On polarization

[nancylebov]

Aren't the people who are complaining about polarization the same ones who usually complain about how Americans don't care enough about politics? How do you expect people to care about politics without getting emotionally involved?

This reminds me of the quote about "find out what the baby is doing and make him stop". I sympathize with the columnists who desperately need to find something to write about and find that Viewing With Alarm is the easiest topic, but not enough to keep me from getting incredibly tired of them.

Comments

[sinanju.livejournal.com]

"The people who complain about polarization just lately are the people who want to be perceived as centrists when they are, in fact, extremists."

That is, in my opinion, a load of crap. It's a rationalization for ignoring anyone who suggests that gibbering at one another and flinging metaphorical dung at one's opponents is normal and useful behavior. Some people who make that complaint no doubt are extremists. Others, like my wife, are not; she's just tired of not being able to have civil conversations with people on usenet--or in our living room--because other people can't simply agree to disagree, but have to attack (viciously) anyone and anything on the other side, and take every statement that follow the party line in the worst possible light.

This attitude, which I would define as "never ascribe to an honest difference of opinion about means or ends what you can chalk up to ignorance and/or malice, and preferably both" is more widespread than I ever remember it being (and it happens on all sides, though I suppose I tend like most people to notice it more in the words/writing of those with whom I disagree).

[sturgeonslawyer.livejournal.com]

Sinanju,

It seems to me that the first step in "simply agreeing to disagree" would be not beginning a disagreement by calling the disagreed-with position "a load of crap."

To me, it seems that the extreme right has laid claim to being "centrist" and insists that anyone who disputes this claim is "polarizing." That is what I was referring to.

[sinanju.livejournal.com]

You know, you're right. I meant to edit that out (that was my first reaction), but I didn't. Sorry about that.