As an election year, we can expect an increase in political debate, whether with friends, enemies, through online forums or in a comments section. Here’s something I’ve noticed when it comes to political debate…
All too often I see and hear responses to opposing political views beginning with “you’re an idiot.”
Example: Joe and Bob are arguing. Joe makes a remark contradictory to Bob’s political views. Bob makes an ugly face and says “You’re an idiot, we should bomb Iraq.” Joe, in all likelihood doesn’t like being called an idiot and will now get defensive and probably dig his heels in, strengthening his anti-Bob viewpoint.
While this might appear as a matter of semantics, it’s really semantics, psychology and philosophy. (Hell if I really know.)
One of the most frustrating conversations I’ve ever been privy to was between a Republican man of the U.S. and a Liberal woman from the Netherlands, we’ll call them Larry and Trish, respectively. Larry and Trish were speaking politics. After a few minutes Trish asked if Larry were Republican. He answered “yes.” She replied, “You would be.”
It was pretty much a euphemism for “You’re an idiot.”
When somebody calls me an idiot for seeing a “vague, shades of grey” science different from them, I immediately think they are the idiot. Frankly, I may think they’re an idiot anyway, but I’ll try not to say it. I usually call them a “butthead” first.
Now, in a time of overactive political correctness do we really need a guy running around telling people not to call each other idiot? I don’t really care. I’m only saying that you’d have a better chance of having an adult conversation on topics that are very near and dear to many.
P.S. No, You’re an idiot. :O)
