34
34
0
So, I know my periodic appeal* to sanity is going to fall on many deaf ears, but I'm going to make it anyways in the hopes that it might bring at least one person back from the edge (this is probably more offensive to those in the category I describe than my previous posts about this, so likely the comments below will be a bit more enlivened).
I was curious so I searched for the definition of what the word is when you have a practice of holding strong, negative views or beliefs about an entire group of people based on the actions or characteristics of a small subset of that group and making sweeping generalizations about a group of people and applying those generalizations to all individuals in that group, without regard for their individual differences or unique circumstances.
No surprise, it's called bigotry.
Someone who is bigoted against a particular group may judge all members of that group based on negative stereotypes, even though only a small subset of individuals within that group may exhibit the behaviors or characteristics that they find objectionable.
Except for the extremes, nobody condones bigotry against race and a whole host of other characteristics, but we somehow find bigotry against political affiliation acceptable (we just call the bigots ‘partisans’ and go on our way usually) and in fact, it is often cheered on and encouraged by others politically aligned with the bigots (if that is too strong of a word and it offends your sensibilities, then think ‘vigorous partisan advocate’ in your mind) even if they are moderated in their opinions usually.
When you express your views based entirely on your bigoted views of the group and are absolutely unwilling to listen to any contrary information, you are a ‘partisan zealot’ or, in this case, a bigoted zealot.
Nobody on RallyPoint (at least I hope nobody) would tolerate an over the top negative comparison about fundamental characteristics such as race or sex (i.e., All blacks are ___________, or All women are ___________) but I often see those same comments applied to political identification such as these quotes (slightly modified to avoid identifying individuals): “All Republicans are mass murderers”, “Democrats just want to kill law abiding citizens”, “Republicans are nothing but bloody fascists!”, “All democrats are mentally deranged”, and so on).
The more extreme comments have been deleted for violating the community standards (and in many cases the account suspended/closed) but ones that I’ve come across comments stating that one group shouldn’t be allowed to live (qualified by “if they voted for so-and-so”), how __________ should kill themselves because they are too ****** stupid to know how it really works, **** You! You are ****** in the ***** just like every ________ is, and so on.
Just like racial bigotry, political bigotry is harmful because it is based on false assumptions and stereotypes about entire groups of people. By assuming that all members of a particular group share certain negative traits or characteristics, bigots justify their prejudice and discrimination against them. I’m POSITIVE that regardless of your political ideology, the vast majority of you didn’t vote for a candidate because of the negative that is attributed to them, but rather for the positives you thought they were going to accomplish or at least the negatives you thought they would avoid.
I’m also enough of a realist to recognize that there are some who DID vote for someone because of the negatives they thought they would do “to the other group”. Again, my view (and I hope yours as well) is that they are in the minority of individuals.
I know much of this flows from our political leaders and media. Frankly, if we turned off the TV, Radio, disconnected from our devices and JUST TALKED to others, you might actually get to see things from a different viewpoint. You probably won’t agree, but you at least can understand that they reason they have that viewpoint isn’t because they hate a certain race, sex, or any other characteristic, but because they some other interest that is supported by a politician, party, or ideological group.
Just like hate against race is taught, political hate is taught – political bigots were taught that ALL Democrats want to murder unborn children up to the day they are born; they were taught that ALL Republicans are racists who want nothing more than to make minorities second class individuals; they were taught that ALL liberals want nothing more than the take everything a conservative has earned and give it to freeloading wastes in society in the name of ‘equity’; they’ve been taught that ALL conservatives hate anyone that isn’t heterosexual and don’t deserve to be in society.
Only the fringe elements really hold those views. Yes, there are small group within the main that hold that view, but most don’t. For those on the fringe, you can try to reason with them, but you’re likely wasting your time. They are really participating in the discussion (or posting a meme, link, etc) to listen to the echo-chamber of their opinions or try to feel good about themselves by ‘scoring points’ against the group they are bigoted towards.
Add to the issue that the group being attacked feels the need (in many cases justifiable so) to defend against these bigots. When someone says, “All ____________ are murders” then most will respond with an all-encompassing retort usually along the lines of “well, All _____________ are ___________”, others will try to discuss cherry-picked facts and articles, still some others will actually try to engage in rational discussion an ask they prove their assertation.
If you’re not taking to a zealot, then you might actually have a chance to agree on something. However, the majority of the time it’s just a bigoted zealot shouting into that echo-chamber to see if their voice is repeated by someone.
If you have an issue about a particular topic, and feel compelled to comment, by all means speak up! Tell why you have that issue and what’s wrong with it. If the Republican lawmakers are supporting some law in Texas that you disagree with, then skip the hyperbole and criticize it and why it is wrong. If the Democrat lawmakers in California are drafting legislation that makes legal/illegal something that is over the top in your view, say so! Just keep it civil and don’t assume that all members of the group support that law/view/etc.
--------------------------
* https://www.rallypoint.com/status-updates/longing-for-the-old-days-where-did-they-go
* https://www.rallypoint.com/status-updates/8103610
I was curious so I searched for the definition of what the word is when you have a practice of holding strong, negative views or beliefs about an entire group of people based on the actions or characteristics of a small subset of that group and making sweeping generalizations about a group of people and applying those generalizations to all individuals in that group, without regard for their individual differences or unique circumstances.
No surprise, it's called bigotry.
Someone who is bigoted against a particular group may judge all members of that group based on negative stereotypes, even though only a small subset of individuals within that group may exhibit the behaviors or characteristics that they find objectionable.
Except for the extremes, nobody condones bigotry against race and a whole host of other characteristics, but we somehow find bigotry against political affiliation acceptable (we just call the bigots ‘partisans’ and go on our way usually) and in fact, it is often cheered on and encouraged by others politically aligned with the bigots (if that is too strong of a word and it offends your sensibilities, then think ‘vigorous partisan advocate’ in your mind) even if they are moderated in their opinions usually.
When you express your views based entirely on your bigoted views of the group and are absolutely unwilling to listen to any contrary information, you are a ‘partisan zealot’ or, in this case, a bigoted zealot.
Nobody on RallyPoint (at least I hope nobody) would tolerate an over the top negative comparison about fundamental characteristics such as race or sex (i.e., All blacks are ___________, or All women are ___________) but I often see those same comments applied to political identification such as these quotes (slightly modified to avoid identifying individuals): “All Republicans are mass murderers”, “Democrats just want to kill law abiding citizens”, “Republicans are nothing but bloody fascists!”, “All democrats are mentally deranged”, and so on).
The more extreme comments have been deleted for violating the community standards (and in many cases the account suspended/closed) but ones that I’ve come across comments stating that one group shouldn’t be allowed to live (qualified by “if they voted for so-and-so”), how __________ should kill themselves because they are too ****** stupid to know how it really works, **** You! You are ****** in the ***** just like every ________ is, and so on.
Just like racial bigotry, political bigotry is harmful because it is based on false assumptions and stereotypes about entire groups of people. By assuming that all members of a particular group share certain negative traits or characteristics, bigots justify their prejudice and discrimination against them. I’m POSITIVE that regardless of your political ideology, the vast majority of you didn’t vote for a candidate because of the negative that is attributed to them, but rather for the positives you thought they were going to accomplish or at least the negatives you thought they would avoid.
I’m also enough of a realist to recognize that there are some who DID vote for someone because of the negatives they thought they would do “to the other group”. Again, my view (and I hope yours as well) is that they are in the minority of individuals.
I know much of this flows from our political leaders and media. Frankly, if we turned off the TV, Radio, disconnected from our devices and JUST TALKED to others, you might actually get to see things from a different viewpoint. You probably won’t agree, but you at least can understand that they reason they have that viewpoint isn’t because they hate a certain race, sex, or any other characteristic, but because they some other interest that is supported by a politician, party, or ideological group.
Just like hate against race is taught, political hate is taught – political bigots were taught that ALL Democrats want to murder unborn children up to the day they are born; they were taught that ALL Republicans are racists who want nothing more than to make minorities second class individuals; they were taught that ALL liberals want nothing more than the take everything a conservative has earned and give it to freeloading wastes in society in the name of ‘equity’; they’ve been taught that ALL conservatives hate anyone that isn’t heterosexual and don’t deserve to be in society.
Only the fringe elements really hold those views. Yes, there are small group within the main that hold that view, but most don’t. For those on the fringe, you can try to reason with them, but you’re likely wasting your time. They are really participating in the discussion (or posting a meme, link, etc) to listen to the echo-chamber of their opinions or try to feel good about themselves by ‘scoring points’ against the group they are bigoted towards.
Add to the issue that the group being attacked feels the need (in many cases justifiable so) to defend against these bigots. When someone says, “All ____________ are murders” then most will respond with an all-encompassing retort usually along the lines of “well, All _____________ are ___________”, others will try to discuss cherry-picked facts and articles, still some others will actually try to engage in rational discussion an ask they prove their assertation.
If you’re not taking to a zealot, then you might actually have a chance to agree on something. However, the majority of the time it’s just a bigoted zealot shouting into that echo-chamber to see if their voice is repeated by someone.
If you have an issue about a particular topic, and feel compelled to comment, by all means speak up! Tell why you have that issue and what’s wrong with it. If the Republican lawmakers are supporting some law in Texas that you disagree with, then skip the hyperbole and criticize it and why it is wrong. If the Democrat lawmakers in California are drafting legislation that makes legal/illegal something that is over the top in your view, say so! Just keep it civil and don’t assume that all members of the group support that law/view/etc.
--------------------------
* https://www.rallypoint.com/status-updates/longing-for-the-old-days-where-did-they-go
* https://www.rallypoint.com/status-updates/8103610
Longing for the old days ... where did they go? *sigh* ... I vaguely remember RallyPoint, when it...
Posted from rallypoint.com
Social Media
RallyPoint
Politics
Respect
Edited 1 y ago
Posted 1 y ago
Responses: 23
COL Randall C. I also remember RallyPoint when it was not so divisive as it is now with all the hateful political posts. Excellent post!
(25)
(0)
25
25
0
Using social media has made being an AH anonymous and people don't know who they are harassing, ergo they don't care. I too wish for more decorum in society.
(25)
(0)
21
21
0
Thank you for the well thought out and stated view. I don't understand the threats and virulent comments made against those holding a different point of view.
(21)
(0)
Maj William W. 'Bill' Price
I suggest the following, Lt Col Charlie Brown: threats and virulent comments are all they have to offer. But they do not see how they degrade themselves each time they post one. And then they attempt to soothe their egos with some banal 'Amen' to a well intentioned post from a book that they have likely never read. Sadly, there are enough trolls in their little echo chamber to allow them to appear as "leaders"...but leaders of what? I choose not to go there.
(11)
(0)
Amn Dale Preisach
Maj William W. 'Bill' Price Sir, we need to be Nation Centered and screw the political rhetoric.
(9)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google