In which I don't... get political.

[cairistiona]

Presidential election season is in full swing in the US, now that the conventions are over, and that of course means we all have our opinion on who will best run the country.  I have my own thoughts on that, but they will remain just that: my own thoughts. I have friends here from all points in the political spectrum, some far more liberal than me and some far more conservative, and I want my LJ to be a place where all feel welcome and no one has to gnash their teeth over an opinion I hold.  As much as I treasure free speech, it's simply not worth it to me to anger anyone while exercising my own free speech in the matter of politics.  I think, sadly, that political discourse in the social-media driven age has essentially devolved into sneering, self-righteous finger wagging and name calling in lieu of actually discussing and debating policy decisions and the ramifications thereof, and it's caused me to simply back away, slowly (and sometimes quickly) from political postings and discussions on the interwebz.  It's gotten so ugly out there in cyberworld that more often than not, even if I agree with someone's points, I'm so turned off by the manner in which they're presented that I have no feelings of encouragement, comradery or connection.

So... seeing as there's no end of places online to discuss politics, I simply send you over to those places with a smile and a wave and a brown paper bag full of cookies and wish you well in the debates. I'll quietly do my research privately, vote, and we'll see how it all turns out.

Peace. 

Comments

[mikononyte.livejournal.com]

Hooray! And thank you.
As you may have noticed I AM very opinionated in my LJ but only about certain things and never about elections. The last election I had to unfriend a few friends until it was over just so I wouldn't have to deal with the harping. LOL Oddly (or mayhap amusingly) they never noticed.
So while I am not politically correct in my speech, I am definitely mum on the voting.
Love you!

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

You're very welcome. :) You know, like you, I've had to unfollow a few people (on twitter, not here) because of the harping, and one of them was harping on stuff I actually agreed with. :/ But the harping was simply too shrill and ugly and... meh. I have no desire to watch anyone verbally rip anyone a new one!

*hugs*

[dreamflower]

I do like to occasionally squee or rant a little bit on my LJ about politics, but I always either put it behind a cut with a warning that politics are behind the cut, or filter it for like-minded friends.

But I don't care for most of the ugliness that goes on as well. I have always enjoyed civilized and friendly debate-- but it is far too rare and hard to find nowadays. Nowadays it's polemics and straw men and out and out personal attacks.

Fortunately most of my LJ friends seem to feel the same way: they either keep things private, or they filter or cut, or they at least avoid being insulting. I know it's not so in some circles, though! I avoid those like the plague.

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

I do like to occasionally squee or rant a little bit on my LJ about politics, but I always either put it behind a cut with a warning that politics are behind the cut, or filter it for like-minded friends.

The LJ cut is such a good tool!

I have always enjoyed civilized and friendly debate-- but it is far too rare and hard to find nowadays. Nowadays it's polemics and straw men and out and out personal attacks.

It sure does seem that way. I think society as a whole has gotten far more coarse and uncaring and disrespectful toward each other. It's a shame.

[mrowe.livejournal.com]

I totally understand. Our elections are next week, and I'm at the point where I want to put all the candidates adrift in a small boat in the middle of the Atlantic (I don't really care whether individually or together - and yes, that does include the party I'll vote for).

edited for grammarz

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

And here I thought putting politicians out to sea was a purely American sport! :)

[mrowe.livejournal.com]

Nah... Gondor started that one with Beruthiel.

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

*giggle*

[shirebound]

*points to icon*

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

Now there's someone I could vote for without a qualm!

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

Your politics seem way more heated than ours. Most ordinary people here aren't very passionate about politics and happily have friends with opposite views while many of us, myself included, often switch parties .

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

I have a lot of friends myself with whom I disagree, and we've learned to "live and let live". But somehow it seems like online, the gloves come off too easily, so I've chosen to opt out!

[estelcontar1.livejournal.com]

I would vote for Aragorn. *g* Pity he's not running for mayor here. Our elections are this coming October, and voting here is mandatory.

I think gloves online come off more easily because debate is not really face to face, so people feel less inhibited and more irresponsible, and rant away. People tend to be waaaaaaaaaaaaay more agressive online than they would be in real life because, due to their relative anonymity, they do not fear the consequences of their aggressiveness.

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

I think you've hit it on the head with the idea of there being no consequences for their anonymous actions. It really brings out the lowest in some people.

[lilybaggins.livejournal.com]

Oh, I hear you loud and clear... I never post anything political in my LJ, because people seem to have closed minds when it comes to politics and why should I spend my free time here trying to sway others who aren't interested in my opinion anyway?

I have to say I LOVE politics-free LJ zones, because I find myself getting somewhat offended when people get on their podiums and preach from LJ... that's just me. Maybe I'm too sensitive. So yep, not discussing politics online is FINE by me!

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

Yep. I figure I'm not going to be able to come up with the magical fact that will sway anyone toward my views, so I merely let people look elsewhere for political discussions.

It can be way too easy to unintentionally come across as too high-handed or condescending... which is another reason I'm keeping mum! I've actually tried drafting posts and always end up thinking, "Lord, I sound pompous!" And then I delete it. LOL

[inzilbeth-liz.livejournal.com]

I so agree you you. The vitriol often found in online discussion is frankly unbelieveable.

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

Vitriol is the perfect word for it!

[galantha-nivala.livejournal.com]

Politics is incredibly polarized. The Internet and the 24 new cycle have turned everything into a moral/ethical issue. This is a terrible development because there is absolutely no room for comprommise on moral issues; it's all black and white, fer us or agin us, my way or the highway. Politics has become a breeding ground for hardline finger-waggers. While this might make for great entertainment value, which is great for the media and social media, it's incredibly destructive for society as a whole. Anyone who dares be a moderate invites the wrath of moralistic/ethical prigs on both sides of the argument, turning politics into the verbal equivalent of the Roman Colliseum and kills rational debate.

As rational debate is the key to a successful democracy, the current state of affairs is eating away at the roots of our hard-won society. The situation worries me as I see no simple solution. It's not in the interest of the main stream media or political bloggers to change things. They're making too much money the way things are to change.

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

Anyone who dares be a moderate invites the wrath of moralistic/ethical prigs on both sides of the argument, turning politics into the verbal equivalent of the Roman Colliseum and kills rational debate.

Boy, if this doesn't sum it up in a single sentence, I don't know what does!

And I love your icon! I've spoken up at times in the now-distant past and inadvertently enraged the crazies. Not fun at all and largely responsible for the contents of this post, actually.

[rakshathedemon.livejournal.com]

There is mucho ugliness in the cyberworld when dealing with strangers on comment boards, on both sides of the political spectrum. I think there has always been a tendency to wax wrathful (wroth?) in politics, long before the advent of Facebook and Internet, it's just now more noticeable. I think that Tolkien fans are often more polite, at least. I think of myself as a moderate republican who agrees with some but not all of the conservative agenda; and I don't do much political discussion online or in real life.

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

I really don't do a lot of political discussion in real life, either. In general, it's something that only marginally interests me and, like eating my green vegetables, I read up on it and vote simply because I know I should!

[layne67.livejournal.com]

Very well-said. Politics ( and its discussion ) is pretty ugly over here, too. I guess it's ugly everywhere in the world.

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

Sadly, it seems like the bullies have taken over discussions, doesn't it.