Is using dehumanizing terms like Repuke, Repug, or Rethug acceptable to you?

[el_bryanto]

Or, to put it another way, do you feel comfortable using such terms.

[Ozymanithrax]

1. I've used them at times, and didn't think about it...

Now, it bears thought before use.

[Kaleva]

2. I don't use the terms myself but it doesn't bother me if others do.

[Arkansas Granny]

49. Pretty much how I feel about it, too.

[seabeyond]

3. beating this one to death, arent you. nt

[el_bryanto]

16. Well i came back ready to rejoin the conversation and I found my previous post had been locked

(for use of a term referencing retardedness) So wanted to restart it.

If this subject doesn't interest you, feel free to ignore it.

[seabeyond]

25. thanks for clarification. adn not so much disinterest as conclusions and interpretations

:)

[William769]

4. You are what you speak and act.

[Luminous Animal]

5. I voted incorrectly. I meant to vote "totally".

I find them childish and ineffectual for promoting dialog and change.

[RadiationTherapy]

6. I don't use them, but I am pun/spelling humor averse.

[EOTE]

7. Is posting extremely biased and misleading polls acceptable to you?

Furthermore, when did you stop beating your wife?

[DainBramaged]

20. Beat your wife Potvin, beat your wife........

http://www.cantstopthebleeding.com/denis-potvin-and-the-chant-that-wont-die

[el_bryanto]

23. Well, the point of the poll is to provoke discussion in this case

So I don't mind the Bias. And I'm single. I do occasionally step on my dog, however.

[seabeyond]

29. there isnt conversation. seems like it is all or nothing how about on du the ability to use

repug yet any time there is a discussion with a republican one spells out the whole word republican even though they would like to be typing a much shorter word like repug but they dont out of repect for the person that they are conversing with.

just like on du i would use fundy, but when talking to a fundy i would use fundamentalist, even though it is soooo much more work

so because i am willing to go to all the extra work, out of respect, when talking to the person, doesnt that show that even though i use repug, i am MORE respectful of a repug than those that are not bothered by all the extra work and keep it at republican at all times?

that concept isnt in your poll. so the poll is skewed in conclusions of respect to other people

[karynnj]

86. Uhm - If the intent was just to abreviate, woun't that be Rs or Repubs?

Repug seems to me to be intentionally going towards repugnant. To me, your post shows that when pushed to look at it, you feel a need to justify it. I have seen your posts and IMO you are respectful of others here who disagree with you here - so, I am not surprised to here that in real life you speak respectfully to Republicans. What I wonder is whether use of those words is encouraged by the fact that we are anonymous. I also wonder if - in part - if it might be that the culture here - at least at one time - accepted it as the norm and it is done without thinking. To me, the use diminishes the posts that it is in - making them seem more immature and juvenile than the same thoughts would have appeared otherwise.

I also think you are making a false comparison in comparing someone who uses name calling here and politeness in the real world vs people who politely say Republican here and don't treat Republicans politely in the real world. There are actually 4 cells in that comparison and I would bet that most who are polite here are respectful in the real world. The cell you compare to might be sparsely populated or empty.

Here, one question that you might consider is what if a Republican you interact with in the real world were through some fluke to learn your user name and see a posting where you referred to "repugs" how would you explain it?

[EOTE]

48. And provoke it did.

It provoked tons of conversation about how ridiculous wrong your OP is.

[el_bryanto]

80. And several supporting my point as well. n/t

[karynnj]

85. Any posted poll has no scientific value - even if extended to just the DU population

This is no worse than others - and better than many.

[Blue_In_AK]

8. I've never used those terms, as far as I can remember,

unless I was swept away. I think we can do without name-calling all the way around, especially with regard to an entire group.

[randr]

9. These terms describe our personal gut feeling about these people

and in no way can be seen as descriptors of personality.
Tree hugger, socialist, communist, etc. are meant as personal aspersions thrown at people.

[mmonk]

10. The view from this dehumanized person is yes.

Names like this are not sticks and stones, bullets, nor death threats. The name is based on a political party or label, not on a human being.

[DainBramaged]

11. Here we go, the PC police are making themselves known

[el_bryanto]

21. What a great response - the use of the term PC Police totally exempts you

from a reasoned response.

[DainBramaged]

36. (sigh ) you hate me because I speak my mind, and won't give in to mamby pamby land

:rofl:

PS we won neener neener

[el_bryanto]

37. I don't hate you at all; why would i?

When did you win?

Bryant

[DainBramaged]

42. Those of us free to speak our minds won your silly poll

jeeze that was difficult?

[karynnj]

87. I fell 100% free to speak my mind, but I will never intentionally use name calling

In this environment, those who speak against the use of those words are standing against the norm here. Here, the op has the right to say that this language is not good - just as you have the right to say that you like it and will continue to use it. This is not a poll asking if those words could be added to the list of what is alertable - something that few would agree to. (I wouldn't, though I dislike the usage and think it makes the site look less thoughtful than it otherwise would look. It would likely lead to losing voices - like yours - that need to be heard.)

[Bodhi BloodWave]

93. congratulations on your win

Tho why you would want to win the right to look like a tool when you call republicans repukes, rethugs and such I don't know.

Which is how I also view republicans who call democrats things like democraps, demorats and similar things, total tools

[cynatnite]

50. RWer's are the ones that usually scream the loudest about being "PC"...

I'm not accustomed to seeing a DUer act this way. No one is telling you not to say what you think.

The question is about name-calling. Is it acceptable?

[damntexdem]

12. Can't vote because of ad across link. But YES, TOTALLY.

A lot of b.s. has been going around that using nasty language causes violence. No, incitement to violence causes violence. Call the Repukes what you want, and they will call Dems what they want, but the problem comes when violence is called for. That is as in "we need 2nd Amendment solutions" or putting a rifle scope image over a politician's picture.

Meanwhile, Repukes are Rethugs are Repugs. It's the simple truth.

[Bluerthanblue]

13. no- tempted maybe, but never comfortable. We must BE the change

we wish to see in the world.

That begins within each one of us.

I want a better world than this for my grandkids. If I'm not willing to try then I'm the problem.

[Matariki]

14. No. I hate those terms when I see them.

Like many people here, I have Republican relatives who I love. They aren't raving loony right wingers, just moderate Republicans. We don't see eye to eye on all politics, but they are neither crazy, stupid, or evil.

[Iggo]

15. Those aren't dehumanizing.

They are insulting.

[Brickbat]

17. I don't use the terms and I think less of people who do.

I think it's childish.

[Supersedeas]

18. these terms describe a political persuasion (not the person), but thanks for the loaded question

[yurbud]

19. I knew this would happen: the DLC will use this shooting to beat up progressives

instead of the soulmates in the GOP.

[el_bryanto]

35. It's hard to respond to this appropriately.

I am not with the DLC. I'm not calling for attacks on Progressive. I'm simply asking the question.

Bryant

[karynnj]

88. You can be progressive without immaturely using name calling

I am not DLC and in fact, very few people who come here EVER defend the DLC.

[yurbud]

92. their numbers are small, but they make their presence felt in ways disproportionate to that number

the really odd thing is some try to pretend the DLC doesn't even exist, which is either profoundly ignorant or a backhanded admission that their ideas are so unpopular with rank and file Democrats that they can't fly their flag openly.

[27inCali]

22. nothing about these insults insinuates violence

it's ok to insult your enemies, not ok talking about harming them.

[Snotcicles]

24. I've heard of push polls. But pull polls? nt

[Supersedeas]

32. the push and pull to draw equivalencies to peaceniks and tree-hugger extremists

Moderate acceptance of the oligarchy is the only political discourse some people want to hear.

Resignation is the only political attitude some want to see.

[JustFiveMoreMinutes]

26. Don't use them.. but get a smile out of them.. along with DemoRat and all the others.

[Initech]

27. The derogatory terms they use to describe us are 1,000,000,000,000,000 times worse.

[Mike 03]

28. I used to use the term "Repuke" almost like a constant tic, but in my last few

posts I have used "Republican." Just to tone it down a notch.

[CreekDog]

30. I don't because the term I use for them says more about me than them

and I'd rather be understood to be mocking them...and Rethug, Repug and Repuke is not mocking, I don't know what it is, but for me, it's doing something else.

[LibDemAlways]

31. There's nothing dehumanizing about those terms. They

all reflect the warped values of the Republican party.

[WinkyDink]

33. "Dehumanizing" works only on humans.

[el_bryanto]

34. You understand how this totally proves my point, right?

[WinkyDink]

39. You understand you are sarcasm-impaired, don't you?

If you are on a mission to change the nature of human discourse, I have a windmill to sell you.

[Posteritatis]

64. Poe's Law is mighty these days, unfortunately. (nt)

[DainBramaged]

40. Say do you know any of these folks?

[el_bryanto]

41. Nope. Aren't those the republican rioters trying to stop the vote counting in 2000? n/t

[karynnj]

89. I don't, but I know plenty of Republicans, who would think that group

of people were out of control and thugs - just as I would if the people acting that way were Democrats. You have mentioned where you live and I know that a good many of the people you likely interact with in real life are Republicans - because that is how the county votes. Do you think that the Republicans you know are like the FL mob in your photo? Or are they people who are living their lives and are mostly nice neighbors, good parents etc ?

[get the red out]

38. Not exactly inferring that murder would be desirable

by calling someone a "repuke". It isn't like using all those violence requesting dog whistles such as "second ammendment solution".

If you call someone an asshole should you be charged with attempted murder? I don't think that would stand.

[el_bryanto]

43. And nobody would argue that; certainly I wouldn't.

On the other hand, I am pretty comfortable saying that it might be better if people didn't use those terms. You see the difference? One is a mandate the other is advice.

Saying that someone should do something is not the same as saying someone should be made to do something.

Bryant

[Lucian]

44. How can you be dehumanizing to those who aren't really human to begin with?

[Cid_B]

45. I don't and think less of someone who does...

RePUGliWSCHRUBbotinazis just screams intellectually lazy to me...

Is it acceptable though? Sure

[Posteritatis]

67. I dunno, "Republiwschrubbotinazis" is fun as hell to say at least. (nt)

[Catherina]

46. Voted "totally not", not because it's dehumanizing but because it makes whoever uses those terms

sound like an illiterate with a low IQ.

[joe_sixpack]

47. Well, they started it!

n/t

[Papagoose]

51. Use terms like that if you must, but don't complain when the other side does the same

[backscatter712]

52. They dehumanize themselves. We're just reflecting upon a preexisting truth. n/t

[gatorboy]

53. You forgot Refuckhead!

My favorite!

[Iggo]

56. Warms my heart. (n/t)

[Ohio Joe]

54. Totally, I have done so often and will continue to do so

Why should I not?

[Rowdyboy]

55. Their LEADERSHIP refer to us as the "Democrat party"...when they call us by our proper name...

I'll consider showing them the same respect. Until then, hell no.

[demokatgurrl]

58. Even worse when Democrats do that

adopting the language of the propaganda machine.

[Pathwalker]

59. What he said!

[NoPasaran]

57. I think it's way past time to retire them

They're no different than when right wingers refer to "Dims" or "Dummycrats". . . Childish name-calling, nothing more. I like to think that we're better than that. If that makes me an elitist, that's a badge I'll wear proudly.

[tammywammy]

63. I agree. n/t

[Motown_Johnny]

60. they are not dehumanizing, they are definitive

[tammywammy]

61. I think it's just juvenile name calling, and don't do it myself. n/t

[walldude]

62. Dehumanizing?

NO. It's making fun of idiots. Do I feel comfortable using such terms? Well let me see...

Ann Coulter:

"I don't really like to think of it as a murder. It was terminating Tiller in the 203rd trimester. ... I am personally opposed to shooting abortionists, but I don't want to impose my moral values on others." --on the murder of Kansas abortion doctor George Tiller, FOX News interview, June 22, 2009

"There are a lot of bad republicans; there are no good democrats."

"We need to execute people like (John Walker Lindh) in order to physically intimidate liberals."


Glen Beck-

''I am not saying that Barack Obama is a fascist. If I'm not mistaken, in the early days of Adolf Hitler, they were very happy to line up for help there as well. I mean, the companies were like, 'Hey, wait a minute. We can get, you know, we can get out of trouble here. They can help, et cetera, et cetera.'''
—comparing government bailouts of auto companies to actions of German companies during the rise of Hitler, Fox News' Glenn Beck show, April 1, 2009

''When I see a 9/11 victim family on television, or whatever, I'm just like, 'Oh shut up' I'm so sick of them because they're always complaining.''
—Glenn Beck on his radio show, Sept. 9, 2005

''This president I think has exposed himself over and over again as a guy who has a deep-seated hatred for white people or the white culture....I'm not saying he doesn't like white people, I'm saying he has a problem. This guy is, I believe, a racist.''
—Glenn Beck, on President Obama, sparking an advertiser exodus from his FOX News show, July 28, 2009

''I'm thinking about killing Michael Moore, and I'm wondering if I could kill him myself, or if I would need to hire somebody to do it. ... No, I think I could. I think he could be looking me in the eye, you know, and I could just be choking the life out. Is this wrong?''
—Glenn Beck, responding to the question 'What would people do for $50 million?', 'The Glenn Beck Program,' May 17, 2005

Rush Limbaugh

"You know who deserves a posthumous Medal of Honor? James Earl Ray . We miss you, James. Godspeed."

"I mean, let's face it, we didn't have slavery in this country for over 100 years because it was a bad thing. Quite the opposite: slavery built the South. I'm not saying we should bring it back; I'm just saying it had its merits. For one thing, the streets were safer after dark."

"Feminism was established so as to allow unattractive women easier access to the mainstream of society."


Now.. what was your question again?

[ljm2002]

65. All of those are name-calling, sure...

...but I don't get "dehumanizing" from any of them.

I do not use any of those terms. I try to avoid name-calling, although it is not always easy. But the terms you cite, Repuke, Repug, and Rethug, seem pretty tame to me.

[Posteritatis]

66. Don't like them, but generally don't get in peoples' faces about them either

That's probably somewhat hypocritical on my part, but hey, I guess I'm at least aware of it and rolling the idea around in my head. ;P

There are other forms of dehumanizing language used on both sides of the spectrum that do piss me right off, which I probably sound like a broken record to some DUers over. So be it on that front, anyway.

[REP]

68. You seem to think wordplay is dehumanizing. What an interesting concern.

I had no idea a political philosophy was human to begin with, and that its humanity could be debased.

Me? I'm a bit more concerned with the actual humans who suffer as a result of that philosophy, but obviously I'm not sensitive enough to care how political parties feel.

[TheKentuckian]

69. How is "Republican" not dehumanizing?

It is their behavior, policies, bigotry, and fucked up worldview that dehumanizes them.

Also, fuck em with a rusty dumpster. Y'all forget who we are dealing with. They murder and we spend all our daylight trying to figure out new ways to coddle their greedy bigoted asses.

Fuck em!

Fuck em!!!

Fuck em!!!!!!!

[Zanzobar]

70. Imagine Stewart or Colbert using those terms

The terms are unimaginative, small-minded, trite. Booorrrrriiinnnnngggggg.

I have a hard time reading commentary on either side where such terms are used.

[rampart]

71. it is kind of childish

playing at their level.

the "democrat" party irritates me. but that is why they do.

most childish is the limbaugh "joke" of giving democrats little pet nicknames. "dingy harry" reid for example.

[karynnj]

90. Exactly

I hate the trite repeated names the right gives to Democrats.

[NYC Liberal]

72. None of those terms is "dehumanizing"

They are simply plays on the word Republican.

I wouldn't want the leaders/public faces who represent Dems using them, but in casual conversation here on a message board? Totally fine.

[nadinbrzezinski]

73. Can I use Economic Royalist? Is that ok?

[Rex]

74. Explain why they wouldn't be acceptable to use and I might pick one.

[TheBigotBasher]

75. You missed Republiscum

and Republicant.

[Dappleganger]

76. Repukes, Repug, Rethugs are ignorant republicans who only spew hatred and old ideas.

There are a very few republicans who are capable of engaging in productive discussion who have their own ideas and respect yours as well. They are a rarity, unfortunately.

[ismnotwasm]

77. Hell no

Although it continues the game of 'us vs them', I believe modern conservatism/repukism to be a dangerous condition, quite possibly a mental illness of the type that seems to spread through entire populations every once in a while. (Usually leading to things like oh, say, genocide or nifty political theories like fascism or perky new philosophies like Objectivism) I feel no need to legitimize them by constant use of 'respectful' terms.

[MilesColtrane]

78. It is acceptable, but I don't use those terms because I think they are rather infantile.

If I'm going to insult Republicans, I usually do it with a modifier or as a declarative statement. (ex. "Rhino fellating Republicans" or "Republicans suck rhino penis.")

I have used the term, "Gooper" though.

[bluestate10]

79. Most modern republicans disgust me.

But I try to call them republicans. Although I lapse on occasion, name calling republicans accomplishes nothing.

[Vickers]

81. Dehumanizing? JFC, the fucking drama around here lately... n/t

[AsahinaKimi]

82. I could easily come up with worse names...

But I will try and be polite.

[karynnj]

83. Name calling is stupid and never wins arguments -

I was always told as a kid that when someone resorts to calling me names, it meant that I had won the argument and that was all they had left. Oddly, a dear friend speaking of posts on mixed boards pointed out the same thing to me in terms of when to disengage from an argument on line. When they are down to name calling - there is no point to continue. They have lost.

It also adds nothing in the way of information. Even the blanket condemnation of all Republicans is counter productive - although obviously we need to fight for the Democrat to win. There are Republicans who can be admired as people and even on some issues. (Dick Lugar being an obvious choice where he is a decent person and better on foreign policy than some Democrats. )

[ecstatic]

84. Yes

and I'm generally a very respectful person.

[old mark]

91. Bullshit poll-I prefer to call them facist assholes...nt