Bashing -Revisited

[DemocratSinceBirth]

What is the motivation of the bashers. And by bashers I am not referring to those who make constructive criticism of the candidates.I am referring to those who bash candidates and/or their supporters. Do you really think a person will like their candidate any less after another person bashs them. I think not. Would you like your mother, wife, sister, friend, etcetera, any less if someone bashed them. I think not....

And do you think a poster is going to feel more warmly about your candidate after you have given him the verbal equivalent of a slap in the chops...

Hate speech is real and verbal abuse can be as bad as physical abuse...


I thought liberalism was about tolerance and love for one another.....

Sometimnes I see too little of that here...

With Love,

Brian

[salin]

1. Didn't you hear?

Only obnoxious speech is protected by Free Speech. Or so you would think at DU where posters will scream and yell at anyone trying to promote civil discourse. See the obnoxious crowd has a right to be obnoxious (so I was told just yesterday) - but others have no right to call attention to how obnoxious it is - apparently that is not an expression of free speech.

I predict that you will get at least one post that follows the above pattern.

[liberalnurse]

2. I agree..the candidate bashing is

abusive....equal to that of physical abuse. Maybe some of these posters do beat their spouse...carry thru of comfortable behavior, frustration with the inability to control.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

5. No Wife Beaters Here......

We have alot of sublimation going on here....


Folks use the net as a catharsis.......

Substituting rhetorical violence for physical violence....

[liberalnurse]

7. Very true....

Words do hurt.

[Iverson]

3. kudos

I applaud your call for civil discourse. "Bashing" is self-indulgent emoting that is distinct from constructive criticism or even vigorous disagreement. It is a one-way lashing out with nothing of substance to recommend it. It is also counterproductive.

[CheshireCat]

4. Amen, Brian!

I get suspicious of some of the bashers - wonder if they are not Republican plants. Lately, I have been extremely disappointed in the quality of posts on GD.

No matter who wins, we will have to join forces after the nomination if we are to get the bushistas out of office. This bashing will not help in the long run.

I understand how it feels to strongly support a candidate and to dislike others, but this time we have a strong common goal. GET RID OF BUSH.

Peace

[gully]

6. I agree, tolerance is supposed to be our mantra...?!!

certainly look like hypocrites these days.

I too wonder about Freepers in disguise.

I look forward to the primarys being over frankly, then we will be united against Bush.