Hello Flash,
Yes, those cross-cutting cleavages (friends, family, work colleagues) help us be more accepting of the other side because you already liked those people. Today, the "sorting" means we live in areas of people like ourselves and associate with people like us. More homogeneous groups means you know fewer of those on the other side and allows you to dislike and stereotype them.
There must be enclaves where people just don't even interface with those of opposing views at all. So they tend to believe they represent all of America, or what they call 'the real America.' They think they are 'normal,' and anyone who doesn't agree is an 'outlier;' (not a 'real American.') From there it is a quick hop to demonizing the 'others.'
Since they don't have to look people in the eye on a chat board, they feel an immunity to repercussions if they unload all kinds of vile trash talk. All that does is drive wedges into the vast divisions, further polarizing our nation. Sadly, that is Putin's goal. Putin runs a highly corrupt nation. One of the ways he can do this is if he can point a finger at the USA and say: 'Look. They are completely dysfunctional. There is no better way than Russia.'
Did your friends who were voting against Hillary also vote primarily Republican in past years? If so, it was also identification with those groups and antagonism against Hillary made it easier to support Trump. Posters on this forum are probably more tolerant of those who voted for Trump/Hillary if they are family or long-time friends. They can overlook their vote but when it comes to anonymous Trump/Hillary supporters on this forum they can be rude and nasty with ignorant, bigoted stereotypes.
I know, right? It's like it could be the same person, and the only difference is if there was a bond prior to the election. Got bond? Can still be friends. No bond? Oh, then they are scum and should be told off in the most vile way.
I find that to be highly disingenuous. Politics does some strange things to people's thinking.
Even though I showed them form numerous sources that Trump voters had higher educational and income levels than their claims, they still find it convenient to believe their exaggerated images. I know people who feel the same way about Hillary voters, homosexuals, blacks, etc.
I don't know why people gravitate toward overly simplistic conclusions in such a complex world. And many of these people really know better. It's like they get on an anonymous chat board and all of a sudden they forget they are talking to real people.
I wish more people could see both sides of an issue. I may be liberal on most issues, but I always try to consider why people might take the conservative side. I am conservative on some things, but since I mostly fall on the liberal side, I am pegged as a liberal, and those who hate/flame all liberals tend to unload on people like me.
I actually considered if Trump might make a good president and logically rejected him because of his highly questionable background.
Trump is not a good leader. When we are considering an applicant for the job of president, we need a good leader. Trump is not a leader, he is a controller. A good leader knows when to let things be and when to get involved. Trump tries to not only be involved but tries to control the outcome of everything. He can't, so he is a failure. Then he tries to control his failures, put a positive spin on them or distract with a shiny object. 'Oh no. I had to pay $25 million to make an embarrassing lawsuit charging me with ripping off students in Trump University go away. I'll have to make a twitter stink about actors making a public statement directed towards the VP at the end of a play. That will make the bad news scroll off the media. I can control the trending news.'
