Very quickly...

[wordinista]

Obviously, with current events being the way they are, it's no surprise that the people on my friends list have been particularly political in their posts. It's fascinating, really, because it means I know a wide range of people with wildly differing opinions, and diversity, as they say, is of the good. I like diversity; it makes me smile.

However, I have found myself trying very hard not to be offended by some of the things posted in my friends' LJ's. I totally respect your differing opinions -- I do. Anyone who's spoken with me at length knows that when I say that, it's not just a line of bullshit. But I'm getting a little tired of the ragefests.

Kat put it way better than I could have, and so I link to her...

Like I said -- differing opinions are great. It's what makes for fascinating conversation and lively debate. The world would be a colorless and boring place if we all agreed with each other. I've had some of the most interesting conversations with people whose opinions differ from mine.

But I'm starting to be mildly offended. And it takes a lot to offend me, though usually an insult to my intelligence works wonders.

So please, y'all. Think before you speak. I realize that an LJ is a place for you to vent and rant, and I respect that -- but I try and be mindful of the feelings of those people on my friends list, and I would appreciate the same courtesy. If you want to lambast the opposing side, that's your right -- but I ask you to please try and refrain from being insulting.

I apologize if I in turn have offended anybody; I'm trying to put this as diplomatically as I can. But I am a registered Republican, and that makes me neither evil nor stupid by default. I don't like to spout politics on my LJ, because -- for me -- politics and religion are two immensely personal things. They're my business. I'll discuss them with people who ask me specifically, but not in my LJ, if I can help it.

Comments

[aoi-tsuki1.livejournal.com]

You tell 'em, sister! (This coming from the person so intent on keeping politics away from my LJ that I danced around a direct question asking whether I support Bush...)

[w0rdinista.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I saw that. That got under my skin a bit, too. I'm sorry, but questions like that simply aren't anyone's business -- or, at least, if you want to know someone's political affiliation, there are less rude ways of asking. I've often wondered that of my friends, and when I've asked, I've tried to ask POLITELY.

[katmorning.livejournal.com]

Politics discussions are fine. So long as you both agree, or can at least agree to disagree gracefully.

Thank you for being one of the few non-doom-prophet entries I've seen today.

[ex-recurrenc66.livejournal.com]

Mm, yes. I've noticed a lot of very... heated political discussions since your election campaign started, but particularly in these past weeks. I've been there. I actually live in a province which is like the "Texas" of Canada in terms of how conservative the majority of the province is.

I'm Liberal (Aha! Another difference), so I'm always getting attacked by people who don't share my views and even while I try to avoid it, they get aggressive and things often turn ugly. I've learned from this to keep my political opinions to myself unless I'm in a forum in which discussion would be appropriate.

You can't discuss politics with a person who disagrees with your views without stepping on toes and (whether intentionally) insulting the person. It would be like approaching a Christian for example, and telling him/her that you think their religion is bullshit (this has also happened to me).

I'm sorry so many ignorant overly-passionate people have unwittingly insulted you.

*hugs*

[everstar3.livejournal.com]

I don't think you're stupid, chere. I don't understand, but that's probably something you find equally incomprehensible about me. :) Actually, you're a good leavener for me; when I've caught myself stomping around in a fit of rage, I say to myself, "That's Niamh you're dissing there, yo." And then I tiptoe from shame.

I think the thing that scares me the most about politics these days is it feels like we're yelling at each other across a chasm that's just getting wider and wider and wider. How can we work with each other under these conditions? *sigh* But I refuse to give up. There's got to be some kind of middle ground that we can all find some degree of contentment with. After all, we have to live with each other.

Re: *hugs*

[w0rdinista.livejournal.com]

...I think you and I have done an admirable job of finding middle ground. *Hugs her hebi-democrat*