's a damn vile combination. Republican elitists wanting to tear the RKP5637 Jul 2012 #142

Let them eat horse Sh-t GopperStopper2680 Jul 2012 #143

Adulthood? loyalsister Jul 2012 #144

Anyone imploring Dems to be nice to GOPers and befriend GOPers Cali_Democrat Jul 2012 #150

Yep. Autumn Jul 2012 #159

This message was self-deleted by its author Cary Jul 2012 #165

FYI. Your admission that you were previously tombstoned is still visible RZM Jul 2012 #207

Uh-oh. You sly dog-- you got him monologing. :-) Gidney N Cloyd Jul 2012 #211

Looks like they took my advice RZM Jul 2012 #223

Post removed Post removed Jul 2012 #178

Good advice. FSogol Jul 2012 #187

I assume they treat me how they want to be treated. Iggo Jul 2012 #155

A nice barbecue, by all means. annabanana Jul 2012 #172

One more response to this OP, then I am off Doctor_J Jul 2012 #173

No sale RZM Jul 2012 #175

sorry, but soft gloves are not working. fascisthunter Jul 2012 #194

well, then the "conservatives" are REALLY in luck Doctor_J Jul 2012 #210

They get what they vote for. Just like we do RZM Jul 2012 #212

there are lots of people here that think Dems should always take the high road notadmblnd Jul 2012 #177

+1000 smirkymonkey Jul 2012 #209

most are called centrist trolls who are pushing us to the right fascisthunter Jul 2012 #193

Maybe some are. But you should at least acknowledge the RW moles RZM Jul 2012 #215

I'm sick of all the Neville Chamberlains trying to appease the RW crazies. Odin2005 Jul 2012 #196

Chamberlain's choices were appeasement or war. Does that mean you want war? RZM Jul 2012 #216

Does that mean you want appeasement? Doctor_J Jul 2012 #219

I don't want civil war RZM Jul 2012 #220

Wrong. We need to rattle their cages as hard as we can. Zalatix Jul 2012 #240

Post removed Post removed Jul 2012 #241

Wait, what? Tantrum much? Zalatix Jul 2012 #242

Our system is a perpetual war Cary Jul 2012 #222

If that is the only alternative to appeasement, then yes. Odin2005 Jul 2012 #224

So you want to kill your fellow citizens for having different views? RZM Jul 2012 #225

I don't want war, I'm sick of trying to prevent it by... Odin2005 Jul 2012 #226

But what if they don't start shooting? RZM Jul 2012 #227

I hope they don't shoot, But I expect that they will. Odin2005 Jul 2012 #228

Ok then. Let O'Shea Jackson rap your fantasies RZM Jul 2012 #229

"But I don't think we should be gearing up for civil war now." Zalatix Jul 2012 #235

So what are you waiting for? RZM Jul 2012 #236

I already boycott the hell out of them and exclude them from my life. Zalatix Jul 2012 #237

So you practice war with your dollar, but only play on war with everything else RZM Jul 2012 #238

The South fired the first shot. Zalatix Jul 2012 #239

+1,000,000,000,000 Odin2005 Jul 2012 #261

Hey, I'm nice to some conservatives, the ones who have that lightbulb go off above their heads Trailrider1951 Jul 2012 #217

The OP had this (bizarre!) call for "moderation" just two days ago. Can't make up her mind? nt Romulox Jul 2012 #247

Post removed Post removed Jul 2012 #262

Notice he doesn't deny it, folks. This guy is yanking your chains. nt Romulox Jul 2012 #264

I was #2 pintobean Jul 2012 #271

Thank you, pintobean! Romulox Jul 2012 #272

lol, really? havent seen the posts you refer to, but, huh. lol. nt seabeyond Jul 2012 #257

He's talking about HIS OWN posts! He's surely having a larf at our expense! nt Romulox Jul 2012 #265

ahhh. well, see, that is more of a huh. lol. i have not been in GD a lot. thanks. nt seabeyond Jul 2012 #267

Here ya go: "What happened to the art of moderation?", started by Cary, Tue Jul 10, 2012, 12:07 PM Romulox Jul 2012 #268

romulox, thank you. i did see that thread. a couple times. i never went in. thought it crap, seabeyond Jul 2012 #270