Have people that are self aligned with a political party, biased by their own allegiances?

Great Debates
1

I believe that the manner in which people that align themselves with a particular party is very similar to sports fans that align themselves with a particular team.

Just like sports fans that think their team is always in the right, that the official calls always go against them, that their team is the greatest regardless of actual talent, I see people that align themselve to a particular party (on both sides) fail to examine reality (not always, but on first brush and alot of times) and are biased by the home cooking, party line kool-aid they drink, whatever you want to call it.

I think this type of behavior is what drives true independents crazy.

2

Democrats do that, but not me - I’m committed to principle!

d&r

Regards,
Shodan

Sorry - best I could do besides “Well, duh”, and my daughter says that’s annoying.

3

Of course – everyone’s biassed, even Shodan, and committing yourself to a point of view makes the bias stronger.

And if “true independents” are driven crazy by that, then they have very weak minds. (As well as being biassed.)

4

Of course it does. Join a political party and that tribal instinct goes crazy. It’s one of the reasons I’ve never joined a party. I did briefly consider joining the Socialist Workers Party back around '75 or '76, but the drugs wore off.

5

Eh, I’m a bit turned off by the label “true independent.” Makes me think you’re going to start talking about sheeple. :wink:

Other than that, I’ll have to throw in with Shodan. However, being kid-less, I have the freedom to say what I really think:

Well, duh.

6

Well, yeah. Of course, when I was a Republican, I granted that both parties had good & bad elements. Then I became disillusioned with the GOP & became a, “Democrat by default.” Right now, I’m sick of the whole mess. For the moment, I’m a monarchist. :stuck_out_tongue:

7

And of course even independents have their own biases, such as a self-image of being better-informed, above the fray, and cynical dismissal of the claims of both parties (and thinking that the average of the two insanities is the truth.) Like high school goths, even nonconformists conform.

One great quote I read recently: “Real rebellion - real independent thought - doesn’t feel like wearing black to school. It feels like showing up to school in a clown suit.” So true - if you feel yourself gaining the approval of folks by demonstrating your beliefs, chances are you’re playing to the crowd more than you’d like to admit.

8

I’ve always thought of those that are rabidly aligned to a political party have “been born into it”. Much like being born into a Baptist, Lutheran, Jewish or Muslim family. A fraction defect. But most children identify with whatever the political philosophy of their like-parent is.

But yeah, sports fan is also a good substitute.

From my perspective, we probably can swap in brands/styles of peanut butter, shampoo plus conditioner vs. all-in-ones and Pampers vs CVS diapers.

9

Selah.