Pew: Liberals most intolerant online

[guyser]

Let me correct this....Wow, you nailed me lying.

Its ok, we all know you were.

[kraychik]

Let me correct this....Wow, you nailed me lying.

Its ok, we all know you were.

Yes, the distinction between "overwhelmingly" and "all" is incredibly significant in the context of this conversation. Congratulations.

Let me revert to my original analysis, the proportion of those banned from this forum have been almost all right-leaning, which tells us one of two things: either the administration of this website is leftist, or the leftists on the forum are far more aggressive in their attempts to silence conservatives via complaints sent to the administration. I think the truth is actually a combination of these two things.

Edited July 17, 2012 by kraychik

[Guest Manny]

Another alternative which explains things is that a certain number of right wingers are very stubborn and rude and don't know how to behave themselves in a public forum. Especially when their identity is concealed online.

It's enough to make a Liberal cry...

Edited July 17, 2012 by Manny

[kraychik]

Another alternative which explains things is that a certain number of right wingers are very stubborn and rude and don't know how to behave themselves in a public forum. Especially when their identity is concealed online.

It's enough to make a Liberal cry...

I anticipated this response. I assumed that leftists would tell themselves that the right deserves it. That the right is more ogre-ish, rude, and less refined, and therefore deserving of increasing scrutiny on this board. Unfortunately, the truth doesn't really bear this narrative out, considering the Pew research study cited in this thread.

The truth is I don't need a Pew research study to know that animosity towards dissenting points of view, as well as a general contempt for freedom of speech and expression is far more prevalent among the left than the right. It's the nature of the left's ideological leanings, with contempt for the individual and glorification of the collective. It's also demonstrably true with historical analysis, examples include the suppression of such freedoms in leftist tyrannies like Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union, North Korea, and Iran. Even in the West, the overwhelming majority of political movements towards curbing these core freedoms have come from the left, for example the fairness doctrine, hate-speech regulation in the Canadian Human Rights Act of 1977, and the CRTC. The left makes no secret of its lack of respect for these core freedoms, either in the political world or the ordinary day-to-day world in which we live. It's also demonstrably true right here in this forum.

Edited July 17, 2012 by kraychik

[Guest Manny]

The animosity towards dissenting points of view extends in both directions. Many of those whom you listed as banned right-wingers were in fact not right wingers. And many staunch right wingers remain on this board, some for many years. So as far as this forum in particular goes, I don't agree with your observation.

[Signals.Cpl]

I anticipated this response. I assumed that leftists would tell themselves that the right deserves it. That the right is more ogre-ish, rude, and less refined, and therefore deserving of increasing scrutiny on this board. Unfortunately, the truth doesn't really bear this narrative out, considering the Pew research study cited in this thread.

The truth is I don't need a Pew research study to know that animosity towards dissenting points of view, as well as a general contempt for freedom of speech and expression is far more prevalent among the left than the right. It's the nature of the left's ideological leanings, with contempt for the individual and glorification of the collective. It's also demonstrably true with historical analysis, examples include the suppression of such freedoms in leftist tyrannies like Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union, North Korea, and Iran. Even in the West, the overwhelming majority of political movements towards curbing these core freedoms have come from the left, for example the fairness doctrine, hate-speech regulation in the Canadian Human Rights Act of 1977, and the CRTC. The left makes no secret of its lack of respect for these core freedoms, either in the political world or the ordinary day-to-day world in which we live. It's also demonstrably true right here in this forum.

So is the list of 14 people you presented the complete list of all the people that were banned from this forum?

[wyly]

Furthermore, the list of people who've been banned, from what I can see, are overwhelmingly right-of-centre. That pretty much tells me all I need to know about this forum, and is entirely compatible with endless other experiences I've had in my life. It's just another example of the left's contempt for the concept of open and honest exchange. Everywhere one looks, one can see the contempt that the left has for freedom of speech and expression.

that's because you only look for what fits your POV...where is my name among those banned pinko lefties??? ....mikedavid00(among dozens of other aliases) is a spamming mentally unbalanced nutcase being watched by law enforcement agencies and well known throughout the internet, not even the most rightwing fringe group would include him in there numbers...but you do so... Edited July 20, 2012 by wyly

[Moonlight Graham]

I find it hilariously ironic that a thread titled "Liberals most intolerant online" was started by one of the most "anti-left" posters on the board, and then the OP's post defended passionately throughout these pages by a raving "anti-leftist".

[bleeding heart]

that's because you only look for what fits your POV...where is my name among those banned pinko lefties??? ....mikedavid00(among dozens of other aliases) is a spamming mentally unbalanced nutcase being watched by law enforcement agencies and well known throughout the internet, not even the most rightwing fringe group would include him in there numbers...but you do so...

You're talking to a poster who cites killer Breivik as a wise fellow......

[Shady]

I'd like to amend my original post. Liberals aren't just the most intolerant online. They're the most intolerant period. Has anyone been following the Chick-Fil-A nonsense? There are acutally liberals threatening to ban all Chick-Fil-A restaurants from their city! What a bunch of closet fascists.

[sharkman]

I'd like to amend my original post. Liberals aren't just the most intolerant online. They're the most intolerant period. Has anyone been following the Chick-Fil-A nonsense? There are acutally liberals threatening to ban all Chick-Fil-A restaurants from their city! What a bunch of closet fascists.

I think intolerance is definitely on the rise, both online and everywhere else. It has me wondering where we are headed in North America.

[eyeball]

I think intolerance is definitely on the rise, both online and everywhere else. It has me wondering where we are headed in North America.

The ideological singularity?

[jacee]

Yes, the distinction between "overwhelmingly" and "all" is incredibly significant in the context of this conversation. Congratulations.

Let me revert to my original analysis, the proportion of those banned from this forum have been almost all right-leaning, which tells us one of two things: either the administration of this website is leftist, or the leftists on the forum are far more aggressive in their attempts to silence conservatives via complaints sent to the administration. I think the truth is actually a combination of these two things.

The other possibility would be that extreme right wing posters are more aggressive in their posts, more likely to indulge in personal attacks that get them banned/unfriended.

It's funny that the article talks only about differences in political views, because I find those differences tolerable so long as people don't engage in personal attacks.

However, this (anonymous political) forum is a lot different than your facebook wall where everyone sees what's posted.

I think the research and the article are crap because they don't make these distinctions.

And I think it could be just as easily interpreted as 'conservatives are more likely to get unfriended for obnoxious posting ' ... but the crappy research doesn't support any valid conclusion really.

Edited September 9, 2012 by jacee

[Guest American Woman]

I think intolerance is definitely on the rise, both online and everywhere else. It has me wondering where we are headed in North America.

I don't know if intolerance per se is on the rise; I'd say selective intolerance is on the rise, as tolerance in other areas all but borders on tolerating intolerance.

[Guest Manny]

I can't understand how someone could be so polarized in their views as to call themselves a right-winger, or a leftist. Everyone I know seems to be a complex mix or blend of differing views that encompass elements of both sides. People who present themselves as so one-sided seem to me to be abnormal,or just grandstanding for the sake of taking a provocatinve position.

[Guest American Woman]

I can't understand how someone could be so polarized in their views as to call themselves a right-winger, or a leftist. Everyone I know seems to be a complex mix or blend of differing views that encompass elements of both sides. People who present themselves as so one-sided seem to me to be abnormal,or just grandstanding for the sake of taking a provocatinve position.

There are people who 'follow the party line' regardless, but I think most people who identify themselves as 'left' or 'right,' conservative or liberal, are speaking in terms of the ideals of the political party/spectrum that they (most) identify and/or agree with.

[jacee]

I think intolerance is definitely on the rise, both online and everywhere else. It has me wondering where we are headed in North America.

You may be right, but I wonder how much of that perception is due to internet influence. The 'left' and 'right' never used to talk much at all. Now we do, online, and it isn't pretty sometimes ... but isn't talking better than not?

[bleeding heart]

There are people who 'follow the party line' regardless, but I think most people who identify themselves as 'left' or 'right,' conservative or liberal, are speaking in terms of the ideals of the political party/spectrum that they (most) identify and/or agree with.

Right.

I don't exactly disagree with Manny on this, but on the other hand, a lot of posters use it as a kind of shorthand, which doesn't seem a problem; it doesn't necessarily mean "leftist" or "rightwinger" need be defining characteristics.

[kraychik]

I can't understand how someone could be so polarized in their views as to call themselves a right-winger, or a leftist. Everyone I know seems to be a complex mix or blend of differing views that encompass elements of both sides. People who present themselves as so one-sided seem to me to be abnormal,or just grandstanding for the sake of taking a provocatinve position.

The right and the left have different points of departure when it comes to engaging in political discourse. It informs a person's core values and views of human nature. Beyond that, leftists subscribe to ideas and utopianism, whereas conservatives are much more cautious and cognizant of history (from which we learn lessons). Leftists are far more likely to be resistant to labelling themselves as on the left because they delude themselves into believing that they are complex, layered, and nuanced. Conversely, they view conservatives as boorish, simplistic, and incapable of grasping subtleties. While the labels have limitations, they are extremely useful and very quickly revealed in all sorts of political dialogue. I've noticed that man leftists get distressed when they unwittingly out themselves as being on the left, despite sincere attempts at trying to appear balanced and "moderate". The funny thing is they out themselves almost instantly most of the time.

Edited September 24, 2012 by kraychik

[cybercoma]

Your sweeping and opinionated generalizations are useless for any kind of fruitful discussion. In other words, stop trolling.

[bleeding heart]

Your sweeping and opinionated generalizations are useless for any kind of fruitful discussion. In other words, stop trolling.

You just outed yourself as a leftist...which you've diligently been trying to hide from us.

[cybercoma]

I'm going to have a shirt made that says, "Nobody Knows I'm a Social Democrat"

[dre]

The right and the left have different points of departure when it comes to engaging in political discourse. It informs a person's core values and views of human nature. Beyond that, leftists subscribe to ideas and utopianism, whereas conservatives are much more cautious and cognizant of history (from which we learn lessons). Leftists are far more likely to be resistant to labelling themselves as on the left because they delude themselves into believing that they are complex, layered, and nuanced. Conversely, they view conservatives as boorish, simplistic, and incapable of grasping subtleties. While the labels have limitations, they are extremely useful and very quickly revealed in all sorts of political dialogue. I've noticed that man leftists get distressed when they unwittingly out themselves as being on the left, despite sincere attempts at trying to appear balanced and "moderate". The funny thing is they out themselves almost instantly most of the time.

Ahhhh yes. The opposing end of the political spectrum as described by a hack/ideologue.

Deep stuff.

[bleeding heart]

Deep stuff.

Profound as "Jersey Shore."

There are a little handful of posters here who can't seem to type without "the left" being burped out, and sounding as if it's boiling with maggots.

My advice to the Left-obssessed folks is to become more economical in their writing: they could simply respond to every post with "the Left! the Left!" Full stop.

It would save them time, make them no more the objects of ridicule than they already are....and after all, it completely sums up their sober political perspectives anyway.

[guyser]

Profound as "Jersey Shore."

Dont insult Jersey Shore with the comparison.

snooki appears knowledgeable in contrast.