The tribalism is getting so bad that people with different views can't be friends, can't socialize with each other, can't be or work together. The media and people like Michael Moore, on both sides, are spreading this. I fear that more and more it will erupt in violence, because when we feel that some people are absolutely useless, without value, it's not a far leap to consider it ok to hurt them physically. I offer the following suggestions, bipartisan, because I think this country can't go on this way. There's more to life than politics. If you examine your life and find all you care about is politics, that politics is infiltrating every area of your life, realize that you really don't have a life and make changes. Find other things to be interested in. Come to know that you have a right to choose what you think is the appropriate forum to discuss politics. Just because someone gives you their opinion doesn't mean they are entitled to know yours. It's ok to not talk politics with certain people and in certain settings. I think conservatives especially have kind of been conditioned to feel disloyal to our country if we don't constantly defend our views verbally. When you are talking politics, choose your battles. I think we all have issues that are super important to us and others that we can just say uncle about. And try to talk about policies, rather than candidates. Really, that's what's important, not whose policy it is. And you are much more likely to convince someone that way. Think about giving your opponent a break by realizing that they may have other issues that contribute to an outburst that seems extreme or out of character. I recently posted about the extreme statement a friend made that I was hurt by; I have since learned from her husband that she is in the beginning stages of Alzheimer's. So I figure that may be a thing in this, and am inclined to give her a pass. Consider opening your mind by receiving your news from different sources. Different sources report on different stories altogether. Not necessarily flipping from Fox to CNN, but maybe TV news plus a newspaper. Examine what you are consuming for fact vs. opinion. I have noticed that the news people, on both sides, have gotten very good at masquerading their opinion as fact, and it is hard to decipher. Get good at it. Instead of taking their word for what a politician said, watch for video clips so you actually hear it. Then, if you are really interested, try to find the entire conversation, so you know the context. The media is very good at giving you just a snippet, so you are unaware of the context. Remember, the media is interested in ratings, pretty much only. I don't know if any of this is helpful, and it's only my thoughts. I welcome other people's suggestions on keeping all of us civil.
