People who don't comment much on 'political' stuff, why don't you?

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Okay let's say you just don't talk about racism, 3rd world poverty, feminism, whatever. I'm not saying I do myself. I just wonder, if you have a policy of refraining from comment on this sort of thing, why is that? Actually there is an irony here in that I guess this is not the sort of question you will be interested in replying to if you try to avoid that particular line of contentiousness.

― Amity (Amity), Sunday, 28 December 2003 05:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Is it because you've seen other people wearing their heart on their sleeve, and been embarrassed by it, and then not wanted to put yourself in the same position? And why is it embarrassing to see someone wearing their heart on their sleeve? Is it because it indicates a lack of self control?

― Amity (Amity), Sunday, 28 December 2003 05:56 (twenty-two years ago)

I guess if you follow the (heart on sleeve) metaphor, it's because then you're open to injury. But I don't think that's the reason.

― Amity (Amity), Sunday, 28 December 2003 05:58 (twenty-two years ago)

i'm too self-centered to have opinions on "issues".

― phil-two (phil-two), Sunday, 28 December 2003 06:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Mainly it's because of the fear of the other opinion, and how difficult that is to deal with.

― Berkeley / Sackett (calstars), Sunday, 28 December 2003 06:16 (twenty-two years ago)

"Mainly it's because of the fear of the other opinion, and how difficult that is to deal with."

I suppose that's just about it. I mean in general, most people take a position on issues simply through their actions and therefore they do have an opinion but making it explicit, or trying to make it explicit, implies alienating yourself from everyone who belongs to the opposing camps.

― Amity (Amity), Sunday, 28 December 2003 06:26 (twenty-two years ago)

So the heart on sleeve metaphor is accurate

― Amity (Amity), Sunday, 28 December 2003 06:27 (twenty-two years ago)

But refraining from commenting might be not just for fear of being injured, but for fear of injuring. By moralising or supporting a cause you're not quite sure is correct or whatever. If you're afraid that you're not intelligent enough to know, perhaps even though you act you might still doubt that your actions are the correct ones.

― Amity (Amity), Sunday, 28 December 2003 06:29 (twenty-two years ago)

i'm too self-centered to have opinions on "issues".

I was in the midst of composing a lengthy, deathly serious and utterly phony reply to this question when I clicked on the thread, but phil-two's answer showed me the Truth, and I fell to my knees, and I wept.

― jewelly (jewelly), Sunday, 28 December 2003 06:39 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't think I have am educated enough to have opinions on lots of these things. I don't want to sound dumb and under informed.

― isadora (isadora), Sunday, 28 December 2003 08:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Do you mean on ILE? It's because I only really like the lighter hearted threads, and don't spend that much time reading long political arguement threads. Plus, it takes me ages to write articulate and considered responses to such issues.

― jel -- (jel), Sunday, 28 December 2003 11:18 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm sorry jewelly... :(

― phil-two (phil-two), Sunday, 28 December 2003 13:55 (twenty-two years ago)

phil-two on the money. I largely don't comment cos I don't know what the fuck is happening in the real world.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Sunday, 28 December 2003 15:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Because I don't care.

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Sunday, 28 December 2003 18:02 (twenty-two years ago)

I care about political matters, but I doubt anyone cares if I care, so I just don't bother unless I have a point that I haven't seen argued by anyone else. Plus I don't want people to find out that I'm actually a big ole' dumbass...too late.

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Sunday, 28 December 2003 19:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Politics meant/mean so much to me, I try to avoid talking about them. On the one hand, I've gotten tired of people in class and co-workers and so on who just can't tell their ass from their elbow. It's very frustrating to discuss an issue with most of the people I encounter. And the other is that it's too easy (for me) to alienate otherwise nice, decent people in a fight over politics and vice-versa.

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Sunday, 28 December 2003 19:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Most of the things I have to say are covered here by people more articulate than me.

I'm surprised no-one's turned this around: People who do comment on political stuff (on ILE): why?

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Sunday, 28 December 2003 20:15 (twenty-two years ago)

I try to put in as little political commentary as I possibly can around here, though some may think my presence in that area is too potent. I do swear to you that I'm trying to be on my best behavior when it comes to that sort of thing, though. I've lost some good friendships because of a previously uncompromising nature in terms of political ideology and I don't want anything approximating that to happen to me again. It's just not worth it, no matter how strongly I feel about a particular issue.

― Tenacious Dee (Dee the Lurker), Sunday, 28 December 2003 20:24 (twenty-two years ago)

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