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Edited on Sun Mar-23-08 02:19 PM by andym
Why so many attacks against both candidates on pro-Democratic sites? (Actually pro- anything political)
It's very simple really. These sites attract people who have strong opinions about politics. Many of these people are very partisan in their outlook. At a minimum they strongly dislike the Republican party and their candidate and are here to help defeat them. So, it's very easy for people who tend to polarize to apply it in a close nomination race even where the candidates positions on the issues are almost identical. Throw in people who instigate both sides and you have a recipe for ugly conflict.
It is easy to be reminded of the Johnathon Swift's fictional war between the Lilliputians and the Blefuscudians over which side to break an egg at breakfast. Lock people who want to help their candidate win into an anonymous internet discussion forum from there is "No Exit" and watch the inevitable fireworks. What is the result of this kind of war-- for some no permanent damage, for others a long-lasting resentment against both the supporters and candidate they opposed. For some, their vision of the opponent will be permanently clouded by the colored glasses they wore during the nomination. People of good will become close-minded, hard-hearted and vengeful.
Of course, a lot of the problem is that these boards just reflect the ongoing battle among the campaigns to win the nomination. And it is clear that in America from the earliest days of the republic that political mudslinging is traditional and deep-rooted. A great example is the election of 1800 and the various attacks on Thomas Jefferson (atheist, potential Jacobian murderer). Still, adding the internet's grass roots to the mainstream media and talk radio appears to create toxic environment, since each man or woman can become a propagandizing "pundit."
As a true believer in free speech and the power of grass roots, it horrifies me to see that free speech can have such very unpleasant side effects. And it appears that there really is nothing to be done as far as the internet is concerned. Strong moderation might help some on sites devoted to discussion of all of the candidates, but there will always be partisan sites that will serve to amplify the polarization.
What's needed is a cultural change that emphasizes civility, but tradition and human nature being what it is, I'm not sure that will happen.
Any suggestions to avoid this kind of thing in the future?
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