People who argue about politics while knowing nothing

[Dreamstalker]

Another one about the acquaintance who is at times damned lucky it's not possible to commit murder by thinking about it. The topic was somehow steered to politics.

I mentioned that I supported Obama...did that ever open a can of worms. He starts in about "well, Hitler talked a good game too, we all know what happened." (DING! Godwin to the front please!--that has to be the fastest invocation of the law I've ever witnessed) ...the remainder of the "conversation" consisted of him trying fruitlessly to make every parallel he could (he didn't even make a halfassed attempt at supporting his rantings). I think there was even a mention of the gas chambers ...to be honest I tuned most of that mess out.

So after he's bashed every candidate (Obama was the only one to warrant a Nazi comparison though...hmmmm telling) he says "I hate the system and I hate everyone running so I'm not voting"...what right do you have to complain about the candidates then? (answer to that was more ranting in an oh-so-smug tone about the First Amendment...eh?) I might give you a pass if you were educated about what you rail against, but you are not.

Now, I'm willing to engage in intelligent political debates...how is it that some people's idea of "intelligent" is "yell louder and make every offensive analogy I possibly can"?

[blas87]

At least you don't live around here. Most people support Obama around here, but every once in a while, some undesirable inbred will spout off "I don't want no damn nigger for president!" or "There will NEVER be a woman in office!".......talk about talking out of your ass!

[Dreamstalker]

That (the spouting of clueless inbreds) actually sounds like the general political climate where he is...until the below candidate offended his state-pride--methinks the boy takes that a little too seriously--he was voting for Huckabee (OK, when the guy was in you were voting, now that he's out you're not...interesting) and couldn't possibly understand why I wouldn't.

If he tried expounding on that Obama/Hitler parallel here, he'd be lynched in short order (large Jewish population).

What I'd like to know is why was the first amendment trotted out upon my pointing out that he did not have a leg to stand on when it came to complaining...wait, idiots don't need a reason other than they're idiots.

[CancelMyService]

For some reason, especially when the topic is politics, people seem to think free speech = no one can disagree with you or prove your facts are wrong.

What kills me is that people will believe ANYTHING they're told about any candidate that they read in a chain email or get told by that lady with no teeth in front of the liquor store. Folks will go around saying they'll never vote for Candidate X and when you ask why, they respond with the most ridiculous bullshit you can think of.....and they think it's gospel because "well that's what I was told". Well that doesn't make it correct, dipshits!

[Boozy]

For some reason, especially when the topic is politics, people seem to think free speech = no one can disagree with you or prove your facts are wrong.

That's my biggest pet peeve of all time.

Despite what appears to be popular belief, free speech does not mean that everyone's opinion is valid. It just means that no one can force you to stop flapping your gums. That's it.

Not every dumbass has the right to an opinion about everything, but that's one thing we can't make illegal even if we wanted to.

My advice is to remind yourselves that the right that allows the nitwit in front of you to speak is the same right that allowed Martin Luther King to speak. There is a trade-off, but its usually in society's favour in the long run.

[Seshat]

My advice is to remind yourselves that the right that allows the nitwit in front of you to speak is the same right that allowed Martin Luther King to speak.

And that is why I will defend the right of that Westboro Church Group to protest funerals - so long as they're peaceful and stay on public land. (As soon as they step into a privately-owned graveyard against the owner's will, it's trespass.)

Or of Pauline Hanson's right to run for parliamentary office, despite her opinions.
(She's an Australian politician. Her maiden speech to parliament included this: "I believe we are in danger of being swamped by Asians. Between 1984 and 1995, 40 per cent of all migrants into this country were of Asian origin. They have their own culture and religion, form ghettos and do not assimilate.")

Preventing the ignorant, the foolish, and those who I would consider grossly misinformed from speaking, opens doors I don't wish to open.

Besides which, if I never hear opinions contrary to mine, how am I going to learn when I'm flat-out wrong?

[Dreamstalker]

Besides which, if I never hear opinions contrary to mine, how am I going to learn when I'm flat-out wrong?

The thing with this acquaintance is that he is also often wrong...I may not be 100% right either, but at least I'm in the ballpark and know the flaws in my own arguments and work to correct them.

This guy seems to think I'm against freedom of speech because I disagree (and when I do admit he is correct on something that I was misinformed about, he gets so smug I want to reach through the phone and smack him--humans are allowed to make mistakes).

[Boozy]

(and when I do admit he is correct on something that I was misinformed about, he gets so smug I want to reach through the phone and smack him).

That's very bad form. One should always be gracious when someone is brave enough to admit they're wrong.

I don't think I'd choose to be friends with someone like that.

[Dreamstalker]

The dude was actually fairly intelligent before he became voluntarily jobless...he's got too much time to sit on his tail and come up with crazy theories (conspiracy and otherwise). I no longer take his phone calls because of it.

I've been blocking/bouncing his emails as of late...from what I can tell he's hunting for any possible thing that says my candidate is racist/sexist/X-supremacist/etc. No politician is lily-white, but my mind's made up. Yes I'm as informed as possible. No your bombarding me with negative spin pieces of very questionable pedigree is not going to change much (except possibly result in a charge of online harassment, if such a thing exists).

Methinks that smugness is going to result in a major asskicking if he leaves his little enclave...would it be wrong of me to point and laugh when that does come to pass?