Picture
Since I became politically active in high school, I have had extensive experience with debating liberal kids my age. The real debating began when my communist-sympathizing AP World History teacher threw me out of class. I had challenged his statements that 9/11 was a response to the Crusades and that slavery atrocities (from the movie Amistad) still exist in America today.  I began moving my political vocalism from the classroom and out to Facebook. 

Posting political statuses or commenting on other people's statuses is a great way to start candid and open discussions.  Considering mine were all Christian/Catholic or conservative in nature, I usually stir quite a commotion with little effort. 

My peers have generally been 50/50 on the political scale.  While the vast majority of American youth don’t take politics seriously, our generation loves to focus on social issues (eg. gay marriage or abortion).  These topics are extremely touchy for many and if not carefully moderated, can bring out emotions.

Generally there are 2 types of conservative debaters:

1. Fact-based and concise. Well thought-out.

2. Hate-filled and personal. Unknowledgeable.

The two typical types of liberal debaters are

1. Emotional and personal.  Unknowledgeable.

2. Intelligent and well-meaning.

Here is my advice for how to debate with liberals:

1. Stay polite! Typically, if liberals become outgunned, they will either change the subject or (most commonly) get personal.  A discussion on gay marriage could snap to abortion.  Arguments about politics will become personal (e.g. “Obama’s taxes are too high…”, “YOU AREN’T A WOMAN…YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE PREGNANT!”)   Of course this is an exaggerated example, but true, nonetheless.  Avoid being personal, stay classy, and kill them with kindness…they hate that.

2. Stay fact-based when discussing politics.  Actually do some research and use statistics!

3. Respond to hate and insults with emoticon happy faces!  Tell the mud-thrower that you will pray for them and their angry/profane mouth. 

4. Be extremely wary of “self-victimizers.” Those who especially tout "minority status" will try to tell you they are more qualified on a topic because they are a certain race or have a certain sexual orientation.  You and I both know that this argument is bollocks.  Stick to your facts!  Stay polite.

5. Make sure you back your like-minded fellow debaters up! Twos voices are louder (and more convincing) than one!

As the election comes closer, I hope you can use these tips for your late night Facebook battles.  Fight the good fight!

 


Comments

MuslimACLUjewishminorityliberalhomosexual
10/17/2012 11:00pm

*bollocks
btw if you are trying to claim that facts win debates, then why are you still religious? i mean facts disproved that shit years ago. Obama 2016!

Reply
johnny
10/22/2012 4:38pm

Grow up faggot. Catholicism is the only way of life and Obama is a cancer. Mitt Romney is a saint and obviously wants to help the American people. He is so different than every other politician! Mitt actually cares about the middle class and will cut taxes in a way that we are not smart enough to understand, so lay off ya liberal!

Reply
AnAnonymousFriend
10/17/2012 11:20pm

Johnny, please do not hold anything about your incessant facebook posts up to be something worthwhile or even conducive to human interaction. It's fucking toxic. The fact that you section off a group of your friends up into "liberals" and require special rules for dealing with them says enough. The way you treat your liberal friends in this article is nothing more than degrading. Stop treating politics as a wedge between people, and stop hammering away at that wedge. While you're at it, stop treating yourself like you're one of those first types of conservatives; you are hate-filled, personal, and often unknowledgable, or at the very least you consistently come off as it. You have conviction, I'll give you that, but you have no interest in considering some extremely valid arguments of others, and are consistently dismissive or ignorant. You're a nice guy otherwise, but people do not like this about you, and the sooner you realize this the better it will be for you. It's not just me, other people I've mentioned it to who like you as a person cannot stand the fact that you see the world in such a politically divisive manner. This isn't politically based, and you and I agree on several things, it's based on the fact that you clearly do not know how to mix politics and people, and you should by no means be advocating this to others. Get over yourself.

Reply
AHelpingHand
10/18/2012 7:48am

Johnny,
He(^) couldn't be more right. You're constant belief that liberals must be 'dealt with' and that conservatives never act in the same reprehensible and illogical manner during arguments (see young earth debate) is frustrating at best.
If you want to move this country forward, stop making this an Us vs. Them, as civil and willing to debate as you may seem. The government rules for all, not for whichever faction put them in power. The quicker we all get our heads around that the quicker this country can stop moving backwards.
And when it comes to Facebook posts: cut them out, seriously, no one wants to see that. almost as bad as instagraming your food.

Reply
What he said
10/18/2012 8:59am

Seriously. This guy hit the nail on the head. Your overblown and frankly ridiculous "political activism" is far and away your worst quality. Knock that shit off.

Reply
john
10/17/2012 11:22pm

Johnny I disagree with you! All you do is bad mouth out president and all of the wonderful things he's done for our country! Look at all the jobs he's created and he's even gotten our country out of debt! He's the greatest person ever

Reply
Sean
10/18/2012 2:30am

Best. . . comment. . . . ever. . . .

Reply
10/18/2012 2:24pm

John what country do you live. he got our country out of debt. your crazy or are either asleep. . he added six trillion in new debt in three years lol



Reply
Braden Domier
10/17/2012 11:42pm

Johnny, I think you may be projecting a liberal stereotype onto the people that you debate with. This would have been a great article had it been "debating with people". Ignorance doesn't go by party lines, their are ridiculous people on both sides of the aisle. I know that you mean well but you assume a lot about liberals and you are no doubt guilty (as am I) of a lot of these debate problems. Also, you didn't mention that your "Communist sympathizing AP World History Teacher" is one of the sweetest teachers on this planet. Also Johnny, you're not exactly known for your calm and collected writing. But in all honesty, if writing this out helps you keep your cool and be rational the next time you debate then I'm all for it. Best of luck Johnny!

Reply
seriously guys
10/17/2012 11:57pm

don't feed the trolls

Reply
mrorangecounty
10/18/2012 1:34am

The worst part about it is that he is not trolling. I went to a private high school with him in orange county, one of the richest areas in the United states and now he attends a catholic college which is about half a grand per year that his parents pay. I'm amazed at the ignorance it takes to label people who have struggled or are struggling as "self-victimizers". If you want anyone to take you seriously about your economic values stop taking your parents money today, go get a part time job or two while continuing school, then go get a job in the real world without using your family contacts, and maybe in 20 years when you finish paying off your student debts then people might care what you have to say about "self-victimizers". Fact is you won't do it, neither will you stop arguing with liberals over the internet or stop attending an overpriced school while millions of children starve to death every year. Jesus doesn't give a shit about you forgiving a liberal's foul language WHEN THERE ARE MILLIONS OF CHILDREN AND PEOPLE LITERALLY STARVING TO DEATH EVERY YEAR. Imagine yourself going up to heaven right now and explaining to Jesus why writing smug articles about liberals on blogs no one reads was more important than feeding hungry and clothing the naked

Reply
anonymous
10/18/2012 7:07am

Yeah Johnny, don't go to Notre Dame because there is a hungry child out there somewhere.

Captain apples
10/18/2012 2:36pm

Yea Johnny drop out of one of the best schools in the country so u can donate ur money to kids in Africa and then sit there and collect welfare and not work!

errrmergerd
10/18/2012 3:17pm

there was something done here^

A liberal
10/18/2012 11:21pm

yeah johnny, your parent's hard work should mean that you go to a community college even though you got into Notre Dame through your own hard work and dedication! heaven forbid capitalism exist in America!!!

anonymous
10/18/2012 6:46am

Most ridiculous thing I have ever read.

Reply
Dolphieness
10/18/2012 10:22am

To the commenters on this page: You have basically proven what he stated in his article. Thank you. :-)

Reply
hardcore rightwing republican catholic that happens to be gay
10/19/2012 2:20pm

you tell em dolphieness! the comments on this page are irrefutable evidence that liberals are fucking idiots. i mean come on, millions of starving children? pfft tell em to get a job and help support their country's GDP. right now theyre just a bunch of self victimizers! i mean ive been hungry but i always pick myself up, go to the store, and get some godda- i mean goshdamn- food! We as americans cannot help those who cannot help themselves, for jesus would never do that. God bless the USA, God's favorite nation <3

Reply
Braden Domier
10/18/2012 3:53pm

No. @dollphieness, it does not. It proves that people are idiots, not liberals.

Reply
I Suck Cock
10/18/2012 10:13pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5i3F0YnkP0

how can you take this guy seriously after watching this. hes such a dumbass!!!! johnny, you are pretty dumb to. WHo the fuck thinks liberals are of a different race

Reply
Clit Romney
10/22/2012 4:43pm

Now I really like what you did with the pictures here! I look so noble with the light hitting my face at such an angle. Look at how pure my eyes are; you know I do not have a single bad intention in me. On the other hand, Obama looks mad or upset, an emotion that our president should never feel as he should be honored to lead the American people! Look at that sinister gaze, too! And I couldn't agree more with the title! If I am not elected, then yes, the American people will lose their freedom and die. So vote for me, Mittens Kock Romknee in this upcoming election!

Reply



Leave a Reply


UA-36493214-1