The Fence Test

[JJ Husker]

Got this in my email in the last few days.

Thought it might generate some discussion.

 

Which side of the fence are you on?

 

If a republican doesn't like guns, he doesn't buy one.

If a democrat doesn't like guns, he wants guns outlawed.

 

If a republican is a vegetarian, he doesn't eat meat.

If a democrat is a vegetarian, he wants meat products banned for everyone.

 

If a republican is homosexual, he quietly leads his life.

If a democrat is homosexual, he demands legislated respect.

 

If a republican is down and out, he thinks about how to better his situation and feels some responsibility for improving his lot.

A democrat wonders who is going to take care of him.

 

If a republican doesn't like a talk show host or news station, he switches channels.

Democrats demand that those they don't like be shut down.

 

If a republican is a non-believer, he doesn't go to church.

A democrat non-believer wants any mention of God or religion silenced.

 

If a republican decides he needs health care, he goes about shopping for it or may choose a job that provides it.

A democrat demands that the rest of us pay for his.

[Muck]

If a republican is homosexual, he quietly leads his life.

If a democrat is homosexual, he demands legislated respect.

 

...

 

If a republican is a non-believer, he doesn't go to church.

A democrat non-believer wants any mention of God or religion silenced.

 

These two both stand out as being more than a little deceptive (above and beyond the usual oversimplification of complex issues into binary talking points that you see in these types of chain letters) as they are both topics where some on the far right are equally vocal about controlling the actions of those who disagree with their viewpoints as are those on the left regarding some of the other issues listed.

[krill]

I'm on the false dichotomies are stupid side of the fence.

[NUance]

The Fence Test

 

I thought this thread was going to be about Akita's battle with his backyard neighbor.

[carlfense]

I'm on the false dichotomies are stupid side of the fence.

If a Republican sees different opinions, those opinions must be wrong.

If an Independent sees black and white options, he laughs at the false dichotomy.

[johnnyrodgers20]

I'm on the false dichotomies are stupid side of the fence.

If a Republican sees different opinions, those opinions must be wrong.

If an Independent sees black and white options, he laughs at the false dichotomy.

 

Is that the game with board walk and Park Place?

[Muck]

If a Republican sees different opinions, those opinions must be wrong.

If an Independent sees black and white options, he laughs at the false dichotomy.

 

[carlfense]

If a Republican sees different opinions, those opinions must be wrong.

If an Independent sees black and white options, he laughs at the false dichotomy.

 

I hoped that it would come through. Sometimes things get lost in text translation.

 

['SkersRule]

Simplistic dichotomies of the OP aside, there are some truths to them just like stereotypes.

[knapplc]

Simplistic dichotomies of the OP aside, there are some truths to them just like stereotypes.

 

There are no truths in that chain email. My God - it's a freaking CHAIN EMAIL, the stereotype of which is mindless twaddle.

['SkersRule]

Simplistic dichotomies of the OP aside, there are some truths to them just like stereotypes.

 

There are no truths in that chain email. My God - it's a freaking CHAIN EMAIL, the stereotype of which is mindless twaddle.

 

Another stereotype based on some level of truth.

[knapplc]

Simplistic dichotomies of the OP aside, there are some truths to them just like stereotypes.

 

There are no truths in that chain email. My God - it's a freaking CHAIN EMAIL, the stereotype of which is mindless twaddle.

 

Another stereotype based on some level of truth.

 

Do you honestly, honestly believe that Democrats and Republicans can be broken down into the ridiculous caricatures in the OP?

 

Isn't it far more likely that members of both parties embrace a wide variety of beliefs/ideals, and that you could find people to fit Line A and Line B in each of those examples in BOTH parties?

 

Let's not for a second pretend that this email contains anything relevant, factual or constructive to real conversation. It's a collection of the most pandering kinds of stereotypes. Nothing more.

['SkersRule]

Simplistic dichotomies of the OP aside, there are some truths to them just like stereotypes.

 

There are no truths in that chain email. My God - it's a freaking CHAIN EMAIL, the stereotype of which is mindless twaddle.

 

Another stereotype based on some level of truth.

 

Do you honestly, honestly believe that Democrats and Republicans can be broken down into the ridiculous caricatures in the OP?

 

Isn't it far more likely that members of both parties embrace a wide variety of beliefs/ideals, and that you could find people to fit Line A and Line B in each of those examples in BOTH parties?

 

Let's not for a second pretend that this email contains anything relevant, factual or constructive to real conversation. It's a collection of the most pandering kinds of stereotypes. Nothing more.

 

It's not that I believe that all republicans or democrats can be neatly stuffed inside a neat little idealogical box. It's more that there are truths to every stereotype.

[knapplc]

You can't just say "There are truths to every stereotype" and think that's an OK reason to perpetuate stereotypes. That old saw is poppycock in the first place, and it's not conducive to genuine openness and conversation in the second place.

['SkersRule]

But there are truths to every stereotype that's why they exist.

 

* Whites are stereotyped into this caricature who cringes in "fear" every time a black or hispanic looks his/her way.

* Blacks are stereotyped into the doorag, saggy pants wearing, gold teeth, gangbanger.

* Hispanics are stereotyped into being lazy.

* Asians are stereotyped into being good with math.

* Jews are stereotyped into being stingy or frugal.

* Irish are stereotyped into being brawling drunks.

 

Now is every member of said group like the stereotype? Of course not. But they do exist even if they're a minority within that group.