I assiduously avoid posting political items on my Facebook Wall, seeing the forum as a means to connect/communicate with friends across the ideological spectrum. And I try (not always successfully) to avoid commenting on liberal friends’ political posts. All too few of them (alas) wish to engage my arguments. I’d rather focus on what we have in common.
Sunday evening, left-wing blogress Pam Spaulding reminded me yet again that you can share a passion with a political adversary when she posted on about a YouTube gem she found. When she found the 1965 CBS production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella (featuring Lesley Ann Warren in the title role), she recalled watching it “as a child almost every year it aired (when did they stop airing it?).” I know I’ve seen that one, but do have a preference for the Julie Andrews version (okay it’s black and white, but, it’s Julie).
It was a nice reminder how certain stories we heard or movies and TV shows we watched as children retain a certain sweetness when we encounter them again as an adult. It’s not just the story they recall, but the impression it made upon us.
This past weekend, a liberal blogress reminded me of that simple truth. Bear that in mind when you prepare to respond to a critic of one of our posts. Or, if you disagree with our posts, bear that in mind as you prepare to express your disagreement.
These folks aren’t just their politics.
You seem to be very nice. I’m not, but I will try to avoid being too uncivil. That is very hard to do, however, because your blog attracts a lot of idiots and it is difficult to let the idiocy go unanswered (or, if it has already been answered, it is hard not to add something).
Also, I want to add that it makes it even more difficult to recognize “the humanity of our political adversaries” when they refuse to do the same. I will not recognize their “humanity” if they won’t offer the same courtesy, but that doesn’t require incivility.
I agree with Rattlesnake. I have many discussions with liberals that are fruitful and pleasant. But if politics is interjected, I simply respond that I am a conservative and would rather not go down the political road.
A large number of times, that is the fork in the road as the liberal senses that s/he is talking to an infected, inferior, leper. This is especially true if there is a group dynamic.
My experience is that liberals will gang up on a conservative, while conservatives will just steer the conversation away from annoying the hapless liberal caught in the mix.
Progressive seems to mean aggressive and belittling in way too many ways. Conservative seems to mean holding your tongue and minding your manners.
Posting comments here allows one to at least give as good as he gets until it devolves into topic shifting, name calling and ignoring the facts. Guess who argues that way?