Let's agree to disagree?

[DaveinJapan]

Someone mentioned on another topic that his soon-to-be-right-winger relative threw that out after a short talk.

And it struck me because just this very hour I was enlightening (I can't say "having a discussion with", really) a right winger on Facebook. She threw it out after just a couple of my rebuttals. And my answer was "no, I won't. but we can end this discussion any time you want".

It struck me further because I just realized I've been hearing this a lot lately. Is this a directive from the noise machine I just hadn't noticed or something?

To me, "agree to disagree" is a point you reach after a long discussion with valid points on both sides where neither party can manage to arrive at a meeting of the minds. It is NOT where one person spouts a bunch of meaningless gibberish and, when countered by facts and logic, suddenly puts a stop to the conversation by saying "obviously we don't see things the same way. let's agree to disagree".

Fuck that.

[Dr Morbius]

1. We can agree to disagree unless you're supporting harmful policy.

In which case, I am regrettably not able to limit myself to disagreeing with you. I've got to change your attitude, because your attitude does harm to my country, and therefore to me.

We are totally in sync. I think people use it sometimes as a cop-out.

[DaveinJapan]

6. Absolutely! nt

[havocmom]

2. It's the meme that replaced "It's a JOKE! Don't you have a sense of humor?" when they lose debate

When they got nuttin, they have to have some way to pretend they aren't standing buck nekkid on erroneous zones.

[mrcheerful]

3. They been pulling that since 2004 when they were trying to point out all of drunk georges good deeds

and couldn't get others to see anything good about the cons. It was a way for them to say they won the debate even though they caved in by not being able to actually convince anyone that the first 4 years there were no good deeds, unless cutting brush and dropping the ball on 9/11 are good deeds.

[NoNothing]

4. It's interesting to me

I think it is part of a sort of social ritual.

A person who knows he or she is clearly losing the argument will usually suggest this. I think it is essentially the same as resigning a chess game or a curling match. I think it is to provide an opportunity for the "victor" to end the contest while sparing the feelings of the defeated. Naturally, the victor is not obligated to do so, but it is good sportsmanship to do so and as a matter of common courtesy it is usually done.

[ixion]

5. it's something we need more of, in my opinion

agreeing to disagree, and not forcing one person's lifestyle on others.

[Jennicut]

7. If you have conservative family members, especially parents, you understand it.

I don't agree with them at all, I don't agree that we disagree. I just can't talk to a wall anymore. No more discussing with them. I am done. I say it to end the "conversation." I don't hate them, just profoundly disappointed in my parents.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

8. That caught my eye, too, but I don't think it's a new technique.

I finally gave up on a friend a few years ago because, among other things, after I'd call him on whatever RW bullshit du jour he was selling that day, he'd pull out that 'Agree to disagree' line.

It's often struck me as akin to the MSM practice of always presenting RW counterpoints even when they're completely unsupportable. We've mashed up opinion and fact in media to the point where they're nearly indistinguishable to the low-information viewer.

[guitar man]

9. yeah

Let's agree to disagree= your RW talking points were just skillfully dissected by the educated and well informed liberal using provable facts and you've got nowhere left to go wingnut. ;)

[seabeyond]

10. yup. my brother saying the other night in parenting, we do it differently.

neither right or wrong.

bullshit.

mine right.... kids in school not juvie

his wrong, kids drop out of school, in juvie

he kept bringing it too, we just do it differently, neither right or wrong. i kept saying bullshit

you are right. there are times agree to disagree work. and there are times.... factually incorrect, period.

[zipplewrath]

11. A variation on mine

Working around ALOT of right wingers, I'll often hear one say "I don't understand why....". I frequently respond with "I could explain it to you but I don't suspect you really want to know". First few times they asked. Now they just agree that they don't want to know.

[SB37]

12. I think it's called being civilized and adult.

Not everyone wants some red-in-the-face zealot screaming at them. I'm OK with the fact that not everyone agrees with me. I "agree to disagree" with them and talk about the Bears instead...


... just like a big boy.

[SB37]

13. nt

[MrScorpio]

14. It's a tactic that wingers use to legitimize their lies and fantasies

I made a note of this a while back:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7935568

[unblock]

15. "let's agree that you'll shut up and i'll keep my opinion."

the right wing lost any interest in honest debate a LONG time ago.
if their ranting is not greeted swiftly with megadittoes, they're not interested.

[progressoid]

16. It means "I'm losing this argument so it's time to call a truce and convince myself I'm right."

[Festivito]

17. DO NOT agree to disagree. Agreeing THAT you disagree is okay.

Why would you want to be such a fool that you would want to disagree with someone?

Nonsense.

Not me.

And, I won't stop at accepting that we disagree.

Past disagreeing that we disagree, is the question: Where do we disagree? And, can we agree on where, and check those applicable facts.

[CLANG]

18. It means I want to keep believing my brainwashing propaganda

And you can continue to believe your "truthiness".