Election year negativity

[auntpolly]

There's a thread on the theme park board about booing and rude comments at the "Hall of Presidents" at the MK. I was just wondering what people think they are accomplishing when they do something like that.

My sisters and I were out to lunch and talking about GWB -- not making fun of him or anything. It was a pretty serious political discussion about actual policy and his record. I don't think we were being loud or anything -- we're pretty subdued women. But When my sister said something that started with , "Did you know that GWB.......?", a guy at the next table shouted at us, "Did you know that Kerry's a (not nice word)?" If anything would have been accomplished it would have been for us to think less of Republicans, not less of Kerry. So why did the guy feel the need to speak up like that?

And <b>I Know</b> that Democrats can be just as bad, so <i>please</i> don't start posting about how I'm being unfair to Republicans -- this just happened to happen to us. I just wonder how anybody ever thinks negativity -- being nasty -- can be productive.

 

[Maleficent13]

Oh, if that had happened to me...well, it's a public board, so I can't say what I would have done/said...

On topic, I don't understand it either.

 

[Galahad]

But When my sister said something that started with , "Did you know that GWB.......?", a guy at the next table shouted at us, "Did you know that Kerry's a (not nice word)?"

But what followed the "did you know..."? Serious discussion or not, if it was perceived as a distortion, or more commonly these days, as an attack on his character then it seems understandable that someone that supports him would get defensive.

I tire of the negativity as well, but people often don't perceived their own comments as part of the negativity....only those of the opposition, IMO.

 

[auntpolly]

Want to know the zinger I came up with Maleficent? I said, get ready......"Well <b>that</b> was uncalled for!!" I really told him....don't you think??

 

[auntpolly]

Originally posted by Galahad
But what followed the "did you know..."? Serious discussion or not, if it was perceived as a distortion, or more commonly these days, as an attack on his character then it seems understandable that someone that supports him would get defensive.

I tire of the negativity as well, but people often don't perceived their own comments as part of the negativity....only those of the opposition, IMO.

You really think it's OK for a guy to yell at us using a profanity when we weren't talking to him?????? You think that's OK under any circumstances?????? Uh, OK.

My sister had said, "Did you know that GWB.....and she gave some statistic about the death penalty in Texas when he was governor."

 

[Maleficent13]

LOL, auntpolly! I think would have said something along the lines of "Excuse me, did you think I was talking to you? Why would I do that? I don't even know your language!" (blatant steal from some John Hughes movie, but can't remember which).

I can't imagine just butting into someone else's (and a total stranger at that!) conversation! What is it about politics (on all sides!) that makes people think it's okay to be rude?

ot - I pass Dontino's about everyday and since you (I think it was you! How if I'm wrong!) posted about how good it was I want to eat there!

 

[Galahad]

Originally posted by auntpolly
You really think it's OK for a guy to yell at us using a profanity when we weren't talking to him. You think that's OK under any circumstances?????? Uh, OK.

My sister had said, "Did you know that GWB.....and she gave some statistic about the death penalty in Texas when he was governor."

No I don't. I didn't say that. If what she had said was "Did you know GWB had the bin Laden Familty snuck out of the country..." I think that statement itself would be guilty of contributing to the negativity. If she has said "Did you know GWB only has an XX IQ"... I would expect you are opening yourself up for confrontation. But no, I don't think profanity when you weren't talking to him is OK at all.

 

[jrydberg]

Honestly, I think it's a consequence of most people in this country not being particularly thrilled with either candidate. It's hard to get most people to get really excited about voting *for* John Kerry or George W. Bush. It's not that hard to get them worked up over voting *against* John Kerry or George W. Bush. So that's the way the campaigns are run, that's the way the public perceives the debate and that's the way people talk about the candidates.

Now that said, the guy using profanity is certainly way over the line, IMO.

 

[auntpolly]

Originally posted by Galahad
No I don't. I didn't say that. If what she had said was "Did you know GWB had the bin Laden Familty snuck out of the country..." I think that statement itself would be guilty of contributing to the negativity. If she has said "Did you know GWB only has an XX IQ"... I would expect you are opening yourself up for confrontation. But no, I don't think profanity when you weren't talking to him is OK at all.

OK -- I'll take it further. If I want to say -- to my sisters-- quietly in a private conversation at lunch -- that GWB is a baboon -- then it's our business. Otherwise, we'd all be shouting at each other about each others conversations of all different topics and chaos would reign. "Did I hear you say you are pro-choice? You baby killer!" "What's that about school vouchers? You moron! They're stupid" I mean, can you imagine???

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Originally posted by jrydberg
Honestly, I think it's a consequence of most people in this country not being particularly thrilled with either candidate. It's hard to get most people to get really excited about voting *for* John Kerry or George W. Bush. It's not that hard to get them worked up over voting *against* John Kerry or George W. Bush. So that's the way the campaigns are run, that's the way the public perceives the debate and that's the way people talk about the candidates.

Now that said, the guy using profanity is certainly way over the line, IMO.

Well put.

I would be QUITE upset if I was in the HOP and people started booing at any of the former presidents or the current one, regardless of my personal thoughts on politics. That is just disrespectful and rude to everyone around you. You are at an attraction at Disneyworld for pete's sake - not a political rally. The attraction is quite non-partisan (at least it was in Feb.)

This makes me sad. And shame on them for booing. And more shame on the jerk who started cursing at you and your sister.


And to answer the question, I honestly have no idea what these people think they are going to accomplish. IMO, the extremists who are rude and disrespectful of other people's points of view on BOTH sides come off looking like fools.

 

[auntpolly]

Originally posted by Maleficent13


ot - I pass Dontino's about everyday and since you (I think it was you! How if I'm wrong!) posted about how good it was I want to eat there!

Oh you should go! Thursday is gnocchi night!

 

[Galahad]

Originally posted by auntpolly
OK -- I'll take it further. If I want to say -- to my sisters-- quietly in a private conversation at lunch -- that GWB is a baboon -- then it's our business. Otherwise, we'd all be shouting at each other about each others conversations of all different topics and chaos would reign. "Did I hear you say you are pro-choice? You baby killer!" "What's that about school vouchers? You moron! They're stupid" I mean, can you imagine???

I agree. His response was completely over the top. But is there really any such thing as a private conversation in a public place?

 

[Cebhfhionn]

I think that guy was totally out of line! If I'm out to dinner with someone or anywhere else for that matter, I don't expect that someone should invite their way into my conversation regardless of its content.

Booing in the HOP, that's just mean! Why would someone do that? I don't get it!

 

[auntpolly]

Originally posted by Galahad
I agree. His response was completely over the top. But is there really any such thing as a private conversation in a public place?

C'mon -- you really think that everyone at other tables should be able to comment on everything you say quietly at your own table? If you are listening in on others' conversations it's really rude in the first place! I really don't understand what you are still arguing about!

 

[Mamu]

Isn't it amazing how people know the so called "truth" and can't wait to tell you their version of the spin.

 

[peachgirl]

I can't imagine a total stranger eavesdropping on my conservations and then pulling the crap he did. For some reason some people think it's perfectly ok to behave in that manner just because of the way they lean politically.

Here's another over the top experience we had....

Monday morning my mom was at the hospital outpatient clinic my father goes to daily.

The receptionist/nurse was having my mother fill out forms and my mother commented on how many there were to fill out.

This woman started in telling my mother that she could thank President Clinton for all the "garbage" and paperwork they had to go through. According to her, it was all his fault due to regulations and laws "HE" passed regarding privacy issues. Then she proceeded to rant on and on about Kerry and the horrid things that would happen if he got elected.

My mother said she was absolutely speechless, but my dad wasn't! My dad is a staunch Democrat and has been all his life. He's also a very sick man and the woman was loud enough for him to overhear it. He may be sick, but he's not dead and he let her have it. Of course, in the meantime he got himself so upset that my mother thought he was going to pop a gasket.

The next morning my mother called the clinic and reported the moron and as of this morning that woman is no longer at the desk. I only hope they fired her so fast her head spun on the way out the door.

It's a different world these days....

 

[Bob Slydell]

The guy sounds like a complete tool. I doubt that it's because it's an election year, though. Once a tool always a tool. He would have found some other conversation about some completely different topic to butt into if it wasn't an election year.

 

[castlegazer]

I am really getting saddened by the level of animosity between the two parties. I can not wait for this to be over with. I fear the statements by both our President and others about what they intend to do at the RNC - they intend to go very negative against John Kerry because they perceive the fact that at the DNC is was not a tactic as a weakness and a mjor reason why the polls didn't bounce. I just don't want to go there no matter what side of the fence I am sitting on.

I have never been an envangelizer about politics and I am not comfortable doing it now, regardless of whether I feel I need to or not. I have been on both sides of the political fence and in between and I try very very hard to see all perspectives. I try very hard not to bash or abuse someone, or feel that my opinion is the only opinion. I can not fathom doing this in a public restaurant - and no, my conversations are private regardless of where I am having them.

 

[Doc and Family]

Excuse me, did you think I was talking to you? Why would I do that? I don't even know your language!" (blatant steal from some John Hughes movie, but can't remember which).

The Breakfast Club.

Great Movie!!!!!

 

[Galahad]

Originally posted by auntpolly
C'mon -- you really think that everyone at other tables should be able to comment on everything you say quietly at your own table? If you are listening in on others' conversations it's really rude in the first place! I really don't understand what you are still arguing about!

I didn't realize that continuing a conversation was arguing. Sorry........