What topics gets people most hostile in a discussion?

[GreenvilleGrows]

The thread about political views and drinking got me to thinking...

In your opinion, during what begins as a non-confrontational discussion, what topics are met by the most open hostility? Is it race, abortion, religion, what? And, what type of person is typically the most hostile?

For example, are liberals or are conservatives (or women) most hostile about abortion (or whatever)? Who is most likely to make it impossible to have a somewhat reasonable discussion?

I just listed some random ideas for the poll, but I thought it might make an interesting discussion thread.

 

[ThePlayDrive]

1. the middle east
2. racism
3. abortion
4. taxes

 

[digsbe]

I think it's purely subjective and also it depends on the individual. It depends on what a person's "hot button" issue is.

 

[GreenvilleGrows]

1. the middle east
2. racism
3. abortion
4. taxes

Is there a type of person that is most hostile about each of these items?

I think it's purely subjective and also it depends on the individual. It depends on what a person's "hot button" issue is.

It is subjective. I'm curious about your own personal experiences, though, about who was hostile and what they were hostile about.

 

[ThePlayDrive]

Is there a type of person that is most hostile about each of these items?

Eh, not really. I just listed the topics that get heated the most often. I guess there are probably three types of hostile people: the ones who believe their own hype, the ones who are genuinely infuriated and the ones who decide the conversation isn't going anywhere anyway, so...

From my observations, hostility usually begins when one person is unwilling to treat another's argument as having any legitimacy. Sometimes the dismissal is warranted and othertimes it is not, but most of the time, it's the catalyst for a hostile thread.

 

[whysoserious]

Lately? Almost all of the above. People get mad if I say I support Obama.

 

[Your Star]

Homosexuality, and abortion in my experience.

 

[Enola]

I wish that abortion thread titled "why can't you all be honest" drives me BONKERS. I know who started it too. Same weirdo that started the same topic, same title, somewhere else. And like here, banned. Thank God.

All abortion topics should be thrown out the window in my opinion. Screeching and bemoaning it isn't going to change anyones mind...no matter what side of the proverbial fence they sit on. So why bother.

 

[Enola]

Lately? Almost all of the above. People get mad if I say I support Obama.

I don't give a rats patooty on WHO gets "mad" at my opinions. Support whom you wish and devil take the hindemost, says I.

 

[whysoserious]

I wish that abortion thread titled "why can't you all be honest" drives me BONKERS. I know who started it too. Same weirdo that started the same topic, same title, somewhere else. And like here, banned. Thank God.

All abortion topics should be thrown out the window in my opinion. Screeching and bemoaning it isn't going to change anyones mind...no matter what side of the proverbial fence they sit on. So why bother.

It is possible to discuss topics like that with civility. I do not think many have the intelligence, patience, or wisdom to do so. I stay out of abortion for that reason - I know most do not have those three necessities, and I do not as well. My understanding of biology is freshman, my patience for pro-lifers and their extremist rhetoric is short, and I am not old enough to be wise.

 

[lpast]

The most rancorous for me has been homosexuality.....but Gay Marriage specifically not homosexuality in general.

 

[sangha]

All of the above

 

[Risky Thicket]

If homosexuality is genetic, is it OK for a devout Christian couple to abort if they discover they are going to have a gay child?

That should piss a few people off.

 

[celticwar17]

Abortion definitely.... one side claims something doesn't have the right to live while the other side thinks that something does.
One side think human beings are being murdered and society is numb to its distaste; and the other thinks its nothing more then a blob of cells.


But for the other ones...
Cap. Pun.----> meh, people are usually able to have civilized/philosophical conversations about it
Immigration----> pretty much no one has a problem with immigration... but illegal immigration I am usually even able to have this debate in public with random people; except if the person is Hispanic (PROFILING O_OX!X!X!) then i would be more hesitant b/c more then likely they would have a bias(in my experience), but this depends on the situation and what i figured out about the person.
Religon-------> BIG DEAL to a lot of people, this is up there with abortion. Many people don't like debating about their religion.
Race----------> Yes, this is a source of hostility, even for me, it constantly pisses me off. I think the government should just not even recognize the concept of race.
President------> this just brings an annoyance factor than a real heat-up factor.
Gun Control------> debates are pretty chill and are usually filled with statistics and evidence involving constitution, qualitative, and quantitative method's on both sides(actually in my opinion more one side then the other :X)
Homosexuality---------> Most people just don't give a whole lot of ****, its usually a yes or no question, and most say yes i approve, this goes into the annoyance factor more then real hostility. There are gay parades everywhere.




abortion is one of the ones where people do bombings and terrorism. Race is about the only other one it which could be as interpreted as being close to the severity, but only debatebly.

 

[Voltaire X]

Abortion, gun control, immigration, homosexuality

There's a lot of racists out there who don't seem to understand that the illegal immigrants today are hardly different than immigrants who came over from Europe 100-150 years ago. Back then it was way easier to immigrate here legally. Accepting immigrants into our society is a major part of our history.

 

[Enola]

It is possible to discuss topics like that with civility. I do not think many have the intelligence, patience, or wisdom to do so. I stay out of abortion for that reason - I know most do not have those three necessities, and I do not as well. My understanding of biology is freshman, my patience for pro-lifers and their extremist rhetoric is short, and I am not old enough to be wise.

No. It is not possible to discuss it with civility because this is the internet and it is full very VERY pissed off people who demand everyone think like they do. But I like your style so with you..and maybe others of like mind of yourself, I'll change my opinion to MAYBE it could be discussed with civility.

 

[Voltaire X]

The thing I don't like about the abortion argument is that it's been legal in all 50 states since 1973. Support for legal abortion has only grown since then. Yet some people are still blindly voting for presidential candidates who are pro-life when abortion isn't even an issue that the president has any influence over. I find it very troubling. Why would abortion suddenly be made illegal again now? Wouldn't Roe v Wade have been undone decades ago when the pro-life crowd had a lot more influence? I understand why people are pro-life, I really do, but it's not something they are going to be able to decide for other people.

 

[Your Star]

No. It is not possible to discuss it with civility because this is the internet and it is full very VERY pissed off people who demand everyone think like they do. But I like your style so with you..and maybe others of like mind of yourself, I'll change my opinion to MAYBE it could be discussed with civility.

I suggest checking out the loft.

 

[obvious Child]

Abortion is a minefield for a single reason.

The participants never start on the same page. How can you have a reasonable, civil discussion when the participants don't even share one square inch of common ground? Even YECs and evolution backers share SOME common ground.

As for others, I agree with Disgbe that it's largely subjective.

 

[CaptainCourtesy]

Completely subjective, depending on the issue that an individual is most passionate about.

 

[atrasicarius]

Depends on the person. Some people won't get worked up by any of those topics. Some people will answer all of the above.

 

[spud_meister]

Whether dogs or cats are better.

 

[LaughAtTheWorld]

I don't know if this came up before, but I'd be surprised if it didn't.
Simple one word: Obama

 

[OrphanSlug]

It seems to me any topic becomes hostile the moment one group tells another how they should think or feel about the topic, it gets worse the moment one group claims some sort of superiority in that infliction of one view by force over the other.

 

[Alyssa]

I agree with Digsbe. It depends. I've only gotten angry here once- in the poll forum ironically. The thread was discussing who was responsible for a dog killing a four year old. I just quit posting there. It's not worth getting heated over. If people are dumb enough to believe that an open door was responsible for the attack, so be it. My hot topic issue is children. Some people are utterly insensitive and unconcerned for the plight of children, and yeah- that will piss me off. But it's different for everyone. Some people get their knickers in a twist over dogs which is silly, imo. What I am curious about is why certain members will post almost exclusively in only one forum. What's their story?