The Danger Of Typecasting
March 9th, 2008When you categorize large groups of people into simple groups, misunderstandings often result.
Lining up folks by party affiliation is no different.
So when the Review Journal quoted me as saying “Democrats tend to run a little bit more on emotion than on intellect” at yesterday’s Clark County Republican Convention, I wondered what I would find in my inbox today. Sure enough:
Republicans tend to run off a bit on the mouth, and you have the biggest mouth of them all. Yep, that’s the way to endear yourself to Democratic voters. Just call them stupid. Nice job you moron.
Sigh.
The emailer, of course, remained anonymous by not including a phone number or email address on his email to me, so I’ll post my response here.
The crux of my correspondent’s anger seems wrapped around incorrectly equating the phrases “tend to run a little bit more on emotion than on intellect” and “stupid.” They seem, to me, quite different.
Wikipedia’s entry on “emotion” includes this:
Despite that in many cultures emotions (passion) are contrasted with cognition (reason) as a source of motivation and decision making, modern psychological science recognizes that, in healthy animals and humans, an individual’s emotion, cognition, and behavior have a certain degree of integration and also can influence reciprocally each other.
I believe most people make decisions by both emotional and intellectual (or cognitive, or reasoning, or whatever label works for you) processes. Sometimes they lead to different decisions and sometimes they lead to the same decision.
To anyone offended by their misinterpretation of my words, I apologize and hope that their continued reflection will help bring them around to understanding that no offense was meant.
March 10th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
I have found that MOST Liberals are very quick to label Republicans as liars, big business backers, lacking in knowledge and stupid, when it is thwey that are ’short sighted.’
Unwillingness to listen and learn, with an open mind, is all I can say about the ‘main stream Liberal!
They label anyone in Office relating truth about a Liberal as a ’smear monger,’ yet are quick to ’spin the truth’ to hide the most horrendous of acts by their Elected Officials! Double standard? Nah…It’s just their way.
March 15th, 2008 at 9:11 am
Coming from California, I know plenty of Democrats. In some circles I was known as “the Republican”. I have had plenty of debates, some of them heated, and actually found that some people do listen. Maybe not enough to swing them to the right side of the aisle, but enough to have a more open mind of just what a Republican really is. I think it is a fair statement that Sen. Beers made. I think if someone really listened they would have attacked us for being emotionless. LOL
March 15th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
Take the time and visit http://www.DesertConservative.com and browse some of the writings and articles I comment on and post. That just might give a bit of insight into our problems with the Left.
March 15th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
Let’s be honest. Democrats and Republicans are both leaning heavily towards socialism. Socialism has been tried extensively throughout the 20th century and it is a failure.
Time for us to relinquish socialism and return to a “republican” form of government.
March 16th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Funny how we resorted to name-calling and gossip in third grade. I guess some have not left third grade. Too bad they are allowed to vote. If there are too many of them voting we may get a government of puppets carrying out the will of our oppressors. Good thing we are strong enough to resist this and smart enough to see it…..at least I hope we are.
March 17th, 2008 at 4:14 am
We already HAVE a “government of puppets carrying out the will of our Oppressors.”
Being smart means cleaning out Congress, the federal courts, and electing someone besides one of the current 3 front-running presidential candidates. That will require intelligent, informed voters, and honest, non-pandering, political candidates.
Big order. Good luck to us!