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Why has civility nearly disappeared in our culture, and how can we encourage its return?

The culture in the United States has become very divided on so many issues, and the ability to have a civil discussion seems to have almost disappeared. People holding an opposite perspective from our own are often demonized and viewed as the enemy. Discussions often degenerate into name-calling and belittling and personal attacks. How can we encourage a return to civility, so that we can all come together and discuss the issues in a reasonable and calm manner, even though we might hold drastically differing positions on those issues?

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BlueVeins · 22-25

The presidential election of 1800 was not genteel. John Adams, the incumbent, ran against Thomas Jefferson, and neither party came out looking dignified. One of the more vitriolic charges was leveled at Adams, after Jefferson allegedly hired the journalist James Thomson Callender to write unpleasant things about his opponent. Callender set to his task with gusto, and published an attack on Adams which stated that he was “a hideous hermaphroditical character which has neither the force and firmness of a man, not the gentleness and sensibility of a woman.”

This era is not special.

PDXNative1986 · 36-40, MVIP

@BlueVeins Thank you. Conservatives are always going on about how the world is going to hell in a hand basket and kids these days are going to ruin the world.

ms20182878 · 61-69, M

@BlueVeins I agree, there has always been this aspect of humanity in the world. But I have been around for a goodly number of years and I don't ever remember this widespread rude behavior back in the 60s, 70s, 80, or even the 90s. It seems to be worse than previously.

ms20182878 · 61-69, M

@PDXNative1986 I'm a conservative, and I don't believe that kids are going to ruin the world. I do believe that, as our future leaders, we're giving them one heck of a mess to deal with.

PDXNative1986 · 36-40, MVIP

@ms20182878 You claim to be a Republican. The only thing I have to say about that is the LEADER of your party Donald Trump called openly for for assaulting protesters and offered to pay people's legal bills if they assaulted protesters at his rally. He mocked a disabled reporter and so forth.

ms20182878 · 61-69, M

@PDXNative1986 Yes, I'm frustrated with him also. During the last Presidential election, we unfortunately swept many great Republican candidates out in the primaries.

PDXNative1986 · 36-40, MVIP

@ms20182878 The country was very polarized during the 60s. The civil rights movement was at it's height, there were anti war protesters in the streets, the free love movement, the hippies. all of it. I think part of what warps our perception and makes this era seem crueler than others is it's also more interconnected than any other era so we SEE Everything, we SEE all the interactions, On Social Media. WE can see the fighting going on and people being harsh to one another. Everyone has access to it, it takes place far more publicaally than it would have in the 60s. I don't think we've suddenly lost civility. Other Eras were highly uncivil too. I think we just notice the lack of civility much more readily.

laotzu92 · M

@BlueVeins You mean Adams was transgender? Might have won a few votes today. (a;; said with a smile)
More seriously, while not minimizing the current climate, things were not civil in the earlier days of the Republic. But contrary to Kittens above, I think most of the intolerance and bullying is found on the left.

Carazaa · F

But the world didn't have as much divorce until 60s and thereafter fathers are often not present in the home so kids have become more depressed and mentally ill and not taking responsibility for their lives and more rebellious towards authority. Our whole society is worse because of divorces. @PDXNative1986