Tell this college student why I

[NYU 0]

A lot of people claim to be open minded but they aren't.  Their open minded as long as someone completely agrees with their worldview.

To me, being open-minded means listening to the other person's opinion and trying to understand where they're coming from. It doesn't mean allowing your opinion to be changed by this person - just making sure to give them your attention and listen to what they have to say.

 

Perhaps we just go to two completely different colleges with two completely different mindframes, but I have not seen any Conservative here get faced with being spit upon or screamed at on campus. I'm not saying it doesn't happen anywhere, but for a New York college - where the population is overwhelmingly liberal - I haven't seen it. Republicans do face ribbing for their position - there might even be people like myself who want to argue with them - but I haven't seen anyone get completely ostracized and shit upon for their own political beliefs. I'm sure there's an asshole here or there, but it's not too much more than what everyone else has to deal with.

 

I don't think I'm being naive at all. From my own personal experience, I have seen it to be if you debate people in an intelligent, well-spoken manner - you will not face shit for it. Czech, the "free thinker" you mentioned is obviously an asshole, so don't bother with him. The issue you might face is that, instead of showing the positive qualities of the Republican party, you choose to tear down the Democratic one. That's where you run into problems, like the person who's dad lost their job because of outsourcing. I'm not saying I don't do my fair share of tearing down the Bush administration, but if these are people who you do care somewhat about, then you need to be as respectful of them as possible. Don't tear down their political beliefs if you don't have to, because it will only lead to trouble.

[Styles 0]

Liberals don't understand.

-=Mike

There's no need to argue, liberals just don't understand.

[IllustriousOne 0]

Mm. I grew up mostly in South Carolina, but having spent some time not in SC, I see where the Czech is coming from.

 

When you get into a situation where there are a large group of a certain type of people in one place (college students with beliefs that exemplify having their head up their ass), you tend to find that the group mentality prevails over all and thus anyone that might offer a bit of a differing opinion is quickly shot down and ridiculed.

 

It's actually kind of similar on this board. However, being a moderately liberal college student, I'd have to say that it's a lot worse coming from the 18 to we'll say 25 demographic, in person, who are really really convinced that they're right about everything and know exactly what's going on in our country.

 

Fortunately, the cool thing about being in a college environment is that there are generally groups of people that represent all views. So, if you feel alienated by your current friends, just do some looking around and I'm sure you'll have no trouble at least finding some people with common grounds and interests. If nothing else, it's at least worth a shot.

 

-Josh

[Styles 0]

Fortunately, the cool thing about being in a college environment is that there are generally groups of people that represent all views. So, if you feel alienated by your current friends, just do some looking around and I'm sure you'll have no trouble at least finding some people with common grounds and interests. If nothing else, it's at least worth a shot.

 

-Josh

Exactly, I stress to Czech when he goes to college to seek out a group like College Republicans on campus to at least find the support of other people who dare not be liberals on a college campus, you'll find there's more than you think.

[iggymcfly 0]

That's the fun thing about being a Libertarian. When, I'm with a group of strong Kerry supporters, (like my job this summer), I can agree that Bush has been a ridiculously bad president, but when I'm with chiefly conservatives (like believe it or not, college this fall), I can agree that Kerry would probably be even worse.

 

Fortunately, I'm strong enough in my views, that when someone asks me why I'm Libertarian, I can actually explain why, and show what parts of Bush's agenda are too far off from my worldview to support him.

[Guest SP-1]

NY,

 

No offense but you don't understand.  Only the conversatives that went to college understand the kind of shit people give you in college over your views.  A lot of people claim to be open minded but they aren't.  Their open minded as long as someone completely agrees with their worldview.  College is a completely different experience at times if you aren't liberal.

 

I've never made an issue of my religious beliefs, don't really bring them up.  You wouldn't believe the amount of shit I take from people over being religious when I hardly mention it.

Indeed. There has been a double standard, for DECADES, for conservatives on campuses as opposed to liberals. Heck, U. of S. Carolina was comparatively conservative, but if you uttered a conservative phrase --- such as "Clinton isn't that great a President" and the shitstorm never stopped.

 

Liberals don't understand.

-=Mike

One of these days I'm going to go over to USC and visit. It isn't that far from us.

[Edwin MacPhisto 0]

You guys need to come visit the University of Virginia. You'll love it. The student population is split very evenly.

[2GOLD 0]

The best response I ever got was from a college student after I told him I thought Bush wasn't such a bad guy.

 

After trashing me for five minutes, he ended his long spiel with a, "but what can I expect from a Republican lemming like you."

 

It only got better when I informed Captain Smart that I wasn't a Republican, he with a straight face says, "Oh, you are one of THOSE people."

 

I politely but confused asked, "Those people?"

"Blinded into believing the conservative lie."

 

I nearly passed out from laughing. He wasn't thrilled. I walked away, still laughing. He very calmly yelled an very impolite curse word at me. I kept walking, still enjoying my laugh.

 

I've had a few Republicans explode on me, but damn sure not as many as Democrats. That is getting to be one insane group of people from my experience. And yet my best friend and my gf's mom are in that group. I swear, I dig myself into these holes.

[Guest MikeSC]

NY,

 

No offense but you don't understand.  Only the conversatives that went to college understand the kind of shit people give you in college over your views.  A lot of people claim to be open minded but they aren't.  Their open minded as long as someone completely agrees with their worldview.  College is a completely different experience at times if you aren't liberal.

 

I've never made an issue of my religious beliefs, don't really bring them up.  You wouldn't believe the amount of shit I take from people over being religious when I hardly mention it.

Indeed. There has been a double standard, for DECADES, for conservatives on campuses as opposed to liberals. Heck, U. of S. Carolina was comparatively conservative, but if you uttered a conservative phrase --- such as "Clinton isn't that great a President" and the shitstorm never stopped.

 

Liberals don't understand.

-=Mike

One of these days I'm going to go over to USC and visit. It isn't that far from us.

Where do you go? I know of several religious schools in the state.

-=Mike

[godthedog 0]

UGA, where i went to school, seems to be mainly republican, at least in the student body. there's basically 2 groups competing for control there: the artfuck hippies who inhabit the coffee shops & record stores (dem.), and the redneck frat brothers who go barhopping every weekend (rep.). i was with the former, but we were WAY outnumbered by the latter. there were always protestors under the arch downtown with signs like "axis of weasels" and so forth, but it was always the same 4 or 5 people, most of them middle-aged townies.

 

the faculty seems pretty straight-up liberal, but that's to be expected since they aren't predominantly southern, like the students are.

 

so anyway, i never really heard about any of the, "you're not a liberal? EAT SHIT AND DIE, MOTHERFUCKER!!" stuff. coming to NYC for grad school was a whole different story. the week i moved in there were protests all over town that were all "don't you DARE hold the republican national convention in my town!"

 

i never understood that logic at all.

[The Czech Republic 0]

Oh, brother. Here's an anecdote I just remembered. My AP psych teacher last year? Insanely liberal. This is one of the first times I decided to stay away from political discussion.

 

"I'd like to recommend some fine independent news sources so that you guys can get a liberal view of the news, for a change."

"For a change? The whole mainstream media is liberal as it is."

"Oh, you mean FOX NEWS?!?! Hahaha!" (I half-expected him to say lol 2004.)

"No...I mean ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, the New York Times, and public broadcasting, all very much liberal by all accounts."

"Listen. I have a degree in political science and you don't, so don't tell me they're liberal. Everyone knows they're conservative."

 

He also showed us Bowling For Columbine rather than actually teach fucking psychology. Maybe if he had done more than talk about how great his methods are, I would've gotten the 4 I wanted.

 

Oh, and MikeSC: guess what he gave me at the end of the year? A CD of Noam Chomsky speaking at Harvard.

"This is what I made my team listen to for that Iraq debate we had last year. And the material he talked about is why they beat your side."

 

Debate about going into Iraq, me and my friend took the right, about EIGHT people took the left. We tried.

[Guest MikeSC]

Noam Chomsky? Should've asked him if he has admitted that the Khmer Rouge were pretty bad after all.

-=Mike

...Would that man please just die?

[Guest SP-1]

Edit: NM

Edited November 1, 2004 by SP-1

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

I'd have to say that it's a lot worse coming from the 18 to we'll say 25 demographic, in person, who are really really convinced that they're right about everything and know exactly what's going on in our country.

 

That is so true on so many levels. Hell, that line of thinking can be applied to TSM, too.

 

OK, Having gone through the meat grinder known as academia, Czech, all I can tell you is this: Stay the course, don't back down, have a sense of humor and pick your battles.

 

For example, if you're in a class dominated by pseudo-hippies and a commie prof, and you try to pull a "Mike SC," you're probably going to get shot down through no fault of your own. Whenever I was in a class like this I usually just snickered or rolled my eyes whenever the commie prof started speaking out of their ass. If you started to attack their idiotic stances, you'll probably get beat down because 1) They probably know more gay-ass stats and stories than you and 2) You'll come off to the rest of the class as that obnoxious kid who thinks he knows it all.

 

What I usually did was pick my spots. For example (I've told this story before so be warned), in my public speaking class my commie prof was calling the Contract for America the "Contract ON America." Each time she said this I interrupted her and said that she said that document's name wrong. After several instances of correcting her she let loose on me saying how the Republicans accomplished nothing, they are the suq, yadda yadda. I said something to the extent of "Well, this is a public speaking class and you said how important it was to be accurate in what you say, etc."

 

After class was over, I had quite a few students, most of them older, come up to me and say how happy they were that someone put this prof in her place. This brings me to another point: Don't think you're the only person that thinks the way you do -- there are probably others that are too afraid to speak out, many of them hot chicks.

 

If you want another story, do a search and read my Jonny Gammage story, a prime example of what to do, imo, when confronted with groups of tolerance and understanding...

[GreatWhiteNope 0]

Oh, brother. Here's an anecdote I just remembered. My AP psych teacher last year? Insanely liberal. This is one of the first times I decided to stay away from political discussion.

 

"I'd like to recommend some fine independent news sources so that you guys can get a liberal view of the news, for a change."

"For a change? The whole mainstream media is liberal as it is."

"Oh, you mean FOX NEWS?!?! Hahaha!" (I half-expected him to say lol 2004.)

"No...I mean ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, the New York Times, and public broadcasting, all very much liberal by all accounts."

"Listen. I have a degree in political science and you don't, so don't tell me they're liberal. Everyone knows they're conservative."

That's the problem right now - liberals are so active in pointing out conservative bias that they refuse to acknowledge their own bias or completely forget about it.

[Guest BDC]

Whew, this subject is always like getting your wisdom teeth cut out.

 

I graduated with a degree in political science. I was VP of College Republicans. I worked on campaigns. I told people in my classes this. I did not try to hide it at all.

 

And yes, I caught inordinate amounts of crap over it.

 

So what I finally decided to do was just not say anything. People knew where I stood, they knew what I believed it. When I went to class, especially a class that wasn't a poli sci, and a political discussion started, my question was "So, will this be on the exam?". That usually shut everyone up, or if someone got pissy with me, my response was "I'm sorry, I came to this class to learn (ie)psychology, not listen to you."

 

Did that always stop it? Most of the time. The times it didn't I was basically deferred to as second-class. I was a hatemonger, a wealth prep (I was confused as I sat there in my battered hoodie and faded out jeans), and an ignorant hick.

 

That last one always set me off, so I turned it into a discriminatory thing. "You're so damn open-minded, but you persist in THAT stereotype?" And so on. I'd call them hypocrites and such and it would usually end with the professor getting us back to the text.

 

Czech, maybe my method wasn't the best, but basically, I just got sick of discussions all the time, especially ill-informed discussions where I'd go crazy and start yelling about how people didn't know what they were talking about and reciting a litany of facts and sources.

 

As for the other people outside of class, best advice I can give is just smile and say "I love democracy."

[GreatWhiteNope 0]

Czech, maybe my method wasn't the best, but basically, I just got sick of discussions all the time, especially ill-informed discussions where I'd go crazy and start yelling about how people didn't know what they were talking about and reciting a litany of facts and sources.

I learned that freshman year.

 

In a group discussion some girl started citing bible verses in reference to the morality of birth control and I went off on her. Went something like this:

 

Girl - "Life exists at the point of conception"

Me - "I believe life starts at the point of conciousness"

Girl - "There's a verse in the bible that explains this"

Me - "Ok - and you believe that completely?"

Girl - "Why shouldn't I?"

Me - "So then you also believe the world was created in seven days"

Girl - "Well...the head of the church is looking into that...they think days might have been longer back then..."

Girl #2 - "STOP ATTACKING HER!"

 

As you can see I'm not exactly an advocate of organized religion. I ended up apologising to her afterward.

 

You're not going to win either way - just put on a happy face and keep the heavy shit to yourself.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

I had a philosophy night class with a Baptist preacher. I actually liked the night classes because of the cross section of people, as opposed to droopy hungover twentysomethings.

[Guest MikeSC]

I'd have to say that it's a lot worse coming from the 18 to we'll say 25 demographic, in person, who are really really convinced that they're right about everything and know exactly what's going on in our country.

 

That is so true on so many levels. Hell, that line of thinking can be applied to TSM, too.

 

OK, Having gone through the meat grinder known as academia, Czech, all I can tell you is this: Stay the course, don't back down, have a sense of humor and pick your battles.

 

For example, if you're in a class dominated by pseudo-hippies and a commie prof, and you try to pull a "Mike SC," you're probably going to get shot down through no fault of your own.

Actually, you can have a blast doing that. I once fervently defended the SAT just to piss off the class. I was once threatened by my Women's Studies prof for writing a paper unloading on the NOW and I threatened to go to the dean if she gave me a bad grade.

-=Mike

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

We got a prof in trouble for spouting her liberal beliefs during class everyday. We had someone time her tirades and average out how much class time she wasted a day with it. We all signed it and turned it into the head of the department.

 

She wasn't half bad after she had to stop.

[Guest PlatinumBoy]

Czech, I get the same thing. Being in college and a Republican, I come back to my away message to see a flood of "Go to this link to see the TRUTH on BUSH!" or "Check out Rock the Vote for the truth about the draft", and I've had two girls be like "I know your a nice, smart guy butl I found out your voting Bush, but now your voting for an evil liar, I don't see how you could! etc. etc."

[The Czech Republic 0]

When the girls get mad at you, that's the worst.

[Guest Vitamin X]

I was once threatened by my Women's Studies prof for writing a paper unloading on the NOW and I threatened to go to the dean if she gave me a bad grade.

Hey, now THERE'S something I could agree with Mike on!

 

Fuck these supposed 'equal rights' groups.

 

Oh and Czech, just don't be an asshole when arguing your point and you should be fine. But don't be unwilling to see what the other side has to say as well. As a matter of fact, I had supported Republican candidates (Bob Dole and John F'n McCain) before I voted for Kerry (OMG LIBERAL FLIP-FLOPPER) this year, although of course this is the first year I actually get to vote for a candidate. But I was kind of iffy on the Clinton administration and wanted a change, similar to how I dislike the direction the country's heading under Bush this go-around.

 

At least you can identify where you stand politically instead of claiming to be an independent and then showing a bias, so you can take solace in that.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

When the girls get mad at you, that's the worst.

 

Bah. I just knew they were dumb bitches that you could screw with a minimal amount of courting.

 

Oh yeah, you're right.

 

Well, I always found the conservative chicks hotter anyway -- too bad I always offended them, too.

 

You know, I just thought of something. If you're "ashamed" of being a conservative in college, maybe you're not one to begin with.

 

Faggot-ass hippie -- go buy a Phish CD and protest the spotted owl rainforest...

[Guest Crazy Dan]

Ok to answer the orginal question. You should be proud to be a Conservative in college. Absolute nothing wrong with that. And if you piss off your holier-than-though liberal profs, even better. I consider myself liberal and even those professor's act gets tired real quick. Also, I am sure there are many conservatives at your school, so don't feel like you are the only one. For example, my Fraternity in college was made up of mostly Republicans, many whom were very conservative. And my school was more liberal than conservative. I was one of the few liberals in the House, but I got along just fine with everyone, regardless of politcal leaning. Because we disagreed on politics didn't change anything. Many are still my very good friends to this day. My Bros, regardless of how conservative, still did not cloud their judgement. especially when one of my Bros. came out of the closet during a House Meeting. A Ultra-Conservative would not have been so understanding, but they didn't treat him any different.

 

The most important thing is to not become blinded by your conservative beliefs. Don't automatically agree with something just because it carries a Conservative label. Try to see the other side's point of view so that you at least hear it out. Just as a liberal, I feel it is important to hear the conservative point of view. I feel this doesn't go on enough on both sides, which is a reason for such a huge division in the country. But, at the same time, if you agree more with a conservative political leaning, then by all means vote Republican. That is the great thing about the USA, you have freedom to vote for who you like, well it is flawed that we get only two true choices, but there are many other parties available to cast your vote towards (a whole other can of worms). It is important to be closer to a moderate level, IMO, becuase then it allows you the freedom to agree with a more liberal position. IE: some Republicans are Pro-Choice, Environmentalists, and even Ahnold supports medical MJ. And maybe you don't have any liberal bones in your body, which is also possible, I do not know you personally. But to me, by being more moderate, it keeps your options open and allows you to think more for yourself and it also can keep your eyes open about your elected officials as well.

 

Be a Proud Republican, Conservative to the core. Heck, start a GOP club on your campus, I am sure that would bring fellow GOPers out of the woodwork. But if you like annoying your liberal teachers, continue with the good work.

[Guest Smell the ratings!!!]

I skipped basically the whole thread so I don't know if we're still on the original topic, but even I, as a gay french communist terrorist, think Czech's "friends" are actually douchebags.

 

hell I get the same stuff yelled at me by Democrats for not voting. I support socialist health care for christ sake! I'm on your side!

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

Bob sounds pretty whiny. Canadians don't hate conservatives, they just hate Americans. Our general stance is that all you suck, regardless of your political beliefs.

 

In all seriousness though, I had two different philosophy teachers for two different kinds of courses my last year of high school, one was an extreme liberal and the other was pretty damn conservative. The liberal spent the first two weeks trying to convince of the conspiracy theory, with that bankers in Zurich crap. The conservative one harped about how wise GWB was and how great a leader he was.

 

Guess who everyone *loved* and who everyone tried to get fired?

 

Mad Dog; out of curiousity, what religion are you and what kind of things happened, in regard to your "got a lot of shit over it"?

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

Christian, just a lot of sterotyping. People will accuse you of things as far as Christianity. You're a homophobe, your close minded, etc. Gamers are pretty bad. D&D players are a problem with me as they'll go off on how Christians are against them and blah blah when I'm sitting there at the table playing the game. I get the eye roll if someone asks about my evening and I was at church. A lot of attempted baiting into saying things to use against me.

 

Though I do have some atheist friends that are very well behaved about it other than us taunting each other.

 

Just stupid things. I tend to just keep it to myself. If you ask what I believe I'll glady tell you but I don't feel the need to bring it up very much. But I tend to be a very private person about my beliefs.

[Guest PlatinumBoy]

Crazy Dan, generally it seems Frats are Republican in my experiences. Despite me saying the girlies getting angry with me, I work it out by the previous advice, be nice but stay firm in my right-wingness. But I still refuse to say that Moore is anything but a fucktard who deserves a heart attack.

[Guest Crazy Dan]

Good, call Moore what you want, I have no probelems with that at all. Suprisingly, he does not speak for moderate liberals like myself, who are not on the fringe of the left, as some people believe. Do I like his movies, yes, they entertain me, but that is all I think of his movies, entertainment. Plus, watching Wolfwitz putting his comb in his mouth to comb his hair down was priceless. Does he influence my political views, not at all. I can think for myself, well most of the time anyways . Heck, I will throw a Moore is fat joke: Moore is so fat, he sweats gravy. I am not that orginal, but I think Moore is an easy target and shockingly, he seems to get off on it. (Shudder) But, if you think he is a retarted fucktard (that is a cool word), then it is your right and at least have fun with it.

 

And usually you tend to lean to what spectrum fits you, when it comes to issues. So you are a conservative, so it won't suprise me that you take more of a conservative stance on the issues.. I have no problems like that and you appear that you at least hear out the other side, by being nice. And that is all I really want, for us to listen to one another. My belief is that I will respect you for your beliefs, but please respect me for mine. I think that if more people had this belief, there would be less division in the country. But I of course know that is not that easy. But it would be a start. And lastly, I just don't like the people who automatically will vote one way, regardless of issue or candidate. As long you think it through, then I believe you view politics the right way, which so many people don't, unfortunately.