In defense of maturity

[NV1962]

It's getting nearer the point of primary madness. And so goes the mood on the Politics forum on DU. Topics like "ABC is the best candidate!", or "Run, DEF, run!", or "GHI can walk on water and chew bubblegum!" and, of course, the perennial "Poll: who is your favorite candidate this hour?" are popping up faster than you can aim a flamethrower at. It's all good of course: seeing diversity of opinion in action, driven by pure passion for change is a terrific sight. Democracy is an omni-player party, and the more, the merrier.

But.

There's also a corollary, seemingly inevitable stream of "Why JKL shouldn't run", "You can't be a Dem and support MNO!" or the even worse tolerable variety of "If PQR is nominated I'll pick up and burn my toys!"

Now, that'd be good as far as getting my daily dose of entertainment is concerned -- hey, who's to object to a separate Safe Area® where children can experiment with language -- but what has that to do with the exchange and dissemination of liberal and progressive ideas (remember?) other than to piss on a parade of democratic ideas and projects?

What the hell is wrong with such people when there's not even a snowball's chance in hell that Joe Lieberman or Zell Miller will end up on the ticket next year?

I'll admit to making a few critical posts toward one candidate, in one of those Fawn-O-Rama® topics I mentioned earlier, but starting a topic just to vent some narrow issue (no matter how much value I personally attach to it) with a candidate who, nonetheless, would be one hell of an improvement over what the French might call sac de merde we now have?

Seriously, are we so full of ourselves that we truly believe some Democratic candidate we don't like, or at least don't like as much as our candidate of choice, deserves to be subjected to infantile anti-groupie behavior?

Awful that tendency, really.

No, I'm no party to adopting an "Ignore the n00b" policy; not when one anti-candidate topic after another sprawls up, clouding my view of the more interesting, engaging, fertile and informative topics. And hell no, I'm not going away, either.

If you're really so full of yourself that you own the franchise on The One And Only Truth® go right ahead - make at least a half-way serious attempt to convince others. Else, you'll succeed wonderfully in annoying the heck out of others, like me, who come here for the exchange and dissemination of liberal and progressive ideas - not to be exposed to infantile boilerplate drivel.

Let's elevate the discussion. Please. Pretty please, with an aquamarine bow and a funny wiggling green cherry on top?

It shouldn't be too hard considering the example set by The Other Party.

[NV1962]

1. Important afterthought...

I hope you noticed that it's not any specific person, but a tendency that I'm aiming my ire at, here. It was bad enough in the run-up to 2004, goodness knows what'll happen between now and the election of the next Democratic President of the United States of America... Hopefully, in November next year.

[sendero]

2. People are people...

.. and we all share, to varying degrees, some shortcomings.

The discourse here is better than on most boards, and miles better than what you will see on any "conservative" board, but people still get really worked up over their beliefs.

I'm as guilty as anyone, except I never start threads :)

[CGrantt57]

3. As much as I agree with you...

I cannot see the political discourse being elevated at any point in the future.

For too long we have been tolerant of the right's "slash and burn" philosophy of political discourse. It has become pervasive. I fully expect Fux News to proclaim: "Hillary not viable...slight minority sees her as 'doody head.'"

It's inevitable, given the downturn in education and general intelligence that we come to this.

But, buck up, soldier.

Senility's coming.

In fact, it may be devoutly wished for after this election cycle.

Regards,