A few thoughts about the political discourse on this board

1.   Pigeonholes, prejudices and labels:  It's the natural tendency of the human mind to simplify reality.  This is an adaptive mechanism by which we seek to make sense of a world that is overwhelmingly complex and constantly changing.  Even our physical sensory organs (and their respective brain centers) are designed in a way to filter OUT the vast majority of the millions of bits of sensory data that impinge on us constantly. If not, we'd be so inundated with sensory information that we'd be completely unable to function.  As such, the sensory filtering mechanisms have been given top priority in the chain of processes that, taken together, comprise our physical awareness.  Filtering OUT sensory data has priority.

In the realm of abstract ideas, we simplify complexity primarily by creating mental models.  These models try to explain to ourselves "the way things work."  Models are always incomplete (that's why they're models), sometimes crude (unrefined) - and not infrequently inaccurate, or at least unreliable.

With equal naturalness, because these models represent "reality" for us, we defend them vigorously, and very often with a degree of ferocity and deadly determination that, frankly, they may not merit.  We cannot tolerate threats to our models of reality.  And so, we elevate them to the level of our sensory filtering mechanisms - giving them top priority in the chain of processes that comprise our abstract notions of "reality".

As such, they become filters that are then FURTHER SIMPLIFIED as pigeonholes, or prejudices, and their respective labels - which are often words that have very nebulous meanings ("conservative", "liberal", "socialist", "communist", etc.) - IF THEY HAVE ANY MEANING AT ALL. 

Hang a label on something (an idea or a person) and bada-boom bada-bing, you've explained them - or so your mind wants you to believe.  Reality has been filtered.  The work of thinking has been short-circuited, energy and time saved.  Move on, nothing to see here!

Behind these filters, the world of complexity is reduced to very simple terms - even down to binary terms.  And there's nothing wrong with simple models, per se.  As I said, this is an adaptive mechanism that's evolved in the human brain over eons of time, and even a nodding acquaintance of evolution would suggest that simplification must be highly useful.

The funny thing is, even binary models can lead to different results.  I see lion tracks going this way.  I immediately go the other way as fast as I can.  My model works and I survive.  Another sees lion tracks and follows them.  His model works, and he kills the lion that's been killing his cattle.

Einstein himself advocated simple models - but, as he himself said, the model MUST NOT BE OVERLY SIMPLE.  Put another way, we must remember, with some humility, that we DO use simple models to describe reality, that our models DO have limitations, AND that as such their reliability is NOT to be trusted implicitly.

I see a lot of labeling and a lot of simple modeling on this board - which doesn't surprise me because I know how our minds work (mine not excluded).  But what I do NOT see is much in the way of intellectual humility when it comes to "our" modeled perceptions of reality, almost nothing in the way of willingness to examine our models for their flaws, and absolutely nothing whatsoever in the way of desire to correct, expand or modify our models.

2.  "Special pleading" - unacknowledged limits and limitations:  Every idea, and every ideal, has both logical limits and practical limitations.  We all know this, but some of us conceal these limits and limitations not only in our arguments, but we conceal them from ourselves - and this is called "special pleading" by deliberately ignoring anything that might be unfavorable to our point of view.

Special pleading might seem to make our case stronger, but in fact it usually weakens our position.  Far better is to acknowledge limits and limitations rather than to ignore or, worse, deny them. 

Let's have some honest intellectual humility about our notions of "reality", less pigeonholing and labeling, and more acknowledgment that every position has its limitations - even our own.

3.  Kindness, charity and courtesy:  If you ever, EVER find yourself expressing your ideas in terms which are unkind, uncharitable or discourteous, you need to take stock of both you yourself, and your ideas.