|
Edited on Sun Jan-28-07 11:25 PM by jpgray
All of us who experienced the primaries in 2004 remember that as a time of much prejudice, mistrust, and nastiness between various "camps" of DUers who were identified as supporting a particular candidate with a lot of energy and enthusiasm. This same enthusiasm fueled nasty allegations of moderator favoritism, accusations were made that rival candidate supporters were paid PR operatives, and the misbehavior of a few posters was used to paint all of that candidate's supporters with ugly stereotypes. That most of this was misguided became obvious when the primaries were over, and all (excepting an annoyingly vocal yet reassuringly meager number of posters) threw their hearts behind the nominee. In other words, by and large we weren't the mindless, "my candidate or death!" fuckwits we all accused each other of being.
There's no way we can avoid this mostly pointless and always bitter internecine warfare, but there are a few basic things everyone might want to consider when the infighting gets intense here:
1. Other people feel as strongly about their candidate as you do about yours. Being insulting, dismissive, or otherwise rude in your support or criticism of a candidate is likely to elicit the same kind of behavior from others.
2. A candidate's supporters always include a diverse group of individuals--nearly any group of DUers should not be considered a monolithic mob that is in total agreement with each other. Dismissing a poster's views because he or she is a "Clarkie" or "Deanie" or what have you is prejudicial and discriminatory, and should have no place on a liberal website.
3. In addition, rude, inflammatory comments are more memorable than calm, reasoned discussion--don't dismiss all supporters of a candidate as obnoxious assholes just because one of same happens to behave like one. You won't remember the kind and understanding supporters, but you will be eager to label the whole group as disruptive and obnoxious based on a few memorably vulgar posts. Don't do that, if you can avoid it.
4. No candidate is perfect. Before you tie yourself into a knot trying to defend the indefensible, consider whether or not it might be better to admit a fault. There's no shame in that--mindless protestations of perfection regarding your candidate are sure to annoy everyone who reads them, and doubtless every candidate has some position that deeply offends a group of DUers. Since DU is not really a place that significantly affects a candidate's chances, there's nothing lost in admitting weakness. Rather than claiming none exists, perhaps suggest ways in which the defect may not matter or might be mitigated. This again will encourage constructive debate rather than name-calling and "la la la I can't hear you my candidate is perfect" discussions that go nowhere.
5. Most of all, have empathy. Keep in mind people get very emotional during the primaries and pour their souls into working for their candidates. Treating that commitment with respect and patience will go a long way to avoiding useless flamewars, and instead maintain polite discussion. If you all expect reasonable debate for your candidate, you should never instigate or fuel the flames in discussions of a rival candidate.
|
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
