Political debates. How do you handle them?

In My Humble Opinion
21

I’m working on my PhD in political science. I tend not to participate in political discussions in real life. Usually I will just nod and try to validate the other person where possible. I usually do not have very much to add to those kinds of discussions. I am also far less of an expert than most people expect me to be on the subjects they find important.

“So, Maeglin. what do you think of Obama’s healthcare bill?”

“Uh, um, I can’t tell you anything about that, but did you know that moving from rationalizability by acyclic preference relation to the more demanding rationalizability by quasi-transitive relation, it is the contraction-consistency property of the choice function that is strenghtened? It’s a small finding, but important!”

“Are you making fun of me? Fuck you, Mr. PhD man, I thought you knew something about politics.”

So no, basically, I don’t know anything about politics.

22

The more likely objection, from the libertarian/conservative side, is that you are advertising your aspiration to enter a profession with a vested interest in growing the government.

23

Meh. Or replacing two people less efficient than she is.

24

Some tips on debating are here at zompist.

25

I try very hard to avoid them. It’s not that I don’t like having the way I think challenged - I do. But the way most people approach it is clumsy and high-handed. I am fairly liberal and come from a family of conservatives. Although I was an archaeologist in a former life, I only recently found out that my mother doesn’t fully believe in evolution because she says she “just can’t reconcile it with Adam, Eve and the Serpent.” And every time we get together for dinner with my uncle, he starts bellowing about healthcare rationing. My sister and I have long since learned NOT to discuss our political leanings in any family gathering because they’ll be drowned out.

And although one would assume a company involved in government affairs of one sort or another would be relatively liberal, because of the part of the country I live in, it’s also extremely conservative and people in my workplace reflect that. Most are also very religious. And vocal about both politics and religion. So I smile and make appropriate noises and don’t venture forth with any information about my own political and/or religious beliefs. If asked directly, I might diplomatically state what I think, but I’ll dodge the issue if possible, far preferring not to discuss it.

I have no interest in converting anyone and even less interest in someone trying to convert me.

26

Why do you believe that?

27

I am assuming she goes to school in the US, and therefore…

Cite, cite, etc.

Regards,
Shodan

28

I try not to debate politics or religion in real life. Too many things can go wrong too quickly and too intensely–although since I’m an atheist with mostly theist friends, sometimes the religious arguments can’t be avoided. But politics usually can.

On the Internet, I try to be respectful, unless the guy I’m debating is a real knucklehead, in which case, meh . . . We all need to let the anger out sometime. Usually, though, I find it easy to keep my head about politics. These are truly confusing times for politico’s, and if you can’t see the other side’s point at least a little, then you’re either blind or stone stupid. It’s not even republican vs. democrat, anymore. It’s the ignorant vs. the not-too-ignorant. The greedy sociopaths vs. the greedy sociopaths who know how to hide it better. I have my views, and I know which side I’m voting for, but I don’t get too pissed when someone totally disagrees. It’s not like I can’t see the flaws behind my team. Besides, debating is fun in and of itself.

29

Ann Arbor, Michigan is the most conservative place you’ve ever lived?

That to me is a warning sign right there. It’s easily one of the most, if not the most liberal city in Michigan. I cut my teeth there as an undergraduate and though I can’t deny the profound impact my education had on my political development, neither can I deny that UMich is a liberally biased institution.

I totally agree with dangermom that you should seek out articulate opposing viewpoints. The mark of a sound philosophy is one that has been tested by the best arguments against it.

I have strong political opinions, but I have problems with political debates. I can’t stand the broad generalizations people make about political parties, what it means to be or not be a liberal or to be or not be a conservative. We all basically value the same things, to imply otherwise is really just disingenuous. I am a realistic, responsible, hard-working, patriotic liberal, and I’ve known plenty of conservatives who are compassionate, intelligent and fair. So for the most part when I discuss issues of a political nature it’s out of a genuine desire to understand where the other side is coming from. When the other person does not reciprocate this feeling but instead resorts to these really insulting stereotypes, I get angry and withdraw, and I think nasty prejudiced thoughts myself, and you know I just don’t like being that upset all the time. So as a general rule, I avoid political debates.

The one exception I make is the issue of LGBT rights. I tend to be pretty outspoken about this and my intent is to shame the person saying those things, much in the same way you would want to call a racist out publicly to make it clear that, at least in this circle, bigotry is not okay. I recently did get into a Facebook argument with one of my old (as in, from third grade) friends because she rather blithely brought pedophilia into a discussion on homosexuality. Immediately all of her other fundamentalist friends jumped in to support her arguments and blast me. They were infuriatingly condescending, but she was respectful to me the entire time. She later thanked me for not walking out on her because apparently she lost many Facebook friends that day. Now I know I’m not going to change her mind, but the least I can do is not allow her to say ignorant things without facing some kind of social consequence.

It’s definitely one of those things were you have to pick your battles, or else it becomes exhausting. But I’d be careful to assume that your ideas are somehow superior to others just because they were formulated, or reinforced by, your education. There are plenty of educated people who advocate conservative ideas. Perhaps the reason you find your POV more enlightened is because you’ve been pitting your articulate liberal viewpoint against those of generally uneducated, ignorant conservatives. If you actually exposed yourself to the upper echelon of conservative thought you might find it’s a lot harder to shout people down. A good start might be ‘‘The Economist.’’ I’m not a political expert but I usually find that magazine to give me plenty of food for thought.

30

Interesting that you should say that. The Economist is definitely not a conservative magazine, either in the UK or in the US.

31

As I said, I’m no expert. Do you have any suggestions? I would be personally interested in reading another POV myself.

32

I’d say the Economist is a moderate magazine, my anecdotal evidence for this being that the liberals I know consider it conservative, and the conservatives I know don’t. Therefore, I agree with olivesmarch4th that it’s probably a good place to start looking for dissenting opinions if you’re heavily on one side or the other.

33

It’s not really a US left wing magazine, either. The only way I would really characterize it is free trading and free enterprise. If you are either a radical socialist or a paleoconservative protectionist, it is definitely an opposing view. But it does not really fit neatly in the typical US left/right continuum.

To be honest, I don’t have any really good suggestions. I don’t really read much in the way of political commentary, myself. The National Review has a wide circulation and is frequently cited as a source of mainstream conservative commentary, but that is about as much as I can tell you.

I think I have fewer political opinions than your average person, primarily due to my training.

ETA, with the exception of civil liberties issues like LGBT rights. I began as a political activist in these domains years ago, and my civil liberties absolutism/anti-authoritarianism has not changed one bit.

34

I guess this is why I always viewed it as conservative, since I’m one of those liberals who has issues with free trade. I’d like to think I’m not ridiculously left-wing, but in some ways I guess I kinda am.

According to Wikipedia,

Fiscally conservative, socially progressive… would that maybe have a libertarian bent? How do libertarians feel about The Economist?

35

FWIW, I regard The Economist as moderate libertarian. Read it no matter what, it is an excellent magazine.

Regards,
Shodan

36

This is absolutely true. I recommend it as well from the progressive side of the spectrum.

37

I don’t. I absolutely refuse to discuss politics, religion and a few other potentially touchy subjects with those who have different views from mine because
[ol]
[li]It’s too easy for the conversation to get heated[/li][li]It’s too easy for feelings to get hurt[/li][li]I really don’t consider them to be casual topics of conversation[/li][li]Debate and discussion seldom change the mind of someone who’s already convinced they’re right (including me, but I try to be open-minded)[/li][/ol]

I’ll read, I’ll occasionally listen, but if you’re spouting something that’s completely against my views, I’ll just smile, nod, and find the quickest way possible to exit politely.

[on edit] I will speak up about LGBT issues or racial issues but that’s because bigotry pisses me off at a deeper level than mere politics.