Reply #23: I think it's a form of ivory tower [View All]

[sir_captain]

There's obviously an element of groupthink here at DU--and the fact that most people more or less agree with each other only increases this. So therefore, both situations you outline allow for the many DUers to demonstrate their self-perceived moral superiority over the common rabble. And sure, the conclusions drawn are pretty much diametrically opposed, but as long as one is popular and gets to scream pithy rhetoric, who cares?

In all seriousness, though, you've illuminated a problem that is hardly peculiar to the left, but is simply human--people like to feel like they are right more than they like to be consistent. It's something we point out about the freepers all the time, but rarely like to see in ourselves.