Posted by
fiddler on Tuesday, September 02, 2008 6:46:46 PM
I just finished reading the "debate" over Matt Barber's column regarding Planned Parenthood. I am astounded at the rancor displayed by so many posters, particularly those on the left. I'm not suggesting that posters on the right are innocent. I've seen plenty of nasty comments from conservatives, but the ones from the left are particularly egregious. But what bothers me the most is that anyone would bother to engage these internet trolls.
I haven't visited sites such as the Huffington Post or the Daily Kos, although I've heard plenty about the nastiness to be found there, particularly on the Kos (I understand the Huffington Post has toned things down some). I don't have to see it myself if what's there is on the same level as the puerile comments made by the left-wingers who post here. I don't know how many conservatives go to those sites and spew the same kind of venom. They should stop. As for the left-wing chain-yankers who come here just to roil the waters, we shouldn't bother to engage them at all. They're just here to cause trouble and nothing more. No one is persuaded by these so-called debates. I suspect opinions are merely hardened and stereotypes reinforced, and that is the worst thing of all.
I can understand that someone on the left has a very different world-view from mine. Please don't demonize me for it. I won't demonize you, although I may try to call your attention to the logical fallacies and just downright poor reasoning of your positions. Having said that, I want to point out to my fellow conservatives that if we stoop to the same level and start name-calling and character assassination, we are no better. I've always believed that one big difference between liberals and conservatives is that liberals get too caught up in emotions and don't think things through very clearly; they see the world as they would like it to be, rather than as it really is. But if we allow ourselves to be influenced by the passions of the moment, then how are we different? If we can't persuade them through reason, do we really think we can persuade them using the same tactics they try on us, which fail?