# Uniting not dividing: Adopt an "opposition" Doper **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 19, 2004, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uniting-not-dividing-adopt-an-opposition-doper/275639 "2004-11-19T11:58:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uniting-not-dividing-adopt-an-opposition-doper/275639/1 "2004-11-19T11:58:51Z")
In light of all the partisan bickering that forms the vast majority of these message boards, it’s time for a little civility. So here’s what I want you to do. Choose a board member who holds a contrary view to yours on a significant issue but who you otherwise find to be pleasant, intelligent, well-spoken, thought-provoking, funny (in a positive way), or who otherwise you might actually enjoy having a face-to-face conversation with. Tell us who they are and why you like them. You don’t have to gush or fawn; just a few complimentary words will do. A few ground rules are in order: **1) No backhanded compliments or thinly-disguised insults**, by which I mean stuff like this: “Despite being a godless hellbound pervert who should be castrated for his depravity, **RimBeau** often makes me laugh.” or “ **KerryOn** has shown himself to be much less mentally defective than most liberals.” This is not to discourage good-natured ribbing, but if it might look mean don’t say it. And don’t use this as an opportunity to trash their position either; we get enough of that elsewhere. **2) No taking potshots at _other_ posters** like so: “Unlike **BushTucker** who clearly only has one DNA helix, **RepubliBob** often presents a rational defense of his views.” **3) Try to pick someone whose views are genuinely different from your own.** Not like this: “ **LeftButt** might only want the Democrats to ban firearms instead of guns, knives and pointed sticks as I do, but she has shown herself willing to listen to other views.” \*\*4) By significant subject I mean politics, religion, gun control, abortion, that sort of thing. \*\* Topics such as whether Jar-Jar Binks should be boiled alive or disembowelled and _then_ boiled alive, or whether Keira Knightly or Scarlett Johannsen is hotter, are _not_ significant topics for the purpose of this exercise, no matter how strongly you may feel about them. **5) If you genuinely can’t say anything nice about people with other views, don’t say anything at all.** And get some perspective, goddamit. BTW names used in the above examples were created for illustrative (and comic) purposes, and were not intended to represent specific board members. If by accident I’ve used a name that is actually in use, I offer my sincerest apologies. Let the healing begin. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uniting-not-dividing-adopt-an-opposition-doper/275639/2 "2004-11-19T12:04:57Z")
And to begin with, I’ll pick **ExTank** as someone who, despite my disagreement with his political leanings, has often presented coherent, intelligent and sometimes quite funny posts on a variety of topics. His observations on gun control have made me reconsider some of my long-held beliefs (not necessarily _change_, mind you, but reconsider nonetheless), and despite his attempts to persuade me to eat cold beans has been most genial wherever I’ve encountered him. Right: who’s next? ---
**Author:** ![Oregon\_sunshine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/50afbb/32.png) [@Oregon\_sunshine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oregon_sunshine)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uniting-not-dividing-adopt-an-opposition-doper/275639/3 "2004-11-19T12:09:08Z")
Which side is **Liberal**? I want **Liberal** to be my buddy! (Hopefully he is of the “opposite” stripe from me: I’m almost annoyingly left-leaning, at least around these parts people find it annoying [see my location for the state I live in :):)]) I suspect that although **Liberal** might profess to be from the “opposite” camp, we have a lot of beliefs in common. I often find his posts to be insightful, humorous, and to express a viewpoint that others in the same thread seemingly have not even thought of. -ggurl, who is probably destined to remain anonymous on these boards for some reason, although in real life she sticks out like a sore thumb. 😃 P.S. [fanclub chick] Ummm, does this mean that we could be penpals now, or IM each other, or something?? [/fanclub] ---
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uniting-not-dividing-adopt-an-opposition-doper/275639/4 "2004-11-19T12:09:54Z")
heh, those were good fake names. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uniting-not-dividing-adopt-an-opposition-doper/275639/5 "2004-11-19T12:27:50Z")
Despite having a head like a testicle and no political sense or manners whatseover, I find **Gyrate** to be… er, no, gotta rethink this. ---
**Author:** ![paulberserker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@paulberserker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paulberserker)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uniting-not-dividing-adopt-an-opposition-doper/275639/6 "2004-11-19T12:39:35Z")
Ha! Head like a testicle. I’m gonna say that to him all the time when I see him next. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uniting-not-dividing-adopt-an-opposition-doper/275639/7 "2004-11-19T13:52:19Z")
Boys, boys…grownups are talking here. Go play outside. A few added points for the OP: The person you choose doesn’t have to be someone you’ve personally gone head-to-head with, just someone whose views you disagree with (on whatever topic). And you can mention more than one if you’re feeling particularly magnanimous. ---
**Author:** ![paulberserker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@paulberserker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paulberserker)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uniting-not-dividing-adopt-an-opposition-doper/275639/8 "2004-11-19T13:55:25Z")
Quiet, Testicle head, Mommy and Daddy are hijacking. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uniting-not-dividing-adopt-an-opposition-doper/275639/9 "2004-11-19T14:08:20Z")
Sorry, “Mommy”. So much for peace and reconciliation. Does anyone actually want to respond to the OP, or should I give up and just go thump **paul**? ---
**Author:** ![paulberserker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@paulberserker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paulberserker)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uniting-not-dividing-adopt-an-opposition-doper/275639/10 "2004-11-19T14:10:49Z")
Well, it’s not like you don’t know where i’ll be tonight and most of tomorrow, Spartacus. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uniting-not-dividing-adopt-an-opposition-doper/275639/11 "2004-11-19T14:13:46Z")
**Brutus** has a wonderful sense of humor. As long as we stayed off politics, I could easily imagine enjoying having a beer with him. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uniting-not-dividing-adopt-an-opposition-doper/275639/12 "2004-11-19T14:15:24Z")
And by the way, my responding to the OP should not be taken as an indication that I disagree with your plan to thump **paul**. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uniting-not-dividing-adopt-an-opposition-doper/275639/13 "2004-11-19T14:24:06Z")
I married mine. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uniting-not-dividing-adopt-an-opposition-doper/275639/14 "2004-11-19T14:56:18Z")
> [@GingerOfTheNorth](#): > > I married mine. Does he have a head like a testicle? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uniting-not-dividing-adopt-an-opposition-doper/275639/15 "2004-11-19T15:08:57Z")
Oh, goody. Early in, and there is such a range of choices still available. Hmmmmmm… OK. I dibs **Reeder**! I admire his passion, and we can talk cars if all else fails. We are both older than most of you young whippersnappers, although not as old as **DavidSimmons** (!), so we can sit back, pop a brew, and snipe at all the young fools these days. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![gum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bbe5ce/32.png) [@gum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gum)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uniting-not-dividing-adopt-an-opposition-doper/275639/16 "2004-11-19T16:06:07Z")
Darn. **Liberal** and **Brutus** have been picked. Their political and religious views are as far apart from mine as possible, but I admire both and think they have a great sense of humor. ummm… Got to think some more. ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uniting-not-dividing-adopt-an-opposition-doper/275639/17 "2004-11-19T20:48:12Z")
**gobear** is an atheist, which I am not, and I find him smart, fair, funny, and good. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uniting-not-dividing-adopt-an-opposition-doper/275639/18 "2004-11-19T21:11:57Z")
How funny! I’d scrolled down thinking I’d take **vanilla** , and there she went and put herself handily on the side I’d meant to put her on. 🙂 She’s an outspoken Christian, entirely unlike me, and we’d disagree a lot about ethics, morals, and appropriateness in many areas, but she’s thoughtful and kind and seems like a good mom. I’m sure in person she’s very sweet and nice to be around. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uniting-not-dividing-adopt-an-opposition-doper/275639/19 "2004-11-19T21:26:04Z")
Crap. I thought for sure no one would have picked **Brutus** this early. In that case, I’m adopting **Starving Artist** before **EddyTeddyFreddy** shows up. He’s a genuinely good guy, despite being wrong about everything. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uniting-not-dividing-adopt-an-opposition-doper/275639/20 "2004-11-19T21:42:36Z")
I came to this thread specifically to adopt Brutus. A dollar late and a day short… While Brutus and I hold similar conservative views, he’s anti-gay marriage and I’m not. But he’s funny as sin and I like a sense of humor. I wonder what Trunk’s political views are. If he’s a liberal, maybe I’ll adopt him. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uniting-not-dividing-adopt-an-opposition-doper/275639.md?page=2)