NationStates Jolt Archive

Lots of people love to judge people based on their political views, assuming that everyone concerns themselves with politics on a 24/7 basis and that all actions are related to a political stance.

For example, Americans are xenophobic nationalist arrogant flag-waving homophobes, or European pinko socialist scum. The former assumes that all Americans concern themselves with foreign issues and shun all foreign things (despite the fact of all the foreign imports in America and the cultural diversity in many areas). The latter assumes that Europeans are on a constant quest to gain rights for the proletariat and constantly think about ways to increase welfare. Or constantly thinking about establishing peace or otherwise spouting pacifist propaganda.

And what irks me more is that people think these tie into people's own lives! People have negative or positive views of the PEOPLE because of political ideas! Now, if Americans WERE actually spouting "kill all blacks" or "bomb everyone" like some people think, then you have a right to say "STFU" but these conceptions of the average American are really BULLSHIT. Same thing to think that Europeans are all frriendly peace-loving people who never engage in an act of violence and support gays in every decision they make.

PEOPLE'S LIVES DO NOT REVOLVE AROUND POLITICS AS WE ALL KNOW, BUT WHY DO WE STILL MAKE THESE ASSUMPTIONS THAT THEY DO WHEN JUDGING EACH OTHER COLLECTIVELY! GAHHHHHHHhh!

Whoa.

Really, though, chill out. Only on the internet have I ever met anyone so assured of their own superiority in politics that they actively attack those of differing or opposed opinions. In real life, most of the time, people just agree to disagree. Until someone pulls out a gun and I have to get all Matrix on their asses. Oh, wait . . .

Ok, sorry about that last bit. But the rest still stands.

I only judge people on their political stance if they're misguided and/or total jerks about it.

I try not to, but I can't avoid it always. I do my best to dissassociate politics with personality, but it isn't always possible for me.

I judge people however I feel like judging them. I love that last option in your poll (the lie). Fact is, all humans judge, its what we do.

Lots of people love to judge people based on their political views, assuming that everyone concerns themselves with politics on a 24/7 basis and that all actions are related to a political stance.

For example, Americans are xenophobic nationalist arrogant flag-waving homophobes, or European pinko socialist scum. The former assumes that all Americans concern themselves with foreign issues and shun all foreign things (despite the fact of all the foreign imports in America and the cultural diversity in many areas). The latter assumes that Europeans are on a constant quest to gain rights for the proletariat and constantly think about ways to increase welfare. Or constantly thinking about establishing peace or otherwise spouting pacifist propaganda.

And what irks me more is that people think these tie into people's own lives! People have negative or positive views of the PEOPLE because of political ideas! Now, if Americans WERE actually spouting "kill all blacks" or "bomb everyone" like some people think, then you have a right to say "STFU" but these conceptions of the average American are really BULLSHIT. Same thing to think that Europeans are all frriendly peace-loving people who never engage in an act of violence and support gays in every decision they make.

PEOPLE'S LIVES DO NOT REVOLVE AROUND POLITICS AS WE ALL KNOW, BUT WHY DO WE STILL MAKE THESE ASSUMPTIONS THAT THEY DO WHEN JUDGING EACH OTHER COLLECTIVELY! GAHHHHHHHhh!


Good call. You're right about that.
We need to understand that people are always going to have different political views and that there is always going to be conflict. The truth is, it is this conflict that is going to keep the world moving forward. People also need to understand that despite political and religious views and how you stand on them, you've got to be willing to at least listen to what the other side has to say.

I don't judge people BECAUSE of their politics.
I do use their political views to form a more full picture of the person, and judge them on that view. How can I not?

I honestly don't care what party someone votes for, and if they tell me which they support, I'll ask them *why* they support that party. And judge them based on that answer.

Most people choose their party based on perfectly good reasons, and so regardless of what they choose, I usually end up having more respect for them afterwards. It also can spark a discussion, and I judge them based on their arguing technique, the points they bring up as important, etc.

Generally, I judge them because of who and what they are. Not because of their politics.

Oh, and I'm glad nobody here has claimed that judging people is automatically a bad thing. More often than not after learning something new about a person my opinion of them increases.

Only those who can't explain themselves...
they don't deserve respect.

Good call. You're right about that.
We need to understand that people are always going to have different political views and that there is always going to be conflict. The truth is, it is this conflict that is going to keep the world moving forward. People also need to understand that despite political and religious views and how you stand on them, you've got to be willing to at least listen to what the other side has to say.

Amen.
This whole idea of "democracy" really wouldn't work unless people disagreed and supported different parties.
And it wouldn't work unless both parties were at least partially right on at least some of the issues.

Yes, I do judge people politically. I do not, however, decide to hate someone solely on their political views. I have to have another reason, too. :p

The source of people's political views are generally family background and how they view the world. With that in mind, I have found that most of my close friends and I are of the same political mindset coincidentally, and people I don't get along with tend to have opposing political views. For instance, the person arguing tax cuts because we should all keep our money and not help anyone probably won't be the friend I discuss my dreams of the Peace Corps with, or my volunteering activities with, etc.

The source of people's political views are generally family background and how they view the world. With that in mind, I have found that most of my close friends and I are of the same political mindset coincidentally, and people I don't get along with tend to have opposing political views. For instance, the person arguing tax cuts because we should all keep our money and not help anyone probably won't be the friend I discuss my dreams of the Peace Corps with, or my volunteering activities with, etc.
Well, even though I'm a damn hippie, I am stuck in Alabama. Most of my friends have several political, religious, and moral views which oppose mine, but I can get along with them and love them regardless of these differences.

Being a rightist, I mistrust and ridicule those of the left.

and people I don't get along with tend to have opposing political views. For instance, the person arguing tax cuts because we should all keep our money and not help anyone probably won't be the friend I discuss my dreams of the Peace Corps with, or my volunteering activities with, etc.

Why not?
I'll happily argue tax cuts, and that we should keep our money and not help anyone.
And I donate to charity, and volunteer for the community, and would love to hear about your dreams of the Peace Corps.

I don't judge people politically, Religiously (or lack of), or even by sexual preference.

I respect their views, I respect their opinions, and I hope they respect mine.

I don't know if this is political or not (probably is, I'm just too stupid to know it).

I judge people on how they judge homosexuals (this being because I'm an extreme liberal livin' in an extreme conservative area, and most people around here are bigots) :

You think there's nothin' wrong with it: I think you're a good person (unless proven otherwise).

You think it's nasty, or you think it's some kind of sin: You're a horrible person who needs to be deported (no matter what else you may believe in, or how good a person other people think you are).

You're apathetic: Eh. Who needs ya? Indifference isn't always a good thing.

I don't know if this is political or not (probably is, I'm just too stupid to know it).

I judge people on how they judge homosexuals (this being because I'm an extreme liberal livin' in an extreme conservative area, and most people around here are bigots) :

You think there's nothin' wrong with it: I think you're a good person (unless proven otherwise).

You think it's nasty, or you think it's some kind of sin: You're a horrible person who needs to be deported (no matter what else you may believe in, or how good a person other people think you are).

You're apathetic: Eh. Who needs ya? Indifference isn't always a good thing.
Yes, that is political.

Yes, that is political.


That's what I thought, but I can never be sure.

don't know if this is political or not (probably is, I'm just too stupid to know it).

I judge people on how they judge homosexuals (this being because I'm an extreme liberal livin' in an extreme conservative area, and most people around here are bigots) :

You think there's nothin' wrong with it: I think you're a good person (unless proven otherwise).

You think it's nasty, or you think it's some kind of sin: You're a horrible person who needs to be deported (no matter what else you may believe in, or how good a person other people think you are).

You're apathetic: Eh. Who needs ya? Indifference isn't always a good thing.

What about those of us who think its wrong, but have no problem with others practicing it and don’t think they should be discriminated against for it?

What about those of us who think its wrong, but have no problem with others practicing it and don’t think they should be discriminated against for it?


Good question... If you think that they shouldn't be discriminated against than you're a good person in my book. Just as long as you don't go around proclaiming how wrong it is.

No, because your relationship with a person goes far beyond politics. To judge them based upon their opinions instead of who they are as people is as equally intolerant as disliking someone for being American, French, etc. It dehumanizes them by summing them up in one category. Unless I want to debate, I try to avoid bringing up politics when around others.

Good question... If you think that they shouldn't be discriminated against than you're a good person in my book. Just as long as you don't go around proclaiming how wrong it is.

Well, it is wrong. But if they want to do so, let them. I take the whole "love the sinner, hate the sin" side of it.

To answer the question, I usually don't judge people on their political beliefs. My best friend is as liberal as they come (-7 and -8 on political compass), but I don't judge him for it. I only judge people by their political beliefs if they are hypocritical about them.

Yep.

Someone is not a bad person just because they don't agree with homosexuality. I say this as someone who has no problem with it and, frankly, can't understand anyone's reasons for their problems with it. But I have some good friends who are conservative Christians who are grossed out by it. I think they're wrong. But they're not bad people.

More intolerance doesn't solve anything.

Lots of people love to judge people based on their political views, assuming that everyone concerns themselves with politics on a 24/7 basis and that all actions are related to a political stance.

For example, Americans are xenophobic nationalist arrogant flag-waving homophobes, or European pinko socialist scum. The former assumes that all Americans concern themselves with foreign issues and shun all foreign things (despite the fact of all the foreign imports in America and the cultural diversity in many areas). The latter assumes that Europeans are on a constant quest to gain rights for the proletariat and constantly think about ways to increase welfare. Or constantly thinking about establishing peace or otherwise spouting pacifist propaganda.

And what irks me more is that people think these tie into people's own lives! People have negative or positive views of the PEOPLE because of political ideas! Now, if Americans WERE actually spouting "kill all blacks" or "bomb everyone" like some people think, then you have a right to say "STFU" but these conceptions of the average American are really BULLSHIT. Same thing to think that Europeans are all frriendly peace-loving people who never engage in an act of violence and support gays in every decision they make.

PEOPLE'S LIVES DO NOT REVOLVE AROUND POLITICS AS WE ALL KNOW, BUT WHY DO WE STILL MAKE THESE ASSUMPTIONS THAT THEY DO WHEN JUDGING EACH OTHER COLLECTIVELY! GAHHHHHHHhh!

I fully agree with you here. The person for whom I have the greatest respect for, whom I have judged as having profound strength of character, a person who I happen to believe really is a model that if others followed the world would be a better place, just so happens to have political beliefs I just can't seem to agree with. Ever. :D I still love "debating" with her.

Besides, I came to terms with the fact that everyone else in the world doesn't agree with me when I was about tenish. There seems to be a few people on this forum twice that who still haven't done so.

Everybody judges everyone, using all available information. Politics is one of those.
True is however, that political views about a certain topic paint a pretty good picture of how that person sees his/her environment.
For example, a co-worker of mine is conservative. He votes Australian Liberal, he spouts conservative bits. Turns out though, that he is also the dumbest person I have ever met.
He does not understand any of the things he talks about, when asked he quickly returns to "No, I like Johnny!"
And to be completely honest, other than here, that is exactly what I get from pretty much everyone around who supports the Liberals. They just accept, and don't understand.
And I do judge people on that.

Someone is not a bad person just because they don't agree with homosexuality. I say this as someone who has no problem with it and, frankly, can't understand anyone's reasons for their problems with it. But I have some good friends who are conservative Christians who are grossed out by it. I think they're wrong. But they're not bad people.

More intolerance doesn't solve anything.


I was actually refering to the people who go around and spout out how gross and wicked it is. Those people get on my nerves, and there's an ubundance of 'em here. And I have no tolerance for them.

I was actually refering to the people who go around and spout out how gross and wicked it is. Those people get on my nerves, and there's an ubundance of 'em here. And I have no tolerance for them.

LOL. There's way, way more "OMIGAWD, bush is an eval Nazi!" types on here.

LOL. There's way, way more "OMIGAWD, bush is an eval Nazi!" types on here.


And there I was reffering to the people of Oklahoma.

And Bush IS a Nazi, but that's for a different thread. ;)

And there I was reffering to the people of Oklahoma.

And Bush IS a Nazi, but that's for a different thread. ;)

I thought that you were referring to NS. Should have said Oklahoma instead. :p

Bush is incomparable to a Nazi, I hope you know. (Thanks for proving my point :D )

I try to avoid judging people on their political ideologies as a whole, especially because I personally am hard to put into a box. For the most part I'm a Democratic Socialist, but there are some rare aspects of me that fit into the mold of American Republican as well.

Besides, I've got a billion other shallow, ill-informed things to judge people on.....especially the fat ones :p

(TOTALLY KIDDING!)

I nenver judge people politically when I know them in real life, but I tend to do it more in the anonymous arena of the internet.

LOL. There's way, way more "OMIGAWD, bush is an eval Nazi!" types on here.
No, there's not. Hardly anyone says that seriously.

I nenver judge people politically when I know them in real life, but I tend to do it more in the anonymous arena of the internet.

This is probably the best answer here.

I don't judge people politically, unless I feel judgemental. I guess the only time to judge people politically is when they don't STFU up about it (commie punk bands, right-wing anti-gay organizations, Mothers Against GENERIC_THING, etc etc).

Oh, and yes I do judge people a lot. Just to be an asswipe (silly stereotyping that I know isn't true, but will do anyway because it's funny). But when it comes to politics, I usually don't care you see.

I do judge people a bit based on politics. It really depends on how different we are politically and what type of person that person is involving politics. I mean, I think we all would distrust the pinko commie or the redneck gunloving bible thumper less than the average joe and that we might be more iffy about someone of another party than someone who agrees with us to a certain extent about politics.

I used to. Then getting to know people better (partly through forums like this one) made me realise that the judgements I had made before were utterly wrong.

People who before I would have dismissed as bigots, prejudiced etc I now can be friends with while still strongly disagreeing with them because I can get to know the people behind the views and often they're not all that different to me. At the very least they're not defined by their political views in my mind so I can see different sides of them.

Sometimes political views can reflect aspects of a persons personality. Not always and not always very much. But I'd rather get to know the person and then "judge" them. If they happen to also be a person I don't like as well as having views I don't like, that's when I'll make a judgement of them.

I used to think that political views determined a person far more i.e. somewho anti-welfare wasn't very caring and was selfish. Some people might be like that but in general I know that is definitly not true.

Often, people actually want similar things but believe in different ways of going about it. If you take war for example, most people just want what is best for the majority of people but some believe that war is what's best while others don't.

Another point, I've found many people who class themselves as something (for example Republican) but actually agree with me for far more issues than I would have thought of because they've classed themselves as that based on just a few beliefs; those few beliefs we'll disagree on but others we may agree about.