(November 14, 2017 at 12:22 pm)CapnAwesome Wrote:

(November 13, 2017 at 1:52 pm)shadow Wrote: That is quite possible - I've observed that this is one of the instrumental uses of insults.

If that's the case I'm disappointed with AF, because I want to talk to conservatives if they are willing. If we're going to be anything better than an echo chamber, we have to. From my experience it is so powerful to understand the people who you disagree with - to know how they think, to understand their paradigm and see what it's missing. Especially when you are disagreeing with a very powerful force, you can't pretend that they aren't there, or you will continually lose and not know why.

And I think we're rationally right by so much as atheists that there's no reason to try to keep conservatives out. Chasing away dissenters is something you have reason to do when you're a bully trying to look tough, not when you can so easily defend your view rationally and objectively.

It's so nice to hear this as a reply.  I've said the same thing for a while here, and normally am subjected to a bunch of denial or ironically, insults.

Glad to have this discussion then

When I hear/see terms like this, I assume it's being used to refer to ultra-conservative, asshole republicans, not republicans in general. Not all republicans are bad, but there are those out there who support really stupid policies and say really stupid, disrespectful, and ignorant things. It's not a term I would use myself, but when someone else uses it, I assume they are referring to the worst republicans.

(November 11, 2017 at 5:12 pm)Neo-Scholastic Wrote: Divinity, you have never treated any conservative on these forums with respect. You swear and accuse. That's it. And you're not even good at swearing.

That's because she's Min's mini me and a Brian wannabe.

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(November 11, 2017 at 1:58 pm)Catholic_Lady Wrote: Theres also Christards

Don't forget nazi.

(November 11, 2017 at 3:19 pm)Neo-Scholastic Wrote:

(November 11, 2017 at 2:20 pm)Divinity Wrote: I call them cunts, because they act like cunts.  When they stop acting like a cunt, I'll stop calling them that.

Takes one to know one.

This made me laugh out loud for real. Neener Neener.

@OP I agree entirely. I don’t even bother opening threads most of the time when they have these words in the title.

I don't use terms like cunts or retards or anything of that matter (I avoid using these terms because of the known offense their usages cause to third party people I have no intention of offending). But as for why resort to insults in general, frustration maybe? To be honest, a lot of views held by some people can be really infuriating (not giving a care for others, the environment, etc.) so using insults against them can be sort of therapeutic.

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(November 17, 2017 at 9:10 pm)A Theist Wrote: Don't forget nazi.

As in "feminazi"?

(November 17, 2017 at 10:56 pm)Grandizer Wrote: I don't use terms like cunts or retards or anything of that matter (I avoid using these terms because of the known offense their usages cause to third party people I have no intention of offending). But as for why resort to insults in general, frustration maybe? To be honest, a lot of views held by some people can be really infuriating (not giving a care for others, the environment, etc.) so using insults against them can be sort of therapeutic.

I get what you're saying, but when someone uses that kind of insult over and over and over it just becomes counterproductive, and I can't imagine being angry makes them a happier person. Is consistent loathing towards a group of people something that really helps? Like, freaking out at someone who is pissing you off is kind of satisfying, but when it's your entire view on the issue, I can only see that making you miserable. For you're specifically seeing the bad and not the good in anyone different from you. If it provides any mental benefit it is short lived, negative, and at the expense the person who you are targeting.

(November 17, 2017 at 10:56 pm)Grandizer Wrote: I don't use terms like cunts or retards or anything of that matter (I avoid using these terms because of the known offense their usages cause to third party people I have no intention of offending). But as for why resort to insults in general, frustration maybe? To be honest, a lot of views held by some people can be really infuriating (not giving a care for others, the environment, etc.) so using insults against them can be sort of therapeutic.

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(November 17, 2017 at 9:10 pm)A Theist Wrote: Don't forget nazi.

As in "feminazi"?

Or KKK?

(November 18, 2017 at 2:58 am)shadow Wrote:

(November 17, 2017 at 10:56 pm)Grandizer Wrote: I don't use terms like cunts or retards or anything of that matter (I avoid using these terms because of the known offense their usages cause to third party people I have no intention of offending). But as for why resort to insults in general, frustration maybe? To be honest, a lot of views held by some people can be really infuriating (not giving a care for others, the environment, etc.) so using insults against them can be sort of therapeutic.

I get what you're saying, but when someone uses that kind of insult over and over and over it just becomes counterproductive, and I can't imagine being angry makes them a happier person. Is consistent loathing towards a group of people something that really helps? Like, freaking out at someone who is pissing you off is kind of satisfying, but when it's your entire view on the issue, I can only see that making you miserable. For you're specifically seeing the bad and not the good in anyone different from you. If it provides any mental benefit it is short lived, negative, and at the expense the person who you are targeting.

Well, I don't regularly insult, but when I do, it's worth it for me. Some people really are pieces of shit, and some of the views people hold tend to reflect the kind of people they are. People against same sex marriage, for example, tend to be homophobic or, at best, selfish people lacking empathy for people different from themselves. Rarely if ever is the reason just simply about different values. I'm sorry, but it's hard to unconditionally respect people. And yeah, I'm not the type who sees good in everyone. If a person is most of the time nothing but unpleasant, I do not care to see if there is any good in them. They're not worth any good judgement on my part.

Just being honest. I don't like bullshitting much.

EDIT: I still generally have civil discourses with people who hold views that insult me (whether intellectually or morally) but in my mind, I do get pissed off unless I'm in a good mood [not freaked out, btw, just pissed], and in fact, I have relatives who indeed piss me off with some of the views they hold. I still talk to them regardless because not all such people are utterly unpleasant, just people who I wish were better than they currently are.

(November 18, 2017 at 6:40 am)A Theist Wrote:

(November 17, 2017 at 10:56 pm)Grandizer Wrote: I don't use terms like cunts or retards or anything of that matter (I avoid using these terms because of the known offense their usages cause to third party people I have no intention of offending). But as for why resort to insults in general, frustration maybe? To be honest, a lot of views held by some people can be really infuriating (not giving a care for others, the environment, etc.) so using insults against them can be sort of therapeutic.

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As in "feminazi"?

Or KKK?

It is hard to say that calling some republicans Nazis or KKK members is an insult when they march under swastikas and are members actual members of the KKK.

Donald Trumps father was arrested at a Klan rally and Trump supporters threw hitler salutes said Heil Trump then sieg Hiel.

So its more like calling a spoon a spoon.

Some republicans are the worst people in the world, some of them, I assume, are good people.

(November 18, 2017 at 8:31 am)downbeatplumb Wrote:

(November 18, 2017 at 6:40 am)A Theist Wrote: Or KKK?

It is hard to say that calling some republicans Nazis or KKK members is an insult when they march under swastikas and are members actual members of the KKK.

Donald Trumps father was arrested at a Klan rally and Trump supporters threw hitler salutes said Heil Trump then sieg Hiel.

So its more like calling a spoon a spoon.

Some republicans are the worst people in the world, some of them, I assume, are good people.

The problem is that the "Nazi" threat is being over hyped, and non-Neo Nazis are being thrown in with them just because they don't want statues torn down or because they fly the Rebel flag. Yes, it sucks that a lady was run over and killed, and the increase in hate crimes after Trump's hateful rhetoric is a damn shame, but now people are so delusional about the threat that the neo-Nazis pose that they are going out in the streets and trying to physically stop them from practicing their free speech by attacking them with sticks, bike locks, piss, and punching them in the head. The logic that people use to demonize everyone who doesn't want a statue taken down, is the same logic that the alt right uses to demonize Muslim refugees. Instead of "they fly a racist flag" or "they support racist statues", it's "these Muslims come from a barbaric culture and can not be trusted", or "they follow a religion started by a child raping war lord, so they must be pieces of shit too. Let them die in the war zones! I don't want them here."