ubertuber

I have taken many classes in which both Republican voting and conservative sympathies were frowned upon - even explicitly ridiculed by students and faculty alike. I have been the subject of people both condescending to me (a mistake they only make once, as I have sharp teeth that I don't hesitate to use on those who invite it) or trying to pressure me into changing views they SUPPOSED I have. I've also seen friends who were afraid to be vocal about their views because of retaliation from teachers in grades and connections in the job market (not saying this would have taken place, but the students were afraid of it - which in some circles is de facto proof of a hostile environment). Of course, this is only anecdotal evidence, and as one of my favorite sayings goes, the plural of anecdote is not data.

Conceptually speaking, I think people in general suffer a bit when we are surrounded by others who think predominantly (or worse, unrepresentatively) towards one end of the spectrum. I think this for two reasons:

First, they tend to assume people who don't think like them are all alike. Many people assume that I vote Republican because I don't fall in with the Democratic majority here (I do not). I've also noticed that many assume that those who are conservative are also necessarily religious (I am not). Of course, this is natural, since there is not the "critical mass" of people on our campus to make alternative thinkers look like individuals.

Secondly, I'll never forget the shock when the elections results came out - both here on TFP and here in my real-life community. No, I'm not claiming there was a landslide election of George Bush, but I think there were a lot of people who simply could not believe that there were those that thought differently from the local status quo, nor that there were so many of them. This doubt has also translated into an inability to believe that those who come from a different place on the spectrum could possibily be sincere, intelligent, or voting in good faith. Once again, this is a natural response to an unrepresentative environment - one or two intelligent and sincere dissenting voices don't make everyone assume that red-state America is anything other than zealots or rednecks.

Like Art, I don't see this as a "problem" that needs a solution - it is simply a situation that I take note of. I do think that students would benefit from a representitave look at the real world. After all, that is where they will be living and working. Also like Art, I take the long view. People will change their minds, the pendulum will swing, and ultimately the world will go on.

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Cogito ergo spud -- I think, therefore I yam