Helpful Hints for the Liberal

..... Ah the Left side of the political aisle(note the correct spelling, more on that later). Ahh the left. Land of perpetual plenty, clean air, clean water, abundant sunshine, and the proper disposition of wealth. As I continue my quest on the Vine to stamp out liberalism, true liberalism, I run across many who continue to use time honored tactics that simply do not play well to others. I assume that liberals want others to listen and hear what they have to say, yet to often they fall prey to their own particular brand of conversational folly. I write this in the hope that some liberals may find it useful, and that it may help them to realize you get more flies with honey so to speak. I have many friends on the Vine who are not of my particular political leanings and I hope they all realize that if they honestly do not fit any of the following then this does not apply to them......

   When starting a dialogue with someone politeness and courtesy are key. This can be achieved by by not doing the following:

1. Insulting or belittling someones screen name. You don't know why they chose it. Leave it alone. Concentrate instead upon the issue being discussed.

2. Use of the "adjectives" ignorant, stupid, idiotic, and other negatives are sure to halt a debate before it gets started. I realize it is paramount to win at any cost. Try winning on the issues, not the more potent insult.

3. Belittling or disparaging remarks about a persons origin of birth. I realize the liberal is on the front battling the stereotyping of individuals everywhere. Try and act as if you are a veteran of that fight.

4. Allow others to have an opinion of their own. Dismissing anothers opinion out of hand is a sure fire way of ending anything resembling debate. Try to sway rather than flay.

   These are four simple rules that ought to get your debate rolling nicely.

 Another thing I notice lefties(do you mind if I call y'all lefties? I was going to use leftists but I keep getting an image of a guerrilla fighter draped with bandoleers of ammunition holding a US issue M-16)doing is using the "fluid definition." A fluid definition being a constantly changing definition of a term or phrase or concept, to fit current mood, talking point, or attempted back pedaling. Very few things can have a "fluid definition" and I am fairly certain everything under the sun is not one. An example; Racism. Disagreeing with someone is not racism, it is disagreement. Implying racism in fact tends to put lefties in a bad light themselves. Something else is the, "it doesn't apply to me" syndrome. This is typically voiced as " I am not one of those people" or " I do not feel that way" or "You cannot put me in the same group as those." One needs to remember if one is going to invoke these terms that one will probably be seen again on the Vine. Attempting to be a different individual as one moves from topic to topic seed to seed can get tricky. Usually far more tricky than most are capable of pulling off. Be yourself at all times and be proud. If one is a liberal then by God stay a liberal for the entire day.

  Still another hint would be to not adopt the attitude of "final authority" on any and all subjects. I know this may come as a shock to many lefties but y'all are not the sole purveyors of knowledge and wisdom. There are, in fact, many other educated people in the world and quite a few are capable of thinking for themselves. Try operating from the understanding that others can also think and have the ability to assimilate information and might possibly come to a conclusion other than your own. Something else I have found to be a bit of a debate killer is "hairsplitting." This tragedy usually occurs when a leftie has back pedaled right off a cliff, or has realized the one leg they were standing on is no longer under them. Some examples are; pointing out mistakes in grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, I realize the lefty stand by that folks take someone more seriously when they are English MBA's, but lets face it, in this brave new world of abbreviated everything is it really that important? Taking statistics apart down to the hour they were compiled. Really? Needlessly pointing out it was Paul Rand and not Rand Paul who said something. Stick to the issues one will be much more highly thought of in the end.

  Demands for links and proof. These are perfectly acceptable requests except for the tiny fact that lefties tend to either dismiss them outright after they have been provided. Or they claim that any and all sources are completely non-credible. First off, lefties are going to find a lot less people who are willing to discuss anything with them. Rather hard to sway anyone when lefties are surrounded by no one but themselves. Very hard to get a majority as well. This also destroys any credibility lefties may have, as it gives the impression lefties are not open to any information not prior approved by them. Try reading other stuff expand those horizons I promise it will not hurt. Nor will one suddenly get the urge to turn all capitalist. Never know might in fact learn something.

  And finally, though I cringe at the mention, I must address the left's fear and loathing of the great Satan and his demon horde; George W Bush and staff/cabinet. I have no problem with saying that ole W is not the brightest bulb in the box. In fact I often found him to be a smirking moron. And did a LOT of profiteering and outright theft and God awful (sorry about the God reference, just a figure of speech) decision making go on during W's reign? Hell yes. But for the love of Go... excuse me, Pete, let it go. George Bush did not single handedly cause global warming, the economic crisis, your local quikie mart to stop stocking your favorite bran muffin, sun spots , bad cell phone reception, hurricanes, tsunamis, or the NFL lockout. Lefties need to take a step back and realize he has not been the president for nigh on three years now. He is down on his ranch and the only harm he can cause is to his livestock. If lefties continue to invoke his name in every other excuse offering he may just be resurrected in some far more sinister and hideous form. Or, folks are going to start talking.

    Well I hope these hints and suggestions help lefties out there to improve and hone their skills when debating or discussing matters, in their never ending quest to do what is best for all of us. And lefties though righties may live in a perpetual dream of good old days gone by that in fact never existed you may notice from time to time, they are certainly, generally speaking, polite and courteous and willing to listen.