Why does Politics bring out the worst in so many people?

[Brian37]

Perhaps this is because I have only been on this planet for 25 years so I have a small sample to go off of. Or perhaps it's because of platforms such as social media where we are bombarded with political messages 24 hours a day 365 days a year. For instance on Facebook. If I see a friend post something political I will usually think for a few seconds whether I want to comment on it. Most of the time I comment when something is setting the bull shit meter off. But when I do correct that person, I do it nicely and respectfully. It ends up turning into a 20 comment thread of a back and fourth of me using facts and the other person using feelings or outright non-sense. Then it usually results in that person calling me names. I've been called everything in the book: Cuck, socialist, Libtard, retard, dumbass, anti-american and so on. This is even the same thing when you attempt to debate strangers on a news feed on Facebook, or on a comment board on a website. Except since you have never met that person the attacks usually get a lot worse and more personal. But to be honest this is one of the reasons I have quit attempting to present the proper information. I try to be as unbiased as possible. But even when you do use facts that you know 110% fact are on your side, things don't go over well and you will NEVER change their mind. I have had this from both sides of the aisle. Mostly Trump supporters seem to be the most nasty in my experience, but I'm sure there are plenty on the left that are pretty bad. But it just seems Trump supporters, or at least the extreme ones are in a league of their own. The fucking psychopaths league.

Because most humans, no matter their geography, no matter their political or religious reasons, can't see the long term picture. 

We evolved to socialize. And because of that our species evolved to form groups. It is hard for the majority of humans to see the long term picture, in that we are finite, and of the same time, and that we all need resources. Artificial labels such as race, religion, political views, class or economic views are mere excuses humans hide behind to avoid the reality that no matter how well we do, or where we end up, our ride ends.

There is not one king, not one dictator, not one hero, not one monster, or empathetic human, regardless of how they are viewed, that has an eternity.

Hitler and Stalin and Martin Luther King Jr, only represent what our species is capable of, and point of view. The finite reality most humans, good or bad, do not want to face, which THEY SHOULD, is that we are all finite. Heros and villains all occupy this rock. And no human lives forever. Politics and religion are horrible for our species as an objective filter because of our local and primal leanings.

If all 7 billion of us could at one time, go to the point of the earth viewed through the rings of Saturn, it could change our perspective. 

Most humans do not want to face that we are not a separate species. Most humans rally around and defend what they grow up with, and that which is local. It can be great for local survival, but it does absolutely NOTHING in demonstrating the fact we are NOT a separate species.

[CapnAwesome]

People have unfortunately confused having certain beliefs with morality, rather than actions being what really makes you moral.

[Brian37]

Perhaps this is because I have only been on this planet for 25 years so I have a small sample to go off of. Or perhaps it's because of platforms such as social media where we are bombarded with political messages 24 hours a day 365 days a year. For instance on Facebook. If I see a friend post something political I will usually think for a few seconds whether I want to comment on it. Most of the time I comment when something is setting the bull shit meter off. But when I do correct that person, I do it nicely and respectfully. It ends up turning into a 20 comment thread of a back and fourth of me using facts and the other person using feelings or outright non-sense. Then it usually results in that person calling me names. I've been called everything in the book: Cuck, socialist, Libtard, retard, dumbass, anti-american and so on. This is even the same thing when you attempt to debate strangers on a news feed on Facebook, or on a comment board on a website. Except since you have never met that person the attacks usually get a lot worse and more personal. But to be honest this is one of the reasons I have quit attempting to present the proper information. I try to be as unbiased as possible. But even when you do use facts that you know 110% fact are on your side, things don't go over well and you will NEVER change their mind. I have had this from both sides of the aisle. Mostly Trump supporters seem to be the most nasty in my experience, but I'm sure there are plenty on the left that are pretty bad. But it just seems Trump supporters, or at least the extreme ones are in a league of their own. The fucking psychopaths league.

It isn't that politics has to bring out the worst in people, it is more along the lines that most humans defend that which is local, and that which seems to work for them.

If all you are raised with is Communism from birth, in China, you are likely to defend China. If all you know is Iran, and are born there, it is likely you will defend Iran.

It is hard for humans to look a the long term picture, say like Carl Sagan did, and what far too few humans want to see. That we are not as different as we think, and our politics and religions and economic views are really nothing more than the excuses humans make to get at resources.

But even given that, battles happen and some are worth fighting. I think far too many in the west forget what we fought and have overcome to protect pluralism and human rights. I am happy that monsters like Hitler got their asses handed to them and glad that Stalin died. It just frustrates me today knowing all those horrors of the past, that far too many people in the west think they are victims.

[Seraphina]

People's identities are often wrapped up in their politics and so people - including me and you - often take it personally when someone disagrees.
I still mostly follow the old rule "don't discuss politics and religion in mixed company" even though those are two of my favorite topics of conversation.
And I don't argue on social media with strangers or acquaintances about politics (AF is perhaps an exception). You don't change people's minds on an issue by anonymously fighting on the web. Anyway, these days, you could be arguing with a Russian troll sitting in St. Petersburg.

-Teresa

[Amarok]

People have unfortunately confused having certain beliefs with morality, rather than actions being what really makes you moral.

Many beliefs are directly linked to morality

[Brian37]

People's identities are often wrapped up in their politics and so people - including me and you - often take it personally when someone disagrees.
I still mostly follow the old rule "don't discuss politics and religion in mixed company" even though those are two of my favorite topics of conversation.
And I don't argue on social media with strangers or acquaintances about politics (AF is perhaps an exception). You don't change people's minds on an issue by anonymously fighting on the web. Anyway, these days, you could be arguing with a Russian troll sitting in St. Petersburg.

-Teresa

There are times in history, where if you don't discuss politics bad things happen. 

I really hate that many, even on the left fail to realize how Hitler was taken for granted until it was too late.

We are armchair quarterbacks now, having not lived then, but there was a time when he first started making noise, and many Germans sluffed him off as "whatever" and others thought he would be great for the country. It is easy to call him a monster now, but he made the same appeals to desperate people and it worked.

I think politics are extremely important, not in that anyone should expect to get a utopia no matter their position. But I do think it is not wise to always avoid those hard conversations. I don't want to live under despots or dictators, and those power mongers always prey upon desperation and sell utopias. Sometimes it is important to offend, not for the goal of ending up as brutal, but to avoid that brutality.

[Seraphina]

People's identities are often wrapped up in their politics and so people - including me and you - often take it personally when someone disagrees.
I still mostly follow the old rule "don't discuss politics and religion in mixed company" even though those are two of my favorite topics of conversation.
And I don't argue on social media with strangers or acquaintances about politics (AF is perhaps an exception). You don't change people's minds on an issue by anonymously fighting on the web. Anyway, these days, you could be arguing with a Russian troll sitting in St. Petersburg.

-Teresa

There are times in history, where if you don't discuss politics bad things happen. 

I really hate that many, even on the left fail to realize how Hitler was taken for granted until it was too late.

I'm not a talker, I'm a doer. Talk is cheap. I vote, attend rallies and protests and donate. Clicking like on facebook or arguing with strangers below the line on a newspaper article doesn't change a darn thing.

-Teresa

[Draconic Aiur]

Basically the radical left and Right are nut job,. Libertarians are selfish as fuck, Green party are naive fools, Democrats and Republicans are egocentric nuts, and the neutral party don't do shit like voting or protesting. All politicians today ar corrupted and under his Majesty King Trump whom his fans are stupid enough to surrender to, his enemies are castrated with no back up because the rest of America doesn't give a flying fuck to do anything but go on with their lives, and those that do stand up like me are just too tired of losing a losing battle and wait for the end of our miserable race.

[Disciple]

From what I can recall, its only gotten this bad as of the last four or five years.  Before then, people could reasonably disagree and go on about their day.  I personally lean towards libertarian or anarcho-capitalist on many issues but I have had great friends that voted republican and democrat both. I think the change has been the result of class and racial division spewed forth by the collage/university systems and blatant propaganda spread by the liars in the media.  It seems any little insignificant difference between groups of people is greatly magnified by these institutions and it has us at each others throats all days of the week. I have not seen many events thrown by people on the left outright shut down by people on the right but if anyone can point out some i could use some enlightenment on the issue.

[Dr H]

Next to self-perpetuation, the primary purpose of any politics manifest as a system is to allow the few to exercise power and control over the many. In ancient society religion fulfilled this function, and it still does, albeit to lesser extent. Religion is the ur-politick.

Having power and control over someone is an invitation to be a buttwad.