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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think the tone of political debate is awful

5 replies

Bluelane · 26/11/2024 18:35

AIBU to think that it seems people are increasingly incapable of disagreeing with someone agreeably?

If you disagree with a policy of Keir Starmer, it doesn’t mean Keir Starmer is scum, or evil, or a c*, or stupid, or a traitor. It means he has a policy that you disagree with (which it’s fine to criticise and protest about).

I have friends whose politics I disagree with but where we can agree to disagree, and remain friends.

The tone of political debate seems to be lower than ever.

OP posts:
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Animatron · 26/11/2024 19:20

A lot of them aren't real people. They are bots designed to make you angry.

We have to recognise this and not play the game.

hairbearbunches · 26/11/2024 18:46

It's not just the tone, it's also the substance. There's no intellect anymore, from politicians as well as Joe Bloggs. We're subjected to soundbites and fact free bullshit. It's depressing.

LlynTegid · 26/11/2024 18:41

It started with Brexit I think, and social media since then has had a lot to do with it. I think if we had a better voting system instead of the current one where under 40% of the vote gets you a majority of seats, it would encourage co-operation across parties.

AlbertCamusflage · 26/11/2024 18:39

Yes. Charitably, I'd say that the manipulation of online discussion by agitators and bots has dragged down the quality of debate, so that participants are increasingly trapped in a parody version of discussion and disagreement.

But I do think that individuals ought to take some responsibility and try to model the more informed, truth-sensitive and civil discussion that we need.

Too many people just seem happy to abandon the responsibilities of fact finding and wallow in the catharsis of righteous fury.