file photo by Boyd Loving
A not-so-obvious reason is the relativism of modern moral discourse, best expressed in the theory known as “emotivism.”
Daniel Lattier | October 28, 2015
Many in our audience express dismay about people not being able to discuss hot-button issues – politics, religion, race, sexuality – without it devolving into anger and name-calling.
Why is it that people can’t have a disagreement without taking things so damn personally?
Well, one obvious reason is human nature. Our positions on controversial topics are usually the manifestations of some of our most deeply held principles. It can take years of education and growth to meet disagreements with these with magnanimity.
But I think a not-so-obvious reason is the relativism of modern moral discourse, best expressed in the theory known as “emotivism.”
In After Virtue, Alasdair MacIntyre wrote that “emotivism has become embodied in our culture.”
He defined it as “… the doctrine that all evaluative judgments and more specifically all moral judgments are nothing but expressions of preference, expressions of attitude or feeling.” In other words, emotivism holds that there can be no way of rationally justifying one’s claims about those controversial issues mentioned above.
I believe that one of the requirement for public office is a ” Thick Skin” It is quite event that 3 of our elected do not have this trait. It is not to say that they should be berated by the public but the public should to be able to ask a question no matter how misguided it is with fear of Council Members going ” Of the Rails”
A mature and confident person does not feel personally attacked by opposing ideas. People on the dais surely know that everybody can’t agree with them and also need to understand that residents who come to meetings to state their position may be entirely unaccustomed to public speaking or fear it, and clearly feel very strongly about the issue or they wouldn’t be there, sometimes waiting for hours to speak. Sometimes people say, “This is the first time I have done this.” It can get emotional. A calm demeanor and the willingness to listen (and not ignore the speaker by playing on an electronic device; Ms. Hauck, we are truly insulted by that–if you don’t wish to participate, please stay home) can keep things on an even keel. That is not what we have been seeing. Can you imagine Keith Killion, for example, going crazy because somebody disagreed with him? Ah, but he didn’t have IMPORTANT STAKES in these issues and had not MADE PROMISES he couldn’t keep.
“Someone is going to pay for this” Just remember this statement in the upcoming election. There have been some posters on this blog that have tried to justify this statement by our Deputy Mayor as simple meaning the cost of the garage but if you watch the replay of the meeting and the context in which it was said you will see that it had nothing to do with cost.
But name calling, personal insults and cheap shots on the Blog are okay? Give me a break.
We are not Elected Officials I believe they are held to a higher standers as it should be.
If you can’t stand the heat get out of the kitchen. Go back to your day jobAlbert Go back to Valley Gwen. Don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.
Ever heard of this :Paul Smith “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”
okay fine. and hide in anonymity. apparently there’s a silent majority in this town that thinks differently judging by election and referendum results.
Paul you forgot about the election results where the RBSA candidate was resoundingly beaten for pushing a baseball diamond at Schedler Park, ah field ,
That was then. Lets see what happens in 2016. With a poster name like Paul Smith you real what us to believe that is your real name.
James… I defer to you on that one… please provide a few more… your serve 🙂
645… thanks for proving my point…
It seems that Paul smith has a selective memory James. ” Oh that election. “Just another 3 amigos apologies
Paul Smith And we all know that you are without sin on this blog. We also know that you have a high oppion of yourself
I do not mind opposing ideas. It is how they are said that shuts down the dialogue. Insults, name calling and sarcasm ruin the debate. As does raising your voice.
Sometimes people that I disagree with make good points! Don’t tell my husband.
okay 741… dazzle us with facts… don’t think my memory is selective… James was correct on what he posted… please enlighten us with your “wizdim”…
So I supposed your are please with the current Council and how they treat resident that disagree with them? There are to many to cite plus I watching the Council meeting to keep current.
A real wordsmith
If I win the lottery, I’ll earmark up to $100 million to defeat the garage monstrosity…
So did you catch Alberts apology, so-called, at the meeting tonight. Blamed everyone in the room and the late hour and he is only human and on and on…..and then he said he was sorry he said those things…..but it really wasn’t his fault because he is human.
Key……riste!!!!!! How insincere can someone who is only human be???
No high oppion. just keep tuned to what’s going on… we all get it wrong now and then
Albert Apologist has spoken.
“we all get it wrong now and then” This is true Paul Smith but I got the same impression as poster 10:28. He didn’t get it wrong it was the time on night, he had to go to work,some held the camera to close to him. How about this. ” I shouldn’t reacted that way” Please you have never heard any of that if he was not in FULL RE ELECTION MODE”
The question posed in the original post is a good one. In the case of our Council majority, they take it personally when people disagree with them because they have personal agendas.
An insincere, forced apology that casts blame around is really not an apology.
Good one 8:04!!!
The majority of commenters on this blog are the most thin-skinned yet nasty people in the village….and it starts with the host.
@12:24. I do not know the host but you are wrong about posters. Many are like me, an average ridgewood resident with 2 kids and a dog. I would love to crawl back in my rabbit hole and trust our council but am disgusted by what I read and see. I don’t want to speak my nights in the village courtroom until 2 a.m , I want to be home asleep. I am paying attention and am outraged but promise when a new council is sworn in with no personal agendas I will get off the blog.
Albert I mean 12:24 thank you for comment. Good Luck on your re-election and run for Mayor.
1224… the blog host allows all views to air here in fabulous black and white… maybe some of the comments are over the top but hey, it’s an open forum and gives an indication of the frustration level of some of the residents in this town.