Posted on 07/03/2018 7:51:50 PM PDT by huckfillary
With all the division and dissension today, most will agree on one thing: Civility is breaking down in our society.
Maybe not so much in day-to-day life, for most of us. But certainly in the realm of business, academia, entertainment and especially government. It seems reasonable to ask: How long before this filters down into the rest of society, even more than it already has?
Whats the cause of civil breakdown? It depends whom you ask.
One person will say its social media. But thats blaming the medium. It would be kind of like blaming the telephone for a fight during a phone conversation. Its not the telephone its the people! Social media is no different.
Another person will say its the breakdown of religion. But religion has been challenged for a long time, going back to the 1960s or before. Thomas Paine, one of Americas most influential founders, was an atheist. Thomas Jefferson was a deist, someone who believes in a God but also believes Gods role in human life is very limited or nonexistent. The current breakdown in civility is much more recent than the questioning of religion.
Another will say its all Donald Trumps fault. But another will say it started because of Obama. But we have to look deeper. Whether its Obama or Trump causing the breakdown in civility, what makes people vulnerable to this manipulation and exploitation in the first place?
My answer: The decline of reason.
Think about what reason actually is.
When youre reasonable, you refrain from certain things.
One is the use of force. The other is the threat of force.
On that point, the conservatives and Trump supporters have the high ground, like it or not. There is no Antifa of the right. There are no conservatives shouting down and threatening violence against speakers on campus who have differing views on taxes, environmentalism or Islam.
Im not aware of any conservative proposals to launch a government takeover of the Internet, giving it the Orwellian name, Net Neutrality. Imagine the hue and cry if Republicans tried such a thing.
Generally, conservatives and right wingers want less government, not more. So for conservatives, by and large, its not about coercion. For leftists and liberals, its always about a new mandate, and political correctness is, in itself, the ultimate form of coercion.
Its just a fact. Leftists like force more than conservatives, and force is the opposite of reason and civility.
Another thing a reasonable person refrains from is the use of personal attacks and emotion as a substitute for rational points.
While both sides can be guilty of this on social media and elsewhere, I hear a lot more of it from the left than the right.
While there are people who oppose Trump or conservatism while practicing reasonableness themselves, I honestly find that to be a rarer and rarer exception. I cant blame this on Trump. These anti-Trumpers are free to challenge the President in reasonable ways. There are NO restrictions on free speech under his watch, to date. And criticizing the media for its slander and dishonesty is NOT a restriction on free speech.
Im very vocal about my own views, on social media and elsewhere. When Obama was in office, and I opposed virtually everything he did and stood for, I did not personally attack or even unfriend people who thought differently, although many personally attacked me. I remained friends with most of them, although most of them will not speak to me since Trumps election.
I almost constantly encounter people who support Trump or oppose Democrats that are scared for their business or other personal reasons to say so anywhere, even on social media. I have not yet once heard of anyone on the anti-Trump side facing any such fear. The difference is so startling and skewed, it seems reasonable to ask at some point, What is it about leftism thats so intimidating and emotional that causes non-leftists to go into the closet as they so often do?
I know of many who would take issue with what Im asserting. But I dont know how you can deny my most fundamental point: Intimidation, emotion and the use of force are the opposite of reason.
If you feel a need to personally attack or coerce, whatever your views, then its a red flag you better start doing some introspection, for your own self most of all. If youre right, then start acting like it. Point to the facts and logic that support your points. And if you cant find any well, maybe youve got to start rethinking one or two of your positions.
Why on earth is this so difficult for so many to accept?
Civility is based on reason. And only with a renewed and firm commitment to REASON will we ever get out of this mess.
Reminds me of Cyril Kornbluth’s SF classic “The Marching Morons.” He envisoned the world far in the future. He was an optimist. The year 9-B-936 arrived some years ago.
Compulsory governmental indoctrination.
Internet behavior spilling over into real life.
Plus libtards are by nature extremely violent children in bigger bodies.
One is the use of force. The other is the threat of force.
I don't think it's unreasonable to use force in self-defense.
Thanks huckfillary.
Dr. Michael J Hurd is a Turd and he smells bad.....
The animal has resurfaced - people getting their self-esteem from strutting around, trying to be the big shot, flaunting the bling.
It’s a false bravado. True strength comes from within.
Social media makes it easier for people to ignore those around them. They choose to be uncivil. Ripping the iphones out of their hands won’t change anything.
I believe it was something like:
"Suppose I was an idiot, and I was in Congress, but then, I repeat myself."
In a war, you kill your enemy. After he surrenders and grovels, then you can be civil
The hew and cry for “civility” only comes forth when the anti-commiescum side of the divide is starting to win ground in the Culture War.
What is meant by “civility”, in such times as this, is for the anti-commiescum side of the fight to sit down, shut up and let the commiescum win.
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