“You’re a special kind of stupid, aren’t you, you socialist commie?”
If you have ever found yourself replying to an opposing argument with some iteration of the above statement, I think it is safe to say that you are not advancing whatever your particular cause may be.

“Keep clinging to your precious guns and praying to your invisible sky-god, you bigoted racist xenophobe.”

In the age of the Internet, this sort of banter has become the norm. There is no reason to treat others with respect while posting in online forums because online, nobody has a face. It is amazing how confident people get when arguing online.

We are all guilty of this, myself included. I used to frequent many political online forums and would bash all those who opposed me with a mighty and vulgar fervor. Think that Bush was the worst president in our history? You were obviously brainwashed by the liberal media and probably wore ugly shoes. Think that the rich should pay more in taxes? You clearly were just a lazy welfare recipient who was jealous of other people’s success. For saying all that, I was evidently a greedy, fear-mongering chicken-hawk.

Where did all of this dialogue get me? Did I ever take any of the points made against me and really consider them? Did I ever see an argument made that really made me question the grounds on which I stood? No. All I did was get more creative with my insults of the other side.

What eventually made me question my political stances and leanings were experience, observation, study and rational, respectful discourse.

Ideas are not inherently deserving of respect. I, in no way, have to respect the idea that Earth is 6,000 years old. I do, however, have to respect the person who holds that belief until they prove themselves as not being worthy of respect (the members of the Westboro Baptist Church come to mind here). If you really want to bring people to the truth, or at least your version of it, it is absolutely imperative that you treat them with the respect and dignity that, by mere act of being alive, they deserve. That does not mean you have to side-step issues or even avoid bluntness, but for your arguments to truly take hold in their mind, you must make them feel as if they are being regarded as a thinking human being.

I am not afraid to admit that I have been wrong. That may come as a surprise to people who have ever had a class with me, but it’s true. If you are not constantly evolving, growing and learning, then you might want to make some sort of change in your life. I am not afraid to admit that I was a war-mongering, right-wing Christian Limbaugh-baby, because I am not that any longer. I have shown that I am capable of rational thought, of challenging my personal beliefs and of overcoming preconceived notions. I grew up, and I am proud of that.

Nobody is 100 percent right, 100 percent of the time. Not even myself. Eventually though, people may come around to the truth if it is explained to them with reverence for their intelligence. Don’t expect any change in this world if you are not willing to respect people first.