For starters, I wish to state that in an issue like politics, extremism among some individuals is inevitable. There are two reasons for this. First, many people mistakenly apply religious impulses to politics and thus attempt to be consistent with a certain political viewpoint, even at the expense of ignoring or denying clear empirical evidence that is against it. Quite simply, it is easier (if you are intellectually lazy) to just blindly follow a dogma of some kind that happens to appeal to your ego than to dig for the truth, apply consistent logic to all issues, and thus have a perspective that is subject to change and moderation over time. Second, extremists on any issue tend to work the hardest for their chosen causes and thus tend to rise to leadership positions within political organizations as well as single-issue pressure groups, by virtue of their extensive track record of having done so much for their causes as well as appearing to be experts on the issues they represent. This explains why so many otherwise worthy causes, such as animal rights, get so absurdly corrupted by groups that claim to represent them, such as PETA or ALF, and people who might be motivated by natural compassion to support animal rights are repelled by seeing extremist groups like the aforementioned ones claiming to be the best examples of those causes’ representatives. Let me assure you, they are not and I would be quite happy to see them destroyed without thinking for one second that this would be damaging at all to the cause of animal rights. If you, by your words or actions, make a cause look loony, that’s the best way to ruin it, and you might as well just oppose the cause altogether.
Here’s another example: I myself oppose most gun control laws, but I refuse to support the NRA. I favor civil rights, but condemn the ACLU. The loons running both those organizations make a mockery of their causes by forgetting the human needs that those causes were intended for and just sacrificing those needs for the causes themselves. Sorry, but the last time I checked, we did not practice human sacrifice like the Aztecs did centuries ago, so I see no need to sell out to the NRA and ACLU on everything they do. If they do wrong, it is incumbent on genuine supporters of human rights and the right to bear arms to tell both those organizations to either reform themselves by seeking more realistic and credible positions, or they can just go to hell.
One way to discredit yourself is to attempt to paint all the members of a certain group with the same brush, totally forgetting that as human beings we are individuals as well as social animals and thus there is variation in any group that enables the group to adapt to changing circumstances as well as to resist extremism that is the group’s own worst enemy. I found an example of that sort of nonsense recently on another blog:
http://pashley1916.wordpress.com/2008/09/08/how-liberals-argue/
Have you ever argued with a liberal? As a conservative, I often have. Typically, the liberal, when they find themselves without a rebuttal to an argument, they will make personal attacks against you, and likely, pepper it with a generous sprinkling of profanity. Profanity, is of course a result of frustration and anger, when used in an argument.
Which begs another question: why do liberals so often use profanity? Now more than ever, I hear the f-word used in the course of casual conversation, again, typically by young liberally minded people. Profanity, is supposed to have shock value; therefore, if you are using it as a part of everyday conversation, you are trying to forcibly get your point across to others; not by using intelligent arguments, but by using verbal fireworks.
Being a liberal myself, I found his discription to be insulting, to put it quite mildly, so I attempted to find out if this man even knew any real liberals, or was merely parroting the bigoted absurdities of Rush Limbaugh or Ann Coulter.
Dale Husband 
I’ve banned at least one person from my blog for using profanity and I’m a liberal and the troll that attacked me was expressing a conservative point of view, so your claim doesn’t hold up to reality. You should give actual detailed examples when referring to such attacks. Why should anyone assume that all Liberals are the same because you say so? That’s stereotyping. I don’t do that to all conservatives, so you have no justification to paint all the members of any group with the same brush. That’s dishonest, period.
I’m speaking from personal experience, as well as observations. Liberals are generally an angry, profane, highly-emotional group, the bulk of which probably have a histrionic personality disorder of some type.How many conservatives do you see going to Democratic functions and disrupting things? At the recent RNC, we had 3 of them. And yes, I can generalize. Just because ALL persons in a general class don’t demonstrate a certain behavior doesn’t make the generalization worthless. If that were the case, I shouldn’t be afraid of sharks – not ALL of them bite.
Dale Husband
“Liberals are generally an angry, profane, highly-emotional group, the bulk of which probably have a histrionic personality disorder of some type.”
So are some, but not all Conservatives. There are loonies in every group and I got the impression immediately that you were one of them, hence my comment earlier. Stick to facts, please.
“How many conservatives do you see going to Democratic functions and disrupting things? At the recent RNC, we had 3 of them.”
Maybe they should improve their security. Isn’t national security supposed to be an issue of concern for conservatives? But they can’t even keep disruptors out of their own RNC. LOL!
“And yes, I can generalize. Just because ALL persons in a general class don’t demonstrate a certain behavior doesn’t make the generalization worthless. If that were the case, I shouldn’t be afraid of sharks – not ALL of them bite.”
Of course, this is utter nonsense. It isn’t even a legitimate conservative thing to say, it’s just bull$#it. Most sharks do not attack people. In fact, we eat far more sharks then they’ve ever eaten people. Generalizing is always worthless and should never be excused. Otherwise, all sorts of racist, sexist, homophobic and Islamophobic crap should be excused and promoted everywhere.
It’s nice to know you are not much of a challenge.
“So are some, but not all Conservatives. There are loonies in every group and I got the impression immediately that you were one of them, hence my comment earlier. Stick to facts, please.”
The facts Dale, are that most liberals are angry, profane and emotional wretches. Conservatives are not, generally speaking.
“Maybe they should improve their security. Isn’t national security supposed to be an issue of concern for conservatives? But they can’t even keep disruptors out of their own RNC. LOL!”
Yes Dale, I’m sure that’s it. Ok, how about when a conservative tries to give a speech at Columbia or New York University? Libs shout them down before they get a word out.
“Of course, this is utter nonsense. It isn’t even a legitimate conservative thing to say, it’s just bull$#it. Most sharks do not attack people. In fact, we eat far more sharks then they’ve ever eaten people. Generalizing is always worthless and should never be excused. Otherwise, all sorts of racist, sexist, homophobic and Islamophobic crap should be excused and promoted everywhere.”
You’re missing the point. Generalizations help us navigate the world, and keep us safe. As my relevant and correct shark example said, it would be stupid to jump in a tank filled with 100 sharks if only two are man eaters. But hey, you’re the tolerant type I’m sure, why don’t you try?
Dale Husband
“The facts Dale, are that most liberals are angry, profane and emotional wretches. Conservatives are not, generally speaking.”
False, stupidly false. Conservatives only look more respectable to you because they are the ones in power now. I’m not fooled by that, nor would you be if you weren’t already bigoted against us.
“Yes Dale, I’m sure that’s it. Ok, how about when a conservative tries to give a speech at Columbia or New York University? Libs shout them down before they get a word out.”
You must be joking. Were you a student at either university and witnessed this happening? If not, your claim has no merit.
“You’re missing the point. Generalizations help us navigate the world, and keep us safe. As my relevant and correct shark example said, it would be stupid to jump in a tank filled with 100 sharks if only two are man eaters. But hey, you’re the tolerant type I’m sure, why don’t you try?”
I miss the point because it is a falsehood when it is applied to people, but I don’t expect you to admit it on your own blog.
“False, stupidly false. Conservatives only look more respectable to you because they are the ones in power now. I’m not fooled by that, nor would you be if you weren’t already bigoted against us.”
Ok, fine. I must have missed conservatives frantically shouting at the DNC convention, or congressional meetings. Surely, you’ve heard of Code Pink? The ones that picket recruiter’s offices? Where’s the conservative equivalent? The only thing I can think of is the annual abortion protest at the Supreme Court.
“You must be joking. Were you a student at either university and witnessed this happening? If not, your claim has no merit.”
Ok, here’s one of Students at Emory shouting down conservative David Horowitz: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktUmgeBIvAw
OR:
The founder of the Minuteman illegal immigration group getting protested at a campus: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiGWjoEhVug
OR
Some profane young libs bullying peaceful counter-protestors: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aM3w9jeugkE
Should I continue?
There is no doubt in my mind; libs are generally young, emotional, idealistic and profane people. I think these vids back me up.
Dale Husband
I watched those examples. Thank you. Do you assume this happens all the time when Conservatives speak on a college campus or are these just isolated examples? I myself would never disrupt such a speech, though I might go there to ask respectful questions.
“The only thing I can think of is the annual abortion protest at the Supreme Court.”
Again, you are being dishonest, or profoundly ignorant. What about those on the far right who BOMB abortion clinics?
http://www.religioustolerance.org/abo_viol.htm
http://msnbc.com/modules/clinics/
That’s even worse than disrupting a meeting led by Conservatives. Even as a liberal, I don’t condone such disruptions, and I would hope you don’t condone violence against legal abortion clinics. Law and order should mean something to you even if you profoundly diagree with something that happens to be legal. That is, if you are REALLY Conservative and not a reactionary thug.
By your own standards, I could say that “Conservatives” are generally dishonest, intolerant, arrogant, hypocritical, violent, bigoted, and idiotic people, no better than liberals. But not all Conservatives are like that, thankfully. Some actually have decent moral and ethical principles (not including you, I’m afraid). Neither are all Liberals like you make them out to be.
“Do you assume this happens all the time when Conservatives speak on a college campus or are these just isolated examples?”
I suspect it happens often. Having spent 6 years on a campus, I understand that students have no problems protesting, and generally, they are liberal-minded people.
“Again, you are being dishonest, or profoundly ignorant. What about those on the far right who BOMB abortion clinics?”
I certainly don’t condone bombing of abortion clinics; it’s actually hypocritical when you think about it. On the other side of the coin, how many babies are being killed inside these places every day? I can understand why someone would bomb, but I certainly can’t condone it.
“Law and order should mean something to you even if you profoundly diagree with something that happens to be legal..”
Certainly agreed.
“By your own standards, I could say that “Conservatives” are generally dishonest, intolerant, arrogant, hypocritical, violent, bigoted, and idiotic people, no better than liberals. But not all Conservatives are like that, thankfully. Some actually have decent moral and ethical principles (not including you, I’m afraid). Neither are all Liberals like you make them out to be.”
Gee thanks.
Look, I know not ALL liberals are smarmy, selfish, god-hating, elitist, emotional snobs. Not all, no.
And that’s as far as I cared to go with him. Generalizations based on assuming that extremists among any group are actually typical of the group are a lie, quite simply, and as for his rediculous shark analogy, what if you have a tank full of sharks, none of which are man-eaters? That alone proves my opponent’s statement about liberals (or sharks) to be one thing: shameless libel.
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