A very dangerous and radical manifesto--Part III--DKos

For many people is very hard to understand the mechanics involved in influencing public opinion. And unfortunately, I see this mainly as a problem of liberals, and members of the progressive movement. I think this fact accounts for one of the most significant weaknesses of the progressive movement.

When I debate with an intellectual liberal I notice that there is tendency to rely on facts, and data, and empiricism (who would've thought!). The liberal progressive is very uncomfortable dealing with an interlocutor who is espousing utter nonsense, stupidity, and dogma. When she interact with such individual she tends to try to explain, to inform, to educate, and when she is unable to, then she gives up, moving on with full knowledge that the right-wing nutjob she's trying to influence is beyond help.

And herein lies one of the biggest weaknesses of the Left: The belief that reason, and common sense, and science, and empiricism are the most important components when it comes to shaping public opinion. That attitude is extremely dangerous, and will always be a major contributor to the defeat of liberal and progressive causes.

snip

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/12/10/812766/-A-Very-Dangerous-And-Radical-ManifestoPart-III

:rofl: That hasn't seemed true when I perused DKos and it does not seem to be a major problem on DU either. When I debate with a liberal what I typically notice is that they make a half-hearted attempt to explain something (to marshall facts and logic), if that, decide that you (even a fellow liberal (except that they KNOW you really are not)) is beyond help and then resort to insults and name-calling. We rely on our own sense of moral superiority (that the Other Team is full of racists and bigots and irrational people and factually challenged idiots) and hence we too often cannot be bothered with either facts or honest differences of opinion.

rely on emotional arguments far too often.

If this place were all about facts, rationality and empiricism, then it would be far less interesting and there would be far less discussion.

Yes, people on the left can be dumb and emotional too.

... any kind of data to back this up? ;)

of liberals/progressives is that they refuse to respect different views and beliefs. That is why they believe ANYTHING not in agreement with how they believe, is "utter nonsense," "stupidity," and "dogma." That differing views should be dismissed rather than listened to. There is no reason or common sense unless it is defined by them.

THAT, is what will always be a major contributor to the defeat of liberal and progressive causes.
THAT, is why Obama ran as a centrist rather than as a liberal or progressive.
THAT, is why he won and is now President Obama.

Just look at Fox "news", they don't use reason, common sense, and science, they just repetitively lie 24hrs a day until their mindless drones accept the lies as truth.