In General Terms - Are We More Divided Than Any Time In The Past 50 Years?

[sp1814]

It feels like the metropolitan elite / liberal luvvies / Remoaners hate the bigoted Daily Mailers and vice versa.

The liberals hate the conservatives, the young hate the older generation (and vice versa) and the Trumpeteers hate the liberals.

Do you think that we have now entered an age where hatred for the views of others is the default position?

Years ago on AB (I'm old school) - I remember that we could all discuss topics without screaming at each other.

Why has this changed?

Are we all suffering from confirmation bias?

Or is it something else?

[ludwig]

I don't think any of that stuff has changed to be honest. I think that probably all that's happened is that internet/social media etc means people have more actual opportunity to argue, whinge, and be nasty directly to one another, rather than sitting at home shouting at the telly.

[mikey4444]

SP...I try not to scream anymore !

Its difficult sometimes, when some can be so nasty. The worst culprits have been suspended and/or banned of course.

[hereIam]

I was going to make that comment about the internet and social media as well.

[sp1814]

I honestly think something has changed. It's not just AB - it seems that the default position now is 'holler' rather than 'discuss'.

[mikey4444]

SP...the internet in general, and social media in particular has changed the world forever....what you are referring to is just indicative of this.

[hereIam]

^ I agree.

[Old_Geezer]

AB members or the general population ?

We are always divided on issues. I think it was more so under Thatcher.

[Khandro]

What we need is a National Brotherhood Week, maybe?;

[sp1814]

I find myself graduating to polls and websites (e.g. Huffington Post) which reflect my world view, whilst simultaneously slating those who I the same (Briebert, Daily Mail, Daily Express, EDL Facebook page).

I wonder if this is it from now on - are we simply programmed to not listen, but argue? Even if the view of other have some merit?

Am I alone in feeling sad that our default position is that of antagonism?

[ladybirder]

Mikey you can be nasty as well when you want to be. Just saying.

[sp1814]

ladybirder

Good point.

I'm almost certain that I've seen posts by andy-hughes and mikey4444 that have been nasty, but because they are (in my opinion) 'good people' - they get a free pass.

However, this free pass isn't available to others, simply because I find their views abhorrent.

And I know it works the other way around.

AB used to be like a digital version of Question Time.

But recently, it's become more like a digital version of The Inbetweeners.

[sp1814]

Who wants to try this - from tomorrow, everyone on the News section stops using the following terms:

Bigot
Racist
Knuckledraggers
Lefty luvvie
Liberal luvvie
Metropolitan elite
Apologist

...and instead, rather than starting flame wars, simply discussed topics in hand - like grown ups.

That means challenging points, rather than challenging those who have made the points.

Who wants to try this?

[jim360]

That's such a liberal leftie knuckledragging apologist thing to ask for, sp.

[sp1814]

J jim360

Thinking of giving you Best Answer for that.

But seriously - imagine how much better the News section would be if we stopped slating each other and started arguing our positions.

I honestly think that if we acted more like New Judge, we would get better value from the site. We might even be persuaded by arguments, rather than getting into arguments.

And the AB Editor and moderators could spend their time doing more productive things...like baking and needlepoint.

[-Talbot-]

One thing that has changed is the left have indeed turned from anti-facists to facists ... and anarchists.

They are just as bigoted as the far right.

[Kromovaracun]

Honestly, I joined AB 11 years ago and I think it's far better today. The News section when I joined was essentially the same argument between anotheoldgit and a few other members over and over and over again. Nowadays there are way more people, which is more interesting. I'm not sure the quality of discussion has notably improved, though. I stopped posting on AB for a very long time because I felt it was pointless.

I think in general discourse in the UK has become a lot more combative and aggressive. I don't know whether it caused it or not, but I first noticed it in the EU referendum, which I still think did a remarkable amount of harm to society before the result was ever announced. This is the main reason I was extremely relieved when the govt promised not to hold another election...

The social trend you're describing has been cooking for 30 or so years. It started with the fragmentation of culture into different sub-groups - I get the impression people largely consumed the same
popular culture, news sources etc. 50 years ago whereas those habits are a lot more fragmented now.

[jim360]

Let's not be too hard on ourselves, the US has been pretty good at polarising itself lately too.

[Togo]

After decades of tagging of anyone who isn't "on side", as fascist, racist, ill educated, xenophobic, and other exciting names from the lexicon of libby insults when they feel they need, to thwart or silence a voice they disagree with our social steering committee are just not happy to get a taste of it in return. Reap what you sow is all. The silent majority stopped just shrugging and rolling their eyes in response to the hysterical few and have now adopted the same tactic of getting vocal and getting loud. It will not stop. Debate was stifled for some years ago, what goes around comes around.