Straw arguments and other attacks
While this week has been a good week, I’m still feeling fustrated with the level political discussion around the campus. Yes I hold strong political views, but I enjoy debate as a way to challenge my own views and hopefully lead me towards a better understanding of the world. Twice recently, I have been personally attacked for my views. I’m not simply referring to a debate within an online forum where sparring can be very aggressive, but with friends in friendly conversation. It’s disapointing when an argument or point of view is reduced to a personal attack (i.e. “You only believe that because you are _____.”). I’m writing this to blow off steam, but also because it’s fustrating to think that this is the level of debate that so many people engage in. So many people, on all ends of the political spectrum, wish politics could be less polarized, yet few that I know of seem willing to avoid the personal attacks that polarize our views.
There are a few things anoying me lately, and this is just one that I’m willing to share online. Sometimes it just feels good to rant.