For Conservative Members Only: Do You Feel Comfortable Openly Expressing Yourself on RF?

[Debater Slayer]

This is to mirror another thread we started in order to gauge member sentiment. The other one was directed at all members, but this one is for conservatives only.

Do you feel comfortable expressing your conservative beliefs on RF? If not, why not, and what would make you feel comfortable doing so?

This is important for us to know, so please feel free to be as detailed and open in your answer as you want to be. Also, feel free to post in Site Feedback if you would prefer to answer there instead of here and/or if your answer will talk about a specific instance or instances of moderation. (The latter would be a Rule 2 violation if posted on a public forum.)

Please note that this is not a debate thread; any posts challenging the answers given in an attempt to start a debate or arguing with them may be moderated per Rule 10.

Last note: The poll is anonymous.

Thank you.

 

[George-ananda]

I voted 'No'. For example discussing inherited/genetic ethnic differences is not considered a subject in polite company. I think it is a valid discussion for adults to have.

 

[Debater Slayer]

I voted 'No'. For example discussing inherited/genetic ethnic differences is not considered a subject in polite company. I think it is a valid discussion for adults to have.

What would make you feel comfortable discussing that subject on RF? And is your lack of comfort discussing it a result of any specific aspect of RF?

 

[Rival]

I feel comfortable talking about these things with my religious friends in more limited threads but on the bulk of RF, no.

 

[Debater Slayer]

I feel comfortable talking about these things with my religious friends in more limited threads but on the bulk of RF, no.

What would make you feel more comfortable talking about your beliefs on the rest of the forums?

 

[Rival]

What would make you feel more comfortable talking about your beliefs on the rest of the forums?

More back up and better standards of discussion. I understand some folks' think mine and others' ideas are backwards, primitive etc., but merely calling them this doesn't facilitate discussion. I have many friends who are on the opposite side politically to me and for some reason these discussions always go better in private. It feels as though there's a prevailing belief that some beliefs are inherently superior to others and that makes for a hostile conversation when one person can't even have a discussion without thinking his opponent is ignorant, brainwashed etc. and instead just treating him like he can, in fact, think for himself; that he's gone through the same issues liberals have and just reached a different conclusion.

More high calibre debate, but that's hard to find anywhere these days

Edit: I'm the 'other' by the way, still though my overall answer would be 'No', but for my friends.

 

[George-ananda]

What would make you feel comfortable discussing that subject on RF? And is your lack of comfort discussing it a result of any specific aspect of RF?

Most social media encourages the liberal view on genetics and ethnicities. Challenging that view will get you called bad names and your character assassinated. That's not comfortable. The question for me is how much is it worth to me to put up with that self-righteous crap.

 

[Debater Slayer]

Most social media encourages the liberal view on genetics and ethnicities. Challenging that view will get you called bad names and your character assassinated. That's not comfortable. The question for me is how much is it worth to me to put up with that self-righteous crap.

Calling another member bad names or assassinating their character is a Rule 1 violation. Feel free to report any such posts if you come across them in the future.

 

[PureX]

I have question.

Aren't there ideas and opinions that people SHOULD feel uncomfortable presenting in public?

 

[Debater Slayer]

I have question.

Aren't there ideas and opinions that people SHOULD feel uncomfortable presenting in public?

Yes, but those don't make up the majority of conservative and leftist beliefs. Furthermore, since deciding which ideas people should feel uncomfortable presenting in public is down to subjective assessment, we only moderate based on the forum rules instead of such a metric.

 

[stvdv]

Most social media encourages the liberal view on genetics and ethnicities. Challenging that view will get you called bad names and your character assassinated. That's not comfortable. The question for me is how much is it worth to me to put up with that self-righteous crap.

Very true, I think the same occasionally. I also remember a few times they did that to you. That felt bad.

I once checked a forum about whiz kids and the first line that struck me was "there are no stupid questions". They were really smart and humble too. Such a quote made me feel welcome. And when you think about it, then it's true "there are no stupid questions". There are disrespectful answers.

 

[stvdv]

I have question.

Aren't there ideas and opinions that people SHOULD feel uncomfortable presenting in public?

I think it would be great IF nobody felt uncomfortable to present his ideas/opinions, when done sincerely in a honest and humble way

Maybe the "SHOULD" feel uncomfortable should only apply to people who embarrass themselves who ask/reply disrespectful, arrogant or hurtful

 

[Harel13]

I second what @Rival wrote. From what I've seen, conservative threads - whether political or religious - tend to get blasted much more than non-conservative threads. I often feel the hostility and venom oozing from those replies, if I may be a bit more picturesque for a moment. While not being pluralistic myself, I understand that the liberal and/or secular view is much more so, and yet, I don't get that feeling with regards to liberal/secular reactions to conservative/religious views. It's always "my way or the highway", whether the subject may be gender, politics, patriotism, certain religious customs, etc.

I have no solution for this in terms of RF's policy. I think the policy is fair. Really the only thing I can say is that I wish the liberals/secularists would stop, turn it down a notch, take a deep breath, hear what we have to say, think about our positions, formulate a coherent argument and then stop again and think whether it's really that important to blast away at that particular subject and that particular RFer. I myself do this often. And if I don't have a coherent argument or feel that it's not worth it, I don't jump in.

 

[PureX]

Let's say I'm a conservative who holds the opinion that people with darker skin color and foreign cultural backgrounds are intellectually and morally deficient when compared to lighter skinned people from a western European cultural background. And I want to be able to posit this opinion freely, here, without anyone else denigrating me for it. I should be ashamed of holding such a patently dishonest and bigoted opinion, but I'm not. And in fact I'm positing this opinion, here, because I'm hoping to gain an increased consensus that my opinion is valid.

Needless to say a great many "liberals" are going to be offended, and even outraged by my opinions on the matter, but they should not be allowed to express this outrage, or respond to this offense as they feel appropriate, because ... why, exactly?

 

[Rival]

Let's say I'm a conservative who holds the opinion that people with darker skin color and foreign cultural backgrounds are intellectually and morally deficient when compared to lighter skinned people from a western European cultural background. And I want to be able to posit this opinion freely, here, without anyone else denigrating me for it. I should be ashamed of holding such a patently dishonest and bigoted opinion, but I'm not. And in fact I'm positing this opinion, here, because I'm hoping to gain an increased consensus that my opinion is valid.

Needless to say a great many "liberals" are going to be offended, and even outraged by my opinions on the matter, but they should not be allowed to express this outrage, or respond to this offense as they feel appropriate, because ... why, exactly?

This is racism and is prohibited here.

 

[Gavin Luckenbach]

I am decently new, and may refrain from most political discussions on this site-- but if I have an opinion, and reasonable evidence or philosophical reasoning to back it up, then any and all debate should be respectful and focus on the issue itself-- I would hope not to feel personally attacked.

As someone with conservative social views (but not as much political or economic) I must always make the distinction between moral reasonings and outright bigotry. Being accused of bigotry is rough-- but that doesn't justify being a literal bigot in the way one responds.

I see so many conservatives take on the role of victim, and dive headfirst into genuine hatred and vitriol when criticized for the most minor questions or objections. For the most part, our views are the status quo (within some sectors of society, and some mainstream subcultures) so there is absolutely no reason to feel targeted. It does our arguments no good and makes us hypocrites, since I see so many people on the Right call well-meaning Left individuals "snowflakes" etc. while maintaining their own victim complex.

All I ask for is reasonable and polite discourse-- maybe that is a bit of a conservative value within itself??

 

[Debater Slayer]

Some posts have been deleted for challenging the opinions posted in this thread (and, subsequently, responses to them also had to be deleted).

The OP explicitly prohibits debate in this thread. Feel free to start a separate thread in a debate forum if you wish to debate any opinions.

 

[Jainarayan]

Most social media encourages the liberal view on genetics and ethnicities. Challenging that view will get you called bad names and your character assassinated. That's not comfortable. The question for me is how much is it worth to me to put up with that self-righteous crap.

I could not have said it better. Thank you. I have been such a target by a few members. Such persons regularly voice their opinions but shout others down whom they disagree with. They will scream that you provide “sources” and links, yet doing nothing of the kind themselves. Their opinions are valid, mine are not. Go figure.

It’s not only here. Facebook is notorious for this, as are a few other forums I only occasionally visit anymore because of this. It happened just the other day at a Pagan forum, which I will not return to.

When I took my hiatus last month it was in large part because of this, though not solely. I feel a decidedly left leaning atmosphere. That’s not a problem in itself, it’s the behavior of liberals. And if you’ll notice my activity is much less. I have personal, health and financial issues I’m doing battle with and don’t need to be made to feel more stupid than I am.

 

[Jainarayan]

Calling another member bad names or assassinating their character is a Rule 1 violation. Feel free to report any such posts if you come across them in the future.

They stop just short of it. It’s a talent. I’ve experienced it. Not even worth reporting.

 

[Harel13]

They stop just short of it. It’s a talent. I’ve experienced it. Not even worth reporting.

Well-said.