Political intolerance? Do you find it equal, or more prevalent in the Left or the Right?

2015-04-03T18:26:34-04:00

I heard a story on the radio about a couple demanding that Fox News NOT be allowed on the TV's in a County recreational center Cardio room. They've had a petition signed, and are threatening law suits to ensure Fox News is not allowed to be viewed.
Is this Censorship? Intolerance? Appropriate? What are your thoughts?
http://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2015/01/debate_over_fox_news_broadcast.html

Controversy over 'offensive' Fox News broadcasts at public recreation center in Ann Arbor

UPDATE: Fox News responds to controversy over 'offensive' broadcasts at Ann Arbor rec center A couple's objections to Fox News broadcasts at the Meri Lou Murray Recreation Center in Ann Arbor has Washtenaw County officials considering a new policy...

Response by SSG Gerhard S. made Apr 3 at 2015 6:36 PM

2015-04-03T18:36:28-04:00

To be transparent, I have problems with ALL of the news networks for a host of reasons. I probably watch Fox, more than other news networks, but I also watch CNN, and sometimes even MSNBC, at least until my face turns red, and my wife orders it off. That being said, I have never even considered asking someone to turn OFF another station, even if I absolutely disagree with what is being said. I feel there is something to be learned by exposing myself to opposing views, as well as those I hold.

It is stories like the one above that reeks of political intolerance, a vocal, almost fanatical desire to oppose and suppress any voices to which one doesn't agree. I've recently read some articles describing such intolerance on College campuses, and have spoken with many veterans with whom I've served that have experienced and observed this intolerance on campus.

I'd love to hear stories, experiences, and examples of political intolerance from RallyPoint members.

Response by SPC Angel Guma made Apr 3 at 2015 6:44 PM

2015-04-03T18:44:11-04:00

Intolerance is equally spread around. The only thing that changes with time or location is that some groups are just better at hiding their disease than others. In a different time, different place, it could be the conservatives that are filled with types able to hide intolerance while casting it on someone else. In the same place, decades later, it will be liberals.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 3 at 2015 6:55 PM

2015-04-03T18:55:44-04:00

That is intolerance, and censorship. What is next, what books to read or not? what words to say or not?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 3 at 2015 8:40 PM

2015-04-03T20:40:44-04:00

I don't understand the left and right thing but my opinion is that it is censorship. Their solution might be, turn the channel indicator to a different channel. That's prettysimple and cut and dried. TV stations are going to broadcast whatever they want to. It's like a bad reply or bad situation on the internet. My solution to that is, delete, delete, delete. There, it's gone. No more worry.

Response by SFC Charles S. made Apr 3 at 2015 9:03 PM

2015-04-03T21:03:33-04:00

Just my Humble opinion but it seems I've only seen the majority of the cases where the liberals are more intolerant of any viewpoint but their own.

Response by LTC John Shaw made Apr 3 at 2015 9:28 PM

2015-04-03T21:28:14-04:00

If they remove Fox News, it is censorship. If down to one or two TVs then OK.

The left is completely intolerant of viewpoints outside of their own, liberals claim to be open minded until the view is not there own. They cry like babies to cut off any information that presents both sides or even discusses a view outside their own.

We can go down the list of topics: Global Warming, now 'Climate Change', Any LGBT issue, Any Christian faith coverage must be in a bad light, Republicans are always parodied as dim witted and slow or specific stories are generated to make it appear this way.

I find the Main Stream Media (NBC, ABC, CBS, NY Times, AP for local papers), CNN, MSNBC unwatchable, they might as well just present the DNC and media matters script straight from a spokesperson. They carry the water for the LGBT community, DNC, Obama administration like Pravda carried the 'truth' for the Soviet Union. I can tolerate Fox News until they get on a story and drive it into the ground. I find the best news sources to be WSJ, BBC, Financial Times, the Economist and on occasion NPR.

I find the US is turning into a country against any group that stands for a Constitutional discussion of rights and principals and I fear for my country, my children and their opportunities.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Apr 4 at 2015 1:18 AM

2015-04-04T01:18:41-04:00

Let me just put it this way. As a Libertarian I run into intolerance from both sides. Yeah, those from both sides agree with some of my view points but viciously attack what they don't agree with.
I will have to say though that lefties tend to be just a bit more intolerant of what they don't agree with. For instance I've been called a "racist redneck" because of my viewpoints on illegal immigration.
But on the flip side I've been called a dirty hippie by some righties because of my viewpoints on the legalization of marijuana.

Response by SPC Patrick Gearardo made Apr 4 at 2015 7:53 AM

2015-04-04T07:53:56-04:00

If I see something on the tube that I don't like, I change the channel. The left try to shut it down permanently because that's what they do. Spout tolerance, but actions show differently.

Response by GySgt Joe Strong made Apr 4 at 2015 8:32 AM

2015-04-04T08:32:13-04:00

In my experience, people on the right will listen to you, allow you to define your terms and even reframe a couple of points and then may or may not accept that you legitimately hold a view that doesn't jibe with theirs.

IME, people on the left, IF, they are willing to listen, will only do so in order to have ammunition to verbally throw back at you as they impugn your character for holding such views if it doesn't fall completely within today's PC box view of the topic.

There are, of course, individuals on both sides who are either willing to think it thru with you, or, to insult not only you but your entire heritage for your thoughts. But, in general, the first two paragraphs apply.

If the TV still shows MSNBC, it's censorship to remove FOX NEWS.

Response by SSG Gerhard S. made Apr 4 at 2015 10:04 AM

2015-04-04T10:04:44-04:00

Here are some examples describing the intolerance of which I am speaking. If this is what some want to call civil discourse, I suggest a closer look at the word "civil".
http://townhall.com/columnists/johnhawkins/2012/06/12/7_ways_conservative_activists_are_being_harassed_by_the_left/page/full

Response by SSG Gerhard S. made Apr 4 at 2015 10:06 AM

2015-04-04T10:06:28-04:00

And here, a short video of one of the events.....

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=video&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CB0QtwIwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DYPsU-kSBnwI&ei=MewfVbX9CMXcsAXTmoDIDw&usg=AFQjCNHbtfjs-tmH-ox7TcadtwerfSbLXg&bvm=bv.89947451,d.b2w

Response by SGT Hector Rojas, AIGA, SHA made Apr 5 at 2015 2:04 AM

2015-04-05T02:04:20-04:00

I don't know if you've followed up on this case or not, but as it turns out, the Rec Center put the channel lineup to a vote and what do you know, the people there did not want Fox in ther Rec Center Screens.

It came a distant 6th place.

So, if a couple acting on what turned out to be the majority's opinion is considered by you an act of "political intolerance"...why don't you consider the Rec Center Manager's answer to their concern equally intolerant? Apparently he's the one that was intolerant of, as it turns out, the majority of it's membership's wishes by tuning not 1 but 4 screens to Fox.

And another one, Fox News aired a hit piece on the couple basically calling them winners and throwing a hissy fit.

That's not intolerance?

OK then.

I really don't get why RallyPoint is suddenly and lately so into political diatribe and finger pointing.

You're right leaning, you will have your supporters and that's great.
Why post "questions" that seem to be more of a bait post than anything else?

Reading some of your other replies in this very post it is clear that you just want to convince others of your argument not really pose a frank question hoping for an open dialogue.

Not cool in my book.

Response by PO2 Mark Saffell made Apr 5 at 2015 7:51 AM

2015-04-05T07:51:16-04:00

I have to agree with the results. People on the left say one thing and then do another. If you don't agree with the views on the left rather than debate you they try to censor you.

Response by MSgt Doug P. made Apr 5 at 2015 5:58 PM

2015-04-05T17:58:47-04:00

The left demands acceptance of their position and capitulation of any opposing ones or they will demonize you as a hateful bigot and sue you.
The right asks for acceptance of their position while acknowledging opposing views and will agree to disagree without the demonization.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 6 at 2015 1:51 PM

2015-04-06T13:51:37-04:00

I shut out a person's comments the minute they start labeling and name calling. I deal with a whole lot less political BS since I started doing that.

Response by SGT Jeremiah B. made Apr 6 at 2015 2:03 PM

2015-04-06T14:03:39-04:00

I spend a lot of time in contact with both sides and let me tell you, there are complete ideological bastards on both sides. No one has the monopoly on low information, high opinion jackasses with nothing to offer but hot air. Even when they're right, they're right for the wrong reasons.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 6 at 2015 4:30 PM

2015-04-06T16:30:49-04:00

http://townhall.com/columnists/johnhawkins/2013/01/12/25-people-places-and-things-liberals-love-to-hate-n1487699

25 People, Places, And Things Liberals Love To Hate

1) Guns for making all those poor innocent criminals break the law.

Response by SSG Trevor S. made May 1 at 2015 10:10 AM

2015-05-01T10:10:18-04:00

My observation is that the left is far more intolerant.

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made May 1 at 2015 10:34 AM

2015-05-01T10:34:12-04:00

Need to remind them of Freedom of Speech.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 1 at 2015 1:35 PM

2015-05-01T13:35:33-04:00

They did a study few years back and it was on how many errors were reported in the news network. Fox had the least errors and if im not mistaken MSNBC had the most. Now people just lean towards whatever news network they share their views with. Obviously someone from the left will complain about Fox and someone from the right will complain about CNN for example. You need all the news channels if your like me and want to get an idea of how everyone is viewing any certain issue. If you do this, you need to keep your views under control to see if your looking through a fishbowl or if you're actually looking at truth. With that said, you still need to get off your ass and research the really important topics. Dont depend on these networks to give you all the information because in the end they are about ratings. So I say leave them all on the tvs but just dont get wrapped up in them.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 1 at 2015 1:49 PM

2015-05-01T13:49:26-04:00

I agree with LTC John Shaw The media is run largely by liberals and to censor Republicans by not permitting Fox News is wrong. I also know that you never find Republicans EVER being depicted as good and if there is greed it is the greedy REPUBLICANS and never EVER Liberals.

It's not as if I do not have issues with some conservatives like taking away food stamps or other social programs but I digress. If conservatives are wrong then let them spew. Climate Change is a perfect example. 97%, of scientists agree ....... No matter that they have no idea of what they are talking about, the rhetoric is destructive and mindless babble.

Republicans often capitulate and it never helps Republican and it never causes a coming together. Democrats are well organized but corrupt and trying to ban Fox is but another example.

Response by PO2 Kevin LaCroix made May 1 at 2015 2:01 PM

2015-05-01T14:01:46-04:00

I see extremism from both "liberals" and "conservatives". I find the worst intollerence from Evangelical, so called,"Christians".

Response by CPL Brendan Hayes made May 1 at 2015 3:29 PM

2015-05-01T15:29:50-04:00

From my experience, both sides are very intolerant of other opinions. Both sides have attempted to stiffle the other through various means. Where it gets really annoying is when either side immediately goes to stock responses (and most "hot button" topics have stock responses for both sides). Once that happens, no amount of logic can prevail. This seems like the adult version of plugging your ears and shouting at the top of your lungs in an attempt to drown out what you don't want to hear. Yes, it prevents the person from hearing an opposing viewpoint, but it also keeps others from being able to participate in a thoughtful conversation.

Response by CW5 Jim Steddum made May 1 at 2015 8:00 PM

2015-05-01T20:00:46-04:00

We have become increasingly polarized and closed-minded and adversarial. I blame the media which by encouraging this behavior ensures their cash flow without any other real interest.

Political intolerance is squarely the result of uninformed (or misinformed), uneducated (or poorly educated) , and uncaring voters.