Reply #31: For the first time, I have been perusing FR in light of the election [View All]

[Mrs. Overall]

and here is what I have noticed:

1. Many opinions and assessments by FR members are based on religion, specifically Fundamentalist Christianity (both Protestant and Conservative Catholic). Rather than using critical thought and reason, they will back up arguments with biblical allusions and their personal faith.

2. Intolerance is tolerated at FR, but not on DU. On DU there is a certain amount of intolerance, but it mostly aimed at individuals and groups who are intolerant. I am completely fine with being intolerant of intolerance, but on FR I have been absolutely shocked at the racial slurs and the hatred of ethnic groups that their moderators allow. Hatred against immigrants, blacks, and Muslims seems to be completely acceptable. The last few weeks there have been entire threads that were written in stereotypical black dialect complete with slurs. People get fired in the real world for such behavior.

3. Advocation of violence is also acceptable on FR, but not on DU. FR has assassination posts, a call to arms against neighbors who are Democrats, posts in favor of eradicating countries with nuclear weapons, and sterilizing minorities. Again, these posts and threads are not removed by the moderators.

4. Diversity of opinion is not allowed on FR, but is allowed on DU. Members are tomb-stoned quickly on FR if they seem to introduce ideas that are not strictly adherent to conservative Republican ideology. Exploration of ideas and intellectual curiosity are not allowed, which leads me to believe that the level of education of FR members is not very high. I think we on DU probably appear fractured with a lot in-fighting, but that is because we encourage critical thought and looking at the complexity of issues.

I went over 200 words! I think there are more distinctions as well. I'm very curious about this political division because I grew up in a Republican household and the majority of my family are prejudiced and scoff at education. I'm the black sheep.