You guys suck! We're awesome!

[Bread and Circus]

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http://www.units.muohio.edu/psybersite/fans/inoutbias.shtml

"Intergroup bias is the belief that one’s own group is better than all other groups. Even when categorization is arbitrary and unrelated to psychological characteristics, intergroup bias is still established. The mere categorization of people into groups can lead to increased attraction of in-group members and devaluation of out-group members. This is called the minimal group paradigm and was pioneered by Henri Taifel. In a study done by Howard and Rothbart (1980), subjects were randomly assigned to one of two different groups in which they did not know anyone. They were then presented with a mix of positive and negative information about their group, the in-group, and the other group, the out-group. Subjects had more favorable expectations about in-group members and more negative expectations about out-group members, even though they did not know the members of either group personally."
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Luckily, after we pick a nominee and get behind him or her we (we, meaning DU'ers) will ALL be awesome again!!!

Take-home point: Though we may think we hate each other now, we really don't. It's just that we've seperated ourselves into 2 groups with adverse interests. Once we get back in the "same group" with a common foe, it will be all :grouphug:'s from here on out. So, don't despair.

People need to be aware of in-group, out-group bias as it is the fundamental underpinning of all prejudice.

That's what I love about Obama, he stresses the commonality of all of us as "Americans". Even though nationalism has it's own dangers. It's still better than trying to carve the country up.

[MADem]

1. I'm pretty fucking disgusted. frankly.

Kumbayah? Awesome? I don't think so.

It's not "despair"--it's genuine disgust. I don't want to be associated with some of the vicious fucking assholes here.

And I think that an overabundance of hubris might not bode well in November. The overconfidence here reminds me of Kerry at about this time in 04.

Too much boasting, shitting on Clinton, and insulting others, and not enough real work.

We'll see.

[Enrique]

2. Marx theorized the opposite

"I wouldn't want to be in any group that would have me as a member."

[NastyRiffraff]

3. I very much doubt that we'll come together after this

As a Hillary supporter, I feel unwelcome. Although I'll vote for Obama if he wins the nomination, I don't think I can forget the constant insults here. I'm not talking about all, or even most, of Obama's supporters, but there's a significant minority that seems to live to insult anyone who's not actively praising St. Barack. And it's not just the immature who come here just to flame...the infamous "Strange Fruit" thread was posted by someone whom I used to respect.

Sorry, but I don't buy the kumbaya. I don't buy Obama's supposed "reaching out," except to Republicans. I truly wish this wasn't true, but the best I can say for Obama is that he'll probably be better than McCain, so I'll vote for him.