Sean Reiser

As I said the other day, I really don't understand the hate we're seeing in this election season.

A good friend of mine who is very political, was discussing how in both the last election and this election she lost friends because of her and their political opinions. To be honest, when I hear here tell the stories it's less about the political opinions, and more about the way they attacked each other instead of debating the issues. When you go down that road sometimes it's hard to go back.

There's a person I follow on FriendFeed and twiiter who's gone from being a really funny person to being , quite frankly annoying. An example of his posting is this:

“If our standard for a candidate for VP is that you have boobs, I have a cat with a lot more tits that I am sure more qualified than Palin."

and

“Hasselbeck is a bigger douche bag than Palin, and that is saying a lot.”

And he goes on and on. I really don't know what any of this is supposed to prove, it doesn't change anyone's opinion and, I might be humour impaired but I don't find most of it funny. It's not that I'm offended, it's that I don't get it. Generally, I don't feed the trolls, but last night The other night I asked him why he was posting this way. He answered

"Sorry but you try to convince people of the truth and they continue to be ignorant. So I like to have fun with em. Free speech."

I have a few problems with that as an answer.

1. When you point out the truth you open dialogue and discussion this just turns off people who disagree with you (and it tends to turn off those who agree with you as well).
2. Free speech is not an answer. I never said he didn't have a right to say this, I was curious as to why. I believe that with free speech come some responsibility.

I posted a query on FriendFeed on this. The general feel was that being negative was more effective, by a factor of four. Maybe I'm naive but I don't want to vote against a candidate any more. I looked at this election and saw 2 good people running for office, with different ideas, but people who loved this country and would do it proud. Now, a little over a week away, we're stuck in the same routine. Why do we do it to ourselves? Well. I'm done. If you want to discuss issues with me, fine, I'd enjoy that. If you want to continue this cycle of name calling and hate, count me out.

As I've been typing this I've had the Huckabee show on in the background. He just said "sure I wish you saw the world through the same lens I do, but even if you don't, it does not mean that you're less of an American and a Patriot .... It's OK to wonder why your friends don't believe America would be better off with views like yours but it's not OK to believe that they love America less or lack patriotism because they see the solution for our country differently then you .... You can love America without hating other Americans". i can't sum up my thoughts any better then this so that's the way I'll go out.