“When did disagreement degenerate into hatred?”

I would say right around the beginning of the internet.

I would say right around the beginning of the internet.

Damn you, Al Gore!

[shakes fist]
.

Well, simply, it’s because I’M RIGHT AND YOU’RE ALL WRONG!
BWAHAHAHAHA!

or not.

Jim, if you’re going to speak in generalities, wouldn’t it have been better to give at least one example from the left? It gives the platitudes more cred.

I can point you to a few web sites, if need be. Ever see the word “Rethuglicans”?

Whoops, I didn’t realise that Mack’s post was an example from the left. My bad.

Still a little weighted to one side, no?

Oh Lord. I think I’m gonna throw up.

Jim,
Fair question, and I think that the objectification of our opponents has always been a temptation, but it is exacerbated by the both the reach and the anonymous protection afforded us tools like the internet.

Of course, the stakes are higher now as well because the reach of gov’t has increased, too.

And finally, there is the reality that we no longer have anything like the cultural or worldview consensus we once enjoyed. Conflict is inevitable when there is disagreement on such basic principles.

That being said, I believe we have to resist the temptation to demonize those with whom we disagree. But we shouldn’t be surprised that there are serious disagreements.

Hate is a pretty strong word, as they say. I think a lot of what is said about the candidates and other public figures is deeply disrespectful ( not that a lot of them deserve any respect, imo) rude and crude. Hatred certainly exists, but it’s not what I perceive as the motivation for a lot of the comments I read about folks here and elsewhere. I would characterize it more as disust, disdain and disappointment.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s plenty of hatred out there, I just don’t think it’s THAT pervasive, yet.

Still a little weighted to one side, no?

I didn’t think so. I gave examples for Hillary, Barack, Mike and John. There were two comments that included John, but one was Coulter and she really slammed both John and Hillary - Hillary’s was just more of a backhand swipe.

The conservatives/republicans may not be evil incarnate, but they is a close, very close, resemblance.

Kevin,
And you wonder why I often have to bite my lip to write a check to the Nashville Rescue Mission each month? Some “voice for the homeless.”

And they say conservatives/republicans don’t have a sense of humor - pishaw.

make that “pshaw” - thank you merriam webster.

I don’t know the exact day but I think the year was 1968.