Why Should What Someone Says Here Have Anything to Do With Whether One Votes?

[MineralMan]

Several times, someone has told me that my opinion affects other voters. For example, I think Bernie Sanders should withdraw from the primary race and endorse Joe Biden, who clearly holds a solid lead and will almost certainly become our party's nominee.

Every time I express that opinion, someone is bound to ask me why I am alienating Bernie Sanders supporters. The unstated warning is that they might not vote for Joe Biden, because they have hurt feelings about my opinion, or something like that.

How can that be? Why would my opinion about what Bernie Sanders should do affect whether or not someone would vote? That makes no sense whatsoever.

If the shoe were on the other foot, I would vote in November for Bernie Sanders. Why? Because he would be the Democratic nominee. I would never even consider not voting in that election. So, why would anyone who now supports Bernie Sanders say that my opinion about him as a candidate might affect whether or not they vote. How bizarre!

I mean, really. I have one vote. You have one vote. We each have one vote, and no more than that. My opinion should not matter at all to anyone but myself, no matter how often I state that opinion in this discussion forum.

On November 3, we all will have an opportunity to vote for the next President. Should something I say at the end of March affect anyone's vote? That's a ridiculous idea.