Sheeple
October 14, 2007
There’s a word that gives me hives. I was listening to a radio show the other day and some folk singers used the phrase while introducing a song about George Bush. “Wake up, sheeple!” they said.
Judging from the polls on the war, the “sheeple” have been awake now for quite some time but I doubt it was because someone yelled “wake up, sheeple” at them. All the word really communicates is a frustration that people aren’t blindly falling into line behind your position. I think we can all do without that kind of authoritarian free-thinking. It doesn’t help your argument, is what I’m saying. I don’t think I ever saw anyone browbeat into changing their mind. At least not in a place where the exits are clearly marked and the bathrooms unlocked.
Posted in Grumbles
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October 14th, 2007 at 2:10 pm
Yeah, I became disenchanted about two years ago with any blog that used derogatory name-calling to refer to people who didn’t have the same opinion as theirs, even if I agreed with their politics. I also have a problem with the nicknaming of the President and other political figures; it’s extremely disrespectful no matter how much you don’t like the person’s politics.
I have to agree that it’s just no way to win over people to your way of thinking. Haven’t these people ever heard that you gather more flies with honey than vinegar. If you want to gain someone’s support, calling them names probably isn’t a good way to start.
October 14th, 2007 at 4:33 pm
I don’t have much of a problem with name calling (after all, I have called Bush “Chief Falls-Off-Segway”), but I don’t think it’s smart to insult the people you’re trying to persuade. There’s a certain segment of the population — Michelle Malkin is a great example — who are both unpersuadable and assholes. And I don’t think there’s any reason why we should duck saying that. You can’t let civility stand in the way of calling out uncivil and destructive behavior.
That said, if that’s all you do it can get a little tiresome.
October 15th, 2007 at 5:56 am
You have to decide if a person who gets all their culture from South Park is really worth listening to.
October 16th, 2007 at 3:56 pm
I think you’ve hit the nail on the head — If you want people to buy in to your own rhetoric, you’ve got to remember not to insult them. Perhaps, each of the Parties can remember this all-inclusive-positive approach when they are pushing forth into 2008. I’m doubtful…