This was going to be a reply to the Pit thread discussing Manhattan but it got long enough and off-topic enough (since it’s not about him) that I decided to post it separately.
Does the board really skew left? Nope, I don’t think it does. Well, on the American scale it leans towards the left, no doubt. But is it so much so that a conservative is adrift with no one to call their friend or ally? Not at all.
But it sure fucking looks that way. Because the Lefty Lunatic Fringe has been permitted to run wild of late. And yeah, it is the left. I’m not going to cross my fingers and repeat the bullshit line that, “Both sides do it equally. We should all try to be nicer.” Look around: since Brutus, bless his absent heart, decided not to renew, and milroyj (resquiat in pacem) has left us, the political asshole crowd has become pretty damn one-sided. I’m not saying the SDMB’s right wing is composed of perfect paragons of virtue, but I’m growing increasingly ashamed to share a political perspective with these excretions.
They’re not just unfriendly to conservatives. They’re unfriendly to anyone with insufficient zeal. I spoke out on rjung’s obnoxious hijacks, and Demostylus labeled me an apologist for Bush. Yeah, that’s right, fucktard, I’m the president and only member of “Socialists for Dubya.” It’s not just not acceptable among these fucklings to be conservative, it’s not acceptable to do anything other than stand around and clap at whatever they spew, whenever they choose to. “Gorj Bush is teh st00pid!” Clap, clap, clap.
It’s been observed by others that I’ve been growing rather more hostile in the pit of late. See, I decided to try to register my presense as a liberal, and a hardcore liberal at that, who wasn’t completely divorced from reason in order to help counteract the Loony Left. And every time I find myself being insulted for not being sufficiently zealous in support of the cause, I find myself a little more hostile next time along.
I guess this means my time here is probably running out too; I’m beginning to think the place isn’t good for my blood pressure. The mods seem to be completely permissive of these assholes controlling the political agenda around here, so there’s not much hope that it will improve.
The funny thing is that when you examine a lot of issues, the prevailing sort of thought here on the board is probably more libertarian-leaning (if softly) than liberal. Socially liberal and fiscally conservative is really what most members are pushing, so far as I can tell at least. In fact, certain solid liberal issues are real non-starters for debate: I sure wouldn’t try to discuss affirmative action or “tort reform”. But it’s hard for people to even see what the real political leanings of the place are when the Reeders and rjungs set all the talking points.
I sympathize with the conservatives - and anyone who wants to talk politics. Because what the fuck is the point in even trying around here anymore? The shrill screeching coming from over yonder has made it damned unpleasant to even try nowadays. Manny was kinda crazy at times, but he’s not leaving because he doesn’t like being in the minority. He’s leaving because it’s unpleasant having one’s political views occasion a pile-on every time they’re mentioned. They’re unpleasant enough to me - I can’t imagine what it’s like for those who don’t share their politics.
And as far as I can tell, all of this happens with the tacit approval of the mods. I’m not asking for bannings - just some hardcore indication that hijacks aren’t okay, personal attacks outside the pit aren’t okay, and maybe that it’s not cool for half the threads in the pit to be aimless Bush-bashings. Because frankly, the conservatives are already leaving. If this drives me away, it might make me the first liberal to leave because of it but I sure won’t be the last. Soon the only politically-aware Dopers left will be the shrieking morons who drove Manhattan away. The shitty part is that they’ll actually like it that way.
Anyway, if anyone wanted to know why I’ve suddenly been showing up in the Pit so much, there you go. I tried to give a more honest perspective on the politics I see around here than you’ll get from the folks stuck half-heartedly defending the Looney Lefties on account of shared political goals. I used to feel that way too, until I decided that fairness and productive discussion were better goals to aim for.