Study: Conservatives more likely to read opposing viewpoints than liberals
posted at 9:21 pm on June 8, 2009 by Allahpundit
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Further proof that we’re more open-minded. Or is it?
People with stronger party affiliation, conservative political views, and greater interest in politics proved more likely to click on articles with opposing views, according to the Ohio State study.
“It appears that people with these characteristics are more confident in their views and so they’re more inclined to at least take a quick look at the counterarguments,” Knobloch-Westerwick noted…
The Brigham Young University survey found that journalists also tended to read liberal blogs – perhaps a reflection of journalists’ political beliefs, although even conservatives said liberal blogs were often better-written, Davis pointed out.
Among the political blog readers, a similar trend emerged in which “liberals read almost exclusively liberal blogs, but conservatives tend to read both,” Davis said.
Davis offered another possible explanation for this trend among blog readers. Conservative views dominate talk radio, and so conservatives may feel more satisfied by that outlet and are willing to check out opposing views on blogs.
I prefer the “liberals are more likely to cocoon” explanation, but feel free to vote it out in the comments. Is this bravery, confidence, or media advantage at work? Given that every outlet except talk radio and Fox News is pushing Hopenchange on us, I’m guessing it’s not the last one. Exit question: Are lefty blogs better written? Be honest, notwithstanding the fact that my ego is on the line.
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Another liberal who needs to pat herself on the back…need a hug, honey? Yeah, you may read them, but you sure don’t comprehend them!
I don’t read alot of lefty blogs. I am inundated enough by the Lamestream media, I really get there agenda w/out subjecting myself to their websites as well!
JAM on June 8, 2009 at 10:14 PM
I don’t think lefty blogs are better written. More pompous and certainly more vulgar though.
John on June 8, 2009 at 10:14 PM
okay i take that back
I tried reading HuffPo a few weeks ago
ugh
omg
id rather go whaling at the local bar
blatantblue on June 8, 2009 at 10:15 PM
That explains a lot. Now I understand why a dimwit thought that she would “never have to worry about buying gas, or paying her mortgage,” after Barry was elected.
Star20 on June 8, 2009 at 10:15 PM
Yes. I’m too busy to waste time reading material that I don’t think is going to tell me anything new. The trolls on this site pretty much regurgitate all the talking points of the mid-stream media (with varying levels of comprehensibility). I look at the headlines of a few news outlets on my RSS reader, and sample them occasionally, and not too often am I surprised.
mr.blacksheep on June 8, 2009 at 10:16 PM
Yes, true.
Upstater85 on June 8, 2009 at 10:16 PM
I know for a FACT that I am more open to the liberal viewpoint. It doesn’t mean I trust it. I used to listen to Alan Colmes AND Savage and Hannity and Rush all in the same day.
I also know for a fact that my BEST friend is an awesome person. But she is also a complete lefty who voted for BhO and yet, recently, she will not discuss politics with me…
I remember the days when I was rooting for Bush, and she’d sneer and laugh. When he got elected (twice), she went silent. I did not thrust thorns of victory into her pride. I kept my peace.
And when McCain lost to BhO she almost lost her mind. Every chance she got, she’d throw it in my face.
But now… she’s silent on BhO. We are still the best of friends.
Ugly on June 8, 2009 at 10:16 PM
I try to read socialist and climate change blogs from time to time. We should never let ourselves fall too deep into the echo chambers. That being said, I can usually only last there for about 5 minutes. Their graphic design is far superior, but the stench of ignorance combined with the rabid intolerance of different viewpoints forces me to run to take a shower.
warden on June 8, 2009 at 10:17 PM
Anyone watching Newt on C-SPAN? Red meat!
SouthernGent on June 8, 2009 at 10:17 PM
In my opinion, no (and I have a Master’s degree in English). They tend to be less logical, less well-documented/linked, and more vitriolic. Use of rhetorical devices is weak since they rely primarily on emotion to persuade. And I personally find the near-constant use of foul language to be distracting. Many liberal bloggers write well in terms of forming well-constructed sentences that are grammatically correct and suffer from few errors in conventions. But their rhetoric and research in my opinion is generally quite weak in comparison to most prominent conservative bloggers.
aero on June 8, 2009 at 10:18 PM
Yeah, some of my friends are becoming this silent too.
Upstater85 on June 8, 2009 at 10:18 PM
“. . . from hell’s heart I stab at thee; for hate’s sake I spit my last breath at thee.”
You, my friend, owe me a keyboard and monitor.
Limerick on June 8, 2009 at 10:18 PM
Newt: “Bowing to the Saudi king is NOT an energy policy!”
ZING!
SouthernGent on June 8, 2009 at 10:19 PM
I read lefty blogs when I need a good laugh, but you have to be careful, as that crap can depress the hell out of you if you over ingest.
-Dave
Dave R. on June 8, 2009 at 10:20 PM
Cute. You mean like the Porkulus bill? Dems didn’t even read that thru, now we have 9.5% unemployment and inflation that is ready to go thru the roof! But you carry on w/that “conservative invective”. At least a conservative can read, comprehend and conclude what a POS is. Troll.
JAM on June 8, 2009 at 10:20 PM
Speaking of which, have some of you noticed that when a lefty blog does cover something that is not Pro-Obama, quite often the loyal kool-aid drinkers won’t even comment (or read most likely), but then the scary leftists and some of the righties will come out to talk all conspiratorial?
Upstater85 on June 8, 2009 at 10:21 PM
I have an old dell
hows that :P
blatantblue on June 8, 2009 at 10:21 PM
As a Liberal, I never read opposing viewpoints. I merely read Liberal blogs to hear what my viewpoints are.
/sarc
Browncoatone on June 8, 2009 at 10:22 PM
Comparing Jim and Allah to the writers of Slate….honestly from a disconcerned libertarian… you guys write better, and Michelle is one of the most informative and best editorial bloggers I have read.
paulsur on June 8, 2009 at 10:23 PM
Lefty blogs are the planet Arthur Dent ends up on that was colonized by hairdressers, management consultants, ‘telephone sanitizers’, etc. We could add graphic designers and community organizers to the list.
This ragtag group was told by the powers that be on Earth that they will have the priviledge of colonizing a new planet since Earth was in decline. In reality, the powers that be were only trying to clear the Earth of these types.
h/t Restaurant at the End of the Universe.
daesleeper on June 8, 2009 at 10:24 PM
I read opposing viewpoints all the time. I subscribe to Time (got a cheap subscription rate) and I read lefty columns.
I also work in a field where I am surrounded by liberals — liberals who gladly pontificate about politics, while I tend to keep my opinions to myself.
Liberals are incredibly insular — more than they care to admit.
Richard Romano on June 8, 2009 at 10:24 PM
I read huFFpost and salon mainly Glen greenwald. But so what
I am often stunned how we both can see the same facts but come to drasticly different conclusions.
I used to post in the comments at salon but by and large it iis a waste of time.
Nothing more bitter and nasty than a liberal commenter. If liberals could get away with it all conservative would be jailed and tortured.
kangjie on June 8, 2009 at 10:25 PM
blatantblue and old dell,
blatantblue and old dell,
hi-ho the gairy-o
blatantblue and old dell.
daesleeper on June 8, 2009 at 10:26 PM
Most lefty blogs never confront something that makes their side look bad. Remember the John Edwards love child? Libs were denying that even after he made that hotel visit. Only when he admitted it was it allowed to be mentioned.
Speedwagon82 on June 8, 2009 at 10:26 PM
The people who write them think so.
Jim Treacher on June 8, 2009 at 10:26 PM
I think this might be true. But the reason is that your typical Conservative needs to read a piece all the way through, usually 2 or 3 times, while also mouthing the words, to finally understand it.
greggish on June 8, 2009 at 10:02 PM
Conservatives don’t read things ourselves, silly goose, we crack a riding crop over the head of the closest, colored slave and make THEM read it to us while we count our gold coins.
Bishop on June 8, 2009 at 10:27 PM
Life’s too short to bother with Lefty illogic.
I can barely bring myself to read the liberal commenters at Hot Air.
BuckeyeSam on June 8, 2009 at 10:27 PM
So you’re admitting you’re not here to comment thoughtfully, just *hit disturb?
You must be attending Troll’s Anonymous.
Richard Romano on June 8, 2009 at 10:27 PM
Like I said
If I had to choose between whaling at the bar and reading HuffPo, I’d put on my war face, throw on some deck boots, and go whaling at the bar.
It’s mind numbing to read that filth. The first thing I almost always notice is the ANGER. It seethes. It drips — it sours. So angry
blatantblue on June 8, 2009 at 10:27 PM
i hate dells and will never buy one again!
blatantblue on June 8, 2009 at 10:28 PM
You read them only to find something to refute.
Jim Treacher on June 8, 2009 at 10:29 PM
massrighty on June 8, 2009 at 10:32 PM
Conservatives seek, liberals insulate. We needed a ’study’ to confirm what everyone already realizes in their gut if not their heads? Even libs know what they are tho they won’t admit it publicly; they know in their often-dark hearts what they are.
Realistically–who are more ‘progressive’: Conservatives willing to see other viewpoints or liberals who would rather lynch someone who doesn’t toe their line?
Liam on June 8, 2009 at 10:32 PM
I’m there with HP…just got a eee pc from Asus with their atrocious version of xandros. Hope it lasts! My HP lasted 14 months. :x
daesleeper on June 8, 2009 at 10:32 PM
I listen to NPR when I need to purge, but that’s about it.
Saltysam on June 8, 2009 at 10:33 PM
Wouldn’t know. Don’t read ‘em.
exdeadhead on June 8, 2009 at 10:33 PM
I prefer the ‘cat of nine tails’……….
………. but that’s just me.
Seven Percent Solution on June 8, 2009 at 10:33 PM
Well, to put it in commentator terms, it’s like Will, Krauthammer and Steyn against Charles Blow, Bob Herbert and Maureen Dowd. See the difference?
ddrintn on June 8, 2009 at 10:35 PM
I’m saving up for a new mac (biatches are freaking expensive)
but they run like new all the time
blatantblue on June 8, 2009 at 10:35 PM
Are you sure the l wasn’t after the “u” instead of the “t”?
disillusioned on June 8, 2009 at 10:37 PM
I have a HP Pavilion 7865 that is going on 8 years, changed the video card twice, power supply twice and the HDD once. AMD Athlon 1.2ghz and 1gb of memory, still works just fine.
doriangrey on June 8, 2009 at 10:38 PM
All you rich folks with your Dells and Macs. I’m still plugging along on my Atari 2600.
Liberals read to agree. Conservatives read to challenge, either the author, or themselves.
Limerick on June 8, 2009 at 10:39 PM
It’s a crapshoot with these things, but when you have a bad experience, you readily become willing to try anything.
My lord I just stumbled onto the logic behind voting for Obama!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
daesleeper on June 8, 2009 at 10:40 PM
I disagree, conservatives read so that they have an excuse to ignore their significant others and kids… ;p
doriangrey on June 8, 2009 at 10:41 PM
Take it how you will.
Upstater85 on June 8, 2009 at 10:42 PM
I prefer the ‘cat of nine tails’……….
………. but that’s just me.
Seven Percent Solution on June 8, 2009 at 10:33 PM
Sure but only if they’re made of actual cats, preferably kittens, because as conservatives we hate all living things.
Bishop on June 8, 2009 at 10:42 PM
I’m open to the posibility that such “logic” exists, but I’d need empirical proof (not a broad consensus, but actual proof – unlike global climate change,) that it does exist.
I heard no logic from that side; only emotion.
massrighty on June 8, 2009 at 10:43 PM
You must admit that the boy/girl/it carved that name in HotAir stone before Ed squished it like a bug.
Limerick on June 8, 2009 at 10:43 PM
I’m a fixer, when I have a bad experience, I find out what went wrong and fix it. I dont become willing to try anything I work backwards from broken to what was working to determin where it went wrong, then like I said, I fix it.
doriangrey on June 8, 2009 at 10:44 PM
RIP getalife
I had a dream once that this kid I hated drove by one day at the beach
His head was out the window, and I thought about how much I f*cking hate him
And he yelled
“I AM GETALIFE!!!!”
blatantblue on June 8, 2009 at 10:44 PM
and I wish I could say I was lying.
blatantblue on June 8, 2009 at 10:44 PM
Mark Levin was going after Newt during his monologue tonight.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on June 8, 2009 at 10:47 PM
I’ve been building pc’s since 1998. The aforementioned derelict HP laptop has a bad motherboard. I could not get my hands on a functional one so that I could replace it :/
I recently resurrected my desktop pc by….removing one memory module!
daesleeper on June 8, 2009 at 10:48 PM
Well, er, ummm… that was weird…
doriangrey on June 8, 2009 at 10:48 PM
Whaling does that to people.
Limerick on June 8, 2009 at 10:49 PM
my mind mixed one of my enemies with a troll
horrible
i mean it was two seconds in a long dream, but still
if it was just my nemesis, it wouldn’t matter, but for him to tell me he was getalife..
blatantblue on June 8, 2009 at 10:50 PM
Post probe, logic probe, volt meter, soldering iron, silver trace pen and superglue… But ya have to know what to do with them, and ya gotta love doing it…
doriangrey on June 8, 2009 at 10:52 PM
Sometimes I miss getalife.
She rarely ever made me mad. Some of the other trolls infuriate me.
But getalife was almost always as fun as watching two mentally challegened kittens battle over a ball of twine.
myrenovations on June 8, 2009 at 10:52 PM
That and listening to the older guy next to me go on about how the moon landing was fake
and how kids are being bred by video games to be future UAV pilots
blatantblue on June 8, 2009 at 10:52 PM
what the f*ck do you say to that?
“yea — great buddy”
“you’ve got it all figured out”
“oh man i hear ya”
“definitely”
“mhm”
“ya”
*nod*
blatantblue on June 8, 2009 at 10:54 PM
I have Eugene Cernan’s phone number if you need it.
KAPOW!!!!!!!
Limerick on June 8, 2009 at 10:54 PM
Napolitano adds adviser with ties to jihad groups
TheBigOldDog on June 8, 2009 at 10:54 PM
Nothing better in the world than random bar crazies!
massrighty on June 8, 2009 at 10:54 PM
Mercy me. SOMEONE as well as some OTHERS have been making A$$umptions about me….
It is to laugh…
My joke was me playing like I loved libtard blogs and at the end started begging for pain killers because reality was beginning to pour in on me.
The moment is lost now though.
And gee wiz, thanks out there to all those helpy helpertons who referenced the terms of use agreement.
/rolleyes
44Magnum on June 8, 2009 at 10:55 PM
A good friend of mine enlisted a few years ago and ended up in the 3rd ID. His CO asked him if he was good at video games…This friend and I competed in first person shooters…So he goes on to tell his CO how good he is.
So my friend was the CO’s gunner in a Bradley.
daesleeper on June 8, 2009 at 10:56 PM
I actually wait until a cat is just about to give birth with a belly full of kittens………..
………. that way, they are wet, bloody, and you might even get a few screams out of them with the first few hits.
Being conservative and all………
………… never let a belly full of unborn kittens go to waste.
Seven Percent Solution on June 8, 2009 at 10:56 PM
OBAMA APPOINTMENT: Arif Alikhan, Asst Secretary DHS
TheBigOldDog on June 8, 2009 at 10:56 PM
well said. I like crooks and liars myself. usually has a good amount of videos, but somewhat sketchy on content.
disillusioned on June 8, 2009 at 10:56 PM
Post probe, logic probe, volt meter, soldering iron, silver trace pen and superglue… But ya have to know what to do with them, and ya gotta love doing it…
doriangrey on June 8, 2009 at 10:52 PM
Ahh, brings back good memories of my time as a Navy man visiting the whore houses of Subic City and Olangapo.
Wait…you’re not talking about that, are you?
Bishop on June 8, 2009 at 10:56 PM
If by “better written” you mean that lefty bloggers are more likely to use a 10-dollar word when a simple one will do in an attempt to make themselves look smarter than they are, then I agree.
Sir Corky on June 8, 2009 at 10:57 PM
TheBigOldDog on June 8, 2009 at 10:56 PM
You are killing me with these links. I have to read them and then they scare the crap out of me and depress me on what was otherwise a pretty good day in America.
myrenovations on June 8, 2009 at 10:59 PM
the guy probably thinks Eugene is a robot
I’m new to the bar thing
but jeeze, one thing ive figured out is that they are only amusing for anywhere between 15 seconds and 5 minutes. once you let them in, and once you let them start talking their theories and wonderful political analyses, they’ll never stop.
So you have to cut the cord
push the red button
pick up the red phone
use the emergency exit
i dont care, just get the f*ck out of dodge
once he started the moon bs, I was dying
then some idiot 22 year old at the other side started going on about explosives in the twin towers
i thought i had ended up at a ron paul convention
blatantblue on June 8, 2009 at 10:59 PM
We are sooo F’cked…soooo very f’cked.
TheBigOldDog on June 8, 2009 at 10:59 PM
I don’t think Liberal media is original. I can think of a couple of times including Maureen Dowd, when they actually drag the internet to put their columns together. Why would anybody need to read a lot of it, when they are parroting the same talking points. It’s as if they have synchronized their watches.
Dr Evil on June 8, 2009 at 10:59 PM
I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the darkness at Tan Hauser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time like tears in rain. Time to die.
daesleeper on June 8, 2009 at 11:00 PM
Thanks
what a good night cap
/sad sarc
blatantblue on June 8, 2009 at 11:00 PM
lol
blatantblue on June 8, 2009 at 11:00 PM
Meh… Could have been worse, at least you dont have any relatives constantly telling you everything in Zeitgeist is 100 percent true…
doriangrey on June 8, 2009 at 11:00 PM
well said. I like crooks and liars myself. usually has a good amount of videos, but somewhat sketchy on content.
disillusioned on June 8, 2009 at 10:56 PM
Eh, I have little time for vids due to my busy schedule of torturing Muslims, giving myself swastika tattoos and making pipe-bombs.
Bishop on June 8, 2009 at 11:01 PM
At what point will people admit the truth I wonder?
TheBigOldDog on June 8, 2009 at 11:02 PM
This is a no-brainer. When almost all of the supposedly “mainstream” media outlets are liberal, it’s much more likely that conservatives will be exposed to opposing viewpoints than leftists. Liberals would have to actively seek out media that disagrees with them.
Sign of the Dollar on June 8, 2009 at 11:03 PM
once the mega masjids start going up in NYC?
the europeans are sick of those things finally
People cling to theories — its very sad. The conspiracy theories are the most easy to believe
blatantblue on June 8, 2009 at 11:04 PM
They cannot admit it if they do not know it. These appointments aren’t being announced and lauded by Brian Williams during the 6 o’clock news.
So, pretty much now all of Homeland Security is staffed by people who don’t so much like our homeland?
myrenovations on June 8, 2009 at 11:04 PM
Yea, right… What ever you say dude…….. Somehow I am just not feeling ya………..
doriangrey on June 8, 2009 at 11:04 PM
Liberals care most about tweaking their feelings instead of quality hence UAW cars and the NEA skools.
For a Liberal mindset obsessed with more gummint control and more gummint handouts thinking only gets in their way.
viking01 on June 8, 2009 at 11:05 PM
Nothing better in the world than random bar crazies!
massrighty on June 8, 2009 at 10:54 PM
“There’s three kinds of people in the world, CHUCK…”
Bishop on June 8, 2009 at 11:05 PM
I read lefty blogs to laugh. Seriously. It’s a lesson in how not to make logical arguments. I do the same with NPR. It’s entertaining to hear the apathetic way they speak of denying freedom of choice to people, as if it’s just the way things should be. Just today I heard somebody talking about putting people into a pension plan without their knowledge and making them opt out of they don’t want it. This was right after some other insane matter of fact talk about the best way to tax the American people to pay for Obama’s health care plan and how if people were taxed more, they’d opt for less care, hence making the system more efficient. After watching that buffoon on Fox Sunday (the Jedi Mind Trick clown), I had my weekly dose of left lunacy in less than a day.
I seriously laughed, felt sorry for my liberal friends, then jammed my radio back to a decent station where lunacy doesn’t reign supreme. Insane Clown Posse makes better arguments than liberals.
It felt good to walk into work on a Monday morning knowing I’m not one of those people to willing to experiment with everybody’s freedoms.
Metro on June 8, 2009 at 11:05 PM
Doh………………Somehow when I first read that I read it as pie-bombs….. ;O
doriangrey on June 8, 2009 at 11:06 PM
This apparently doesn’t apply to Michelle Malkin since she banned me from her site for merely asking why she has not responded to this open letter to her.
http://www.800poundgorillamedia.com/Editorials.html
ET TU, MALKIN?
AN OPEN LETTER TO MICHELLE MALKIN
by David Whitetiger, June 1, 2009
hmm I guess her open mindedness has its limits. I have already deleted her from my bookmarks and will NEVER visit again.
allahallahoxenfree on June 8, 2009 at 11:06 PM
Ba Bye..a$$hole…..
doriangrey on June 8, 2009 at 11:09 PM
Beat that dead horse until the stars all go out. $10 says it still won’t pull your wagon.
Limerick on June 8, 2009 at 11:09 PM
OBAMA APPOINTMENT: Arif Alikhan, Asst Secretary DHS
TheBigOldDog on June 8, 2009 at 10:56 PM
There ya go. If America can’t see the agenda NOW, with the barbarians not only at the gates but actively being assisted in their quest to get inside, then we are in a crapload of trouble.
I’d say buy a gun or three, but if people haven’t done so yet they probably have a screw loose.
Bishop on June 8, 2009 at 11:10 PM
Ba Bye..a$$hole…..
doriangrey on June 8, 2009 at 11:09 PM
Thats nice. Try to silence someone with a legitimate question and an opposing point of view. Good for you and her. I’ll see you eating crow before 2012
allahallahoxenfree on June 8, 2009 at 11:11 PM
you forgot the all important “making of lists”
disillusioned on June 8, 2009 at 11:11 PM
nobody gives a rat’s ass
Metro on June 8, 2009 at 11:11 PM
allahallahoxenfree on June 8, 2009 at 11:11 PM
The font and colors on your website suck. Too difficult to read. Kind of makes everything seem like it was written by someone who is suffering from some sort of mental illness.
myrenovations on June 8, 2009 at 11:13 PM
hmm I guess her open mindedness has its limits. I have already deleted her from my bookmarks and will NEVER visit again.
allahallahoxenfree on June 8, 2009 at 11:06 PM
America is pretty cool, isn’t it? Malkin got to use her own site as she wished and you exercised your right to never visit again.
Bishop on June 8, 2009 at 11:13 PM
you forgot the all important “making of lists”
disillusioned on June 8, 2009 at 11:11 PM
I don’t need no stinkin’ lists; I’m conservative which means I automatically hate everyone who doesn’t believe exactly as I do at all times.
Bishop on June 8, 2009 at 11:15 PM
America is pretty cool, isn’t it? Malkin got to use her own site as she wished and you exercised your right to
never visit again. Have s*&t fly over his head.Bishop on June 8, 2009 at 11:13 PM
Saltysam on June 8, 2009 at 11:16 PM
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