People that use ‘lib’ as an insult I need your help.

[Goodboy]

Originally Posted by budz2112 [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I read it, I disagreed with it. GET IT?

Yes thats fine that you disagree with me. Big deal. What is confusing is that, had you read my post in its entirety, I don't think you would have disagreed with me.

My post spoke highly of classical liberals. American liberals are not free thinkers.

[Arvan]

imagine thinking moderate americans "libs" as you say are in any way socialist

[Arvan]

Its really too bad they got rid of Civics class in the US cause all these kids are clueless about politics and left/right

[Vivitron]

Originally Posted by Jimjam [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I have a colleague from a relatively privileged background in middle England asked why ‘liberal’ is used as a dirty word in the states.

He is confused how the dictionary definition of liberal (social welfare, freedoms, open business) could be a bad thing in the country of liberty.

I’m lucky enough to had the opportunity to witness discussion from such honourable ‘lib hatin merkins’ as populate the p99 game and boards so did my best to offer an answer:

“Personally, I believe in the value of social programs. Not particularly due to morale or welfare arguments, but because I believe they are effective economic investments.

However, I feel many people that support such programs can be a little tone deaf or condescending (“why can’t people against these programs see they would be better off”) and fail to understand why someone that would benefit from it could be against it.

I’m involved in a computer game community which happens to include a good number of rural Americans, people that I never would have normally been able to converse with.

From my discussions with them, and from my knowledge of the emotional effects of unemployment from my company partner’s doctorate, these people are not interested in being financially better off due to social hand outs. They want real employment and economic opportunities, similar to how there used to be industrial and agricultural opportunity previously in the states. They don’t want to be non-contributors dependant on subsidies from blue city taxes. They want to be independent and in control of their lives.

For this reason, rightly or wrongly, they conflate liberal social welfare with a suppression of their ability to support themselves as individuals.”

I hope i put forward a decent, good faith representation for at least some ‘lib haters’ and was hoping you can either call me out if i am totally off the mark, or provide additional reasoning why some view ‘lib’ as a dirty word.

Please keep it civil and clean.

What you describe of "liberal" is a closer fit to the Bush-Clinton era ideologically driven policy dispute. People who disagreed with the liberals* did use the word with a negative connotation, but I don't think that captures what you see today.

These days when I see "the libs" used I usually see it in the context of our culture war. The way this culture war is played is you round up some of the worst examples of people or behavior that you can associate with other side of the political/cultural aisle, and tar them with it as if it fully represents them. So "the libs" is an insult because it's a phrase that you use when you talk about how the libs are burning down their cities and taking your guns.

*Even there, "liberal" usually meant Democrats, or more specifically the less centrist Democrats, and did not necessarily match the definition of liberal used in other contexts.

[budz2112]

Originally Posted by charmcitysking [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

a lot of triggered libs on this one

We call this projection

[Caroll]

Originally Posted by Goodboy [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

American liberals are not free thinkers.

Neat claim. Do you have any evidence? You're entitled to your own opinion, but you aren't entitled to your own facts.

The "free thinking" folks you voted with and vocally support, in the past 36 hours, have:

1.) Killed a cop in the name of "freedom."
2.) Took down an American flag and replaced it with a Trump flag.
3.) Waved the Confederate flag inside the Senate and Capitol building.
4.) Chanted death threats towards the Vice President.
5.) Constructed a "gallows" for "enemies of the people" while wearing shirts that said "Murder the Media."

These are your free thinkers. I hope you enjoy being associated with all of those things, because you are part of it.

[budz2112]

Originally Posted by Goodboy [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Yes thats fine that you disagree with me. Big deal. What is confusing is that, had you read my post in its entirety, I don't think you would have disagreed with me.

My post spoke highly of classical liberals. American liberals are not free thinkers.

I already told you I did read it, try to keep it up. Your wrong, and you will never change your thoughts.. Hence conservative. There is no debating a conservative they just deflect and deny, on the other hand I have long debates even with thoughts I disagreed with, with liberals.

[booter]

Originally Posted by Goodboy [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

P99 forum moderators are slowly and systemically purging the conservative voices on this forum. If you wont believe me, look at the thread I just posted.

Sadly, American liberals are not free thinkers, nor do they allow freedom of thought or expression that runs contrary to their own ideology. Hence me being banned on this forum for having an avatar of the sitting President of the United States.

There is a lot of ambiguity in the word liberal, but at its root, classical liberals are good people that lien far more libertarian than to the left. Progressives and Socialists highjacked the word liberal as their own.

nah they are banning openly racist posters, who just happen to all be conservatives

[Goodboy]

Originally Posted by Caroll [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Neat claim. Do you have any evidence? You're entitled to your own opinion, but you aren't entitled to your own facts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cMYfxOFBBM

You'll notice that I never said conservatives have the market cornered on free thinking. You really need to work on your reading comprehension.

You have done nothing but use personal attacks, accuse me of racism, threaten me with bans, call me a nazi, while I have remained mostly respectful. I dont know what has caused such animosity to well up in you, but its something that you need to take a deep look at.

[budz2112]

"mostly respectful" Now that is one BIG LEAP lollll.. Literally names himself goodboy too. Hmm its not like your like all the trolls on the internet who name themselves exactly the opposite of what you are. Tell me one good thing trump has done.