I often read comments at the end of online articles and see a BIG difference between Repubs and Dems

[nobodyspecial]

It seems those criticizing Obama are totally unhinged and filled with palpable hate. Apparently, the First Lady is going to be on the Dr. Oz show and people are going nuts. Every first lady has had a platform and hers happens to be healthy eating and exercise so it's a good fit. But judging from the comments, you would think she is going around and personally pulling the Twinkies out of their mouths and forcing them onto the treadmill at gunpoint.

But, in general, comments from the Republicans on the Net seem totally unhinged and often devoid of facts (and proper spelling and grammar). I just don't see that type of response from Dems. Posts are often thought out and include links. I also see many fewer even bothering to respond. I know I don't bother. You just can't argue facts with the hate-filled rants, so why waste your time.

Anyone else noticing this? Why is it? I often regret reading comments. They usually leave me feeling queasy and a bit scared.

[Lint Head]

1. Right wingers love name calling over facts.

[NRaleighLiberal]

2. Because they don't believe/rely on facts, differing with them is an insult, I guess -

it is a threat to their (very likely very fragile) belief system - so they become afraid and lash out. It is sad/pathetic, really.

[progressivebydesign]

3. a large number of commenters are PAID to comment. They're doing that on a massive scale now.

Look at any Yahoo news story for commenters whose names are "PaulK" or "SteveG" they're outsourced astro turfer trolls. Because our yahoo ID is most often our email address, or a name we choose, the odds that all the commenters are like BobS when everyone else is "ashleysAngel" or "iluvshoes" says a alot.

[Politicalboi]

4. You have to know there are going

To be those people out there. They relish their opportunity to say the craziest shit with no bounds. I sometimes feel like responding, but it's not worth it. I don't need e-mails from kooks responding back. I just ignore it. It's best not to read comments for the most part.

[spanone]

5. racists are irrational

[GallopingGhost]

6. yahoo in particular

The ones who call Obama a moron, stupid, ignorant...but they can't spell even the most basic of words, sentence structure is atrocious, ect. They rant about armed revolution. They go on and on about socialism and you know they couldn't tell you a damned thing about it.

It's funny in a really pathetic way.

[Courtesy Flush]

7. My response: "Yes, I felt the same way when Nancy Reagan called us all drug addicts."

Just Say No indeed! How dare she accuse me of saying yes in the first place!

[kestrel91316]

8. RWers comment with name calling and pure hate. Dems comment with, well,

intelligent comments that address issues.

Liberals are better educated in general than conservatives. It REALLY shows.

[Curmudgeoness]

9. They also leave me scared.

I read them all the time to see how people are thinking, and I truly am afraid of the right wingers who post on these things. The hate and lies are so strong that I almost feel as if I were slapped.

But I also have right wingers who I correspond with by email or on FB, and it is the exact same with them. Throw shit out and see if it sticks. No facts, no links. When asked a specific question, the answers are things like "there you go again acting superior" or "I can't believe that you have bought into the Obama lie" or some silly response. I never get an answer to a direct question about policy or platform. They do not think, they just parrot the hatemongers who have all the air time.

All I can do is hope that these people are a minority. But at time, I wonder how minor they are. Scares the hell out of me.

[oldsarge54]

10. What I've Done

I saved several days of yahoo comments, then printed them. Marked each comment as D, R, and Huh. Well, personal insults about sexual habits or lack of employment, Republicans win 2:1. When it come to insults based on intelligence, about 1:1. When it comes to insults based on race or ethnicity, Republicans win hands down, however, I confess those I tentatively identified as Paul Supporters as Republicans, which gave the results that decided tilt. Short Form: Republicans insult heavily on assumed economic status and sexuality. Democrats mostly insult concerning intelligence. Ron Paul Supporters hate jews.

[nobodyspecial]

11. You must have way more time on your hands.

"Ron Paul Supporters hate jews" Not sure what your basis for this is. Can you explain?

[oldsarge54]

12. Sure

35 of those that I tenitively identified has Paul supporters, blamed Jewish Fed, Jewish Banks, and Jewish Zionists for our problems. Fair indicator of 90 samples, would you say there is a trend? And yes, I'm retired.

[nobodyspecial]

13. I didn't realize that about Paul supporters

Hope you find some time to volunteer for the Obama campaign during this time as well.