# Does the (right/left) hate the (left/right) just for the sake of hating them? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 22, 2003, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-right-left-hate-the-left-right-just-for-the-sake-of-hating-them/196975 "2003-08-22T17:51:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![B.Serum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/b.serum/32/14266_2.png) [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-right-left-hate-the-left-right-just-for-the-sake-of-hating-them/196975/1 "2003-08-22T17:51:41Z")
I find it so demoralizing when far left-ists or right-ists (Michael Moore, Ann Coulter) seem to focus more on hating and attacking “the other side” than on positive, constructive ways to advocate the values they believe in. It’s easy to fall into this trap. I’m more of a lefty myself and I have to fight a predisposition to automatically assume that whatever the “right side is selling” is bad. And that is so wrong of me. Especially when I equate liberalism with equality and a willingness to look at things from the “other person’s” viewpoint. Anyway, I confess that I’m guilty of it and anyone can feel free to call me on it. I know that there are a lot of people on this board who are guilty of it too. But how did we get this way? Have we been screwed by the “other side” at one time and that made an indelible impression? It seems so counter-productive and destructive. ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-right-left-hate-the-left-right-just-for-the-sake-of-hating-them/196975/2 "2003-08-22T17:58:37Z")
My opinion: Both sides truly believe that their ideas and viewpoints are the correct ones and the ones that will make the most people happy, healthy and fed. They alternately believe that the opposing side’s views, actions and beliefs are completely wrong and will lead to the demise of civilization. It has been my experience that no amount of debate (read “scream at others to make them agree/believe you”) can change a made up mind and is therefore pointless. Unless you just like arguing for fun _cough_GD_cough_ ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-right-left-hate-the-left-right-just-for-the-sake-of-hating-them/196975/3 "2003-08-22T19:54:55Z")
Sounds like you pretty much nailed it, **Hey You!**. This is why we need to get more political parties seriously involved. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-right-left-hate-the-left-right-just-for-the-sake-of-hating-them/196975/4 "2003-08-22T20:08:47Z")
Mediation and compromise do not get high ratings. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-right-left-hate-the-left-right-just-for-the-sake-of-hating-them/196975/5 "2003-08-22T20:12:28Z")
I really hate the righties. They’ve made life so much more difficult for us lefties. They don’t only want us to have more difficulty with everything, they’re trying to get us killed so that stat about them living seven years longer is true. It’s all facism! Would a few left-handed desks in a lecture hall really kill anyone? I think all lefties should renounce their right hands and instead call them what they are - the wrong hand! Topple the regime, fellow lefties! We shall overcome… [sub] oh wait, were you talking about politics? Your use of righty threw me off. Terribly sorry about that. [/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Kantalooppi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a5b964/32.png) [@Kantalooppi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kantalooppi)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-right-left-hate-the-left-right-just-for-the-sake-of-hating-them/196975/6 "2003-08-22T20:43:37Z")
Never! You left-handed folk, why, you’re purely sinister and nothing but! God intended me to use my right arm for all my daily needs like writing and shooting with large handguns, and so shall I do! If the lefties have their way, why, soon we’ll all be driving on the wrong side of the road and using left-handed scissors and eyeglasses and what have they! Madness, I tell you, madness! Don’t worry though, lefties - there are extensive programs for you to become correctly right-handed. Stop walking the left-hand path and join with us in the right side of God! ---
**Author:** ![B.Serum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/b.serum/32/14266_2.png) [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-right-left-hate-the-left-right-just-for-the-sake-of-hating-them/196975/7 "2003-08-22T20:47:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lord Ashtar \* > \*\*Sounds like you pretty much nailed it, **Hey You!**. This is why we need to get more political parties seriously involved. \*\* Personally, I favor the abolishment of political parites. That way, a voter would have to actually listen to what a candidate had to say rather than just following a party line. ---
**Author:** ![B.Serum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/b.serum/32/14266_2.png) [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-right-left-hate-the-left-right-just-for-the-sake-of-hating-them/196975/8 "2003-08-22T20:48:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lord Ashtar \* > \*\*Sounds like you pretty much nailed it, **Hey You!**. This is why we need to get more political parties seriously involved. \*\* Personally, I favor the abolishment of political parties so that a voter would have to actually listen to what a candidate had to say rather than just following a party line. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-right-left-hate-the-left-right-just-for-the-sake-of-hating-them/196975/9 "2003-08-22T21:04:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Hey you! \* > \*\*It’s easy to fall into this trap. I’m more of a lefty myself and I have to fight a predisposition to automatically assume that whatever the “right side is selling” is bad. And that is so wrong of me. Especially when I equate liberalism with equality and a willingness to look at things from the “other person’s” viewpoint. Anyway, I confess that I’m guilty of it … \*\* [APPLAUSE] ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-right-left-hate-the-left-right-just-for-the-sake-of-hating-them/196975/10 "2003-08-22T21:05:41Z")
Politicians know that no one likes them. Which is why their election campaigns are based on making the other candidate even more unlikeable than them. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-right-left-hate-the-left-right-just-for-the-sake-of-hating-them/196975/11 "2003-08-22T21:57:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Hey you! \* > \*\*Personally, I favor the abolishment of political parties so that a voter would have to actually listen to what a candidate had to say rather than just following a party line. \*\* Given the number of Americans who vote a split ticket, it appears you’re well on your way to getting your wish. ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2003, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-right-left-hate-the-left-right-just-for-the-sake-of-hating-them/196975/12 "2003-08-22T23:09:47Z")
You know what I hate? When I accidentally sit in one of those freakish desks for lefties. Man, what a bunch of weirdos! ---
**Author:** ![Dogface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@Dogface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogface)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-right-left-hate-the-left-right-just-for-the-sake-of-hating-them/196975/13 "2003-08-23T03:54:50Z")
One thing that totalitarian movements make sure to do is pick a group to demonize. This is what these two totalitarian movements have done. ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-right-left-hate-the-left-right-just-for-the-sake-of-hating-them/196975/14 "2003-08-23T10:16:00Z")
Don’t forget us **centers**. We hate the left AND the right. ---
**Author:** ![gex\_gex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@gex\_gex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gex_gex)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-right-left-hate-the-left-right-just-for-the-sake-of-hating-them/196975/15 "2003-08-23T10:30:57Z")
I hate the right (as a group, I know many individual conservatives who are quite nice people) because they’re fucking up the world/country. I think that’s a fairly good reason, rather than “just for the sake of it.” Despite that, I don’t automatically follow party line. Whenever an issue comes up, I’ll listen to all sides and make up my mind based on the evidence avaliable. Most of the time, however, I’ll agree with the left, though - and it’s a weird feeling those times I end up agreeing with the conservatives.