No one, ever, has thought discussing politics or religion is a good idea ......consult any etiquette book ever written,

(I posted this in response, below, but thought I'd share here too.)
Maybe I've been lucky, but I've not seen that much animosity. I'm sorry for those who have.
(Lol, and yes, I'm opinionated, - not quite mainstream liberal in everything - I really do want to know why those who disagree with me feel the way they do. Occasionally I learn sumtin' lol.

I did read a few comments that the Interloper suggested, was pleasantly surprised, ty for sharing.
I strongly suspect many of the liberal/conservative spectrum lose their objectivity at times..
My suggestion?
Let's all go to our neutral corners, take a deep breath, and try it again, considering this. If we want to convince others of our viewpoint, we need to understand theirs, inasmuch as possible.
Most thinking people have at least some valid points.

If you think it is difficult here go to the conservative atheists group and see how tolerant they are of any liberal opinions.

I just accept there is no getting thru to some truly religious folk. If I don't mind them otherwise I just stay away from religion, if possible. The problem is emotions, too many can not remove themselves from the emotional triggers long enought to have a conversation on an intelligent level. This applies to religion and politics.
There are groups within this site - the trump pinata is for bashing all things trump. Mostly for the completely frustrated to vent, vomit, rage and then return to 'normal' society w/o the pent up crap.
I not had any expriences on this site I would concider negative.

Agnostics, and atheists, are not immune to stupidity.

I gave my view and asked for a response and guess what no one replied.

I'm not as concerned about it as you seem to be, though I see the issue. This site came into existence at a time when the US is polarised and tribalised badly. That's reflected on the site, with a high proportion of US members, though the profile here is progressive leaning, generally. There are heated exchanges here, and it appals me if some people, including women, feel threatened in some way. But there are also interesting threads and discussions, and agreement to disagree. I think it would unrealistic to expect the site to be any different, given the group diversity. Any dynamic group interaction usually involves fringe opinion. None of us have to engage in a thread if the subject is off putting. No one has to continue in a post or thread if it spirals into unpleasantness. Sometimes I get despondent about the issues within the non religious here, like between agnostics and atheists, wearying, as I am, of seeing the same (what I think are lame) criticisms by agnostics, for example. But it is what it is, and I don't know any other site where I could make a cyber connection with so many like minded (dare I say it) souls. You and I are both Australian, in the same city. Being an atheist in this country is an isolated experience for most. I'm thankful for the contact here, whatever the rough patches. That's my two cents worth.

I think it can be difficult because people sometimes get a little heated and then a side issue arises and the original conversation goes off track. But if you have the patience to trawl through the replies you will often find that there are people further down the thread trying to have a sensible conversation with you. Keep trying!

Hellbent, I feel you! I have turned away frompolital debates and am now completely immersed in doing things to change what I don't like. I went to vote on the school budget yesterday. The two volunteers welcoming me were prominent people in our community. They were not aware that their whole way of doing business would have to change now that no migrants are coming to pick the apples and that China is buying their soybeans from other places.
See, educating citizens about the real, local impact of decisions made in haste and for no real reason except political ones is not popular. So, as much as I like to debate, i will not participate beyond this post.

I have Right Wing tendencies and have great difficulty when debating with people with Left Wing tendencies. They seem to resort to childish name calling and refuse to listen/read the evidence I give them which back up my claims, or influence me. They don’t back up their claims with data/evidence. It is very like dealing with believers when debating god.

I can debate with anyone with an opposing view a lot of the time we discuss we include our own egos and beliefs subconsciously or consciously and this is something that causes communication breakdown. Listening to respond is better method of discussion than waiting to respond

There are some things that have no merits. I will not debate with individuals who want people like me dead, or with those who support such individuals.

I would kinda agree but not entirely people usually stick to topic but any time Trump is mentioned comments start that aren't related to the topic that's just bashing him or his supporters. I find it absolutely ridiculous to talk down to or to wish harm even something simple as a slap to people for who they support politically or for any opinions and outtakes they have on life. We are all people and not everyone is going to agree, I work with mostly democrates and Trump haters but I still get along just fine with them. I didn't like Obama being in office for 8 years and never talk down or brought harm to anyone I took my medicine and moved on. Of course I would make my case and points on matters I never acted in the manner I see these days with society. Nothing is solved with bashing on either side right or left issued need to be addressed and dealt with. I support the right and no we aren't perfect and our plans and ideas don't work for everyone but the same is for the left.

I'm very passionate about politics because every aspect of our lives and future depends on politics. For the most part I'm middle of the road, depending on the topic.I'm registered democrat, but if there was a smart, intelligent republican who actually listened to all their citizens. It's very rare to find one, politicians have changed their policies. The first official Republican was Abraham Lincoln, and the "democrat" party of his time were the first republicans, not the ones of today. Federalists became Democrats and Anti-Federalists became Republicans, When Lincoln was put in office he had the original democrats and republicans, but their roles have reversed in politics with Lyndon Johnson. A democrat president who acted republican, or vice versa, however you want to look at it. Who signed the Gulf of Tonkin incident into action, killing more than hundreds of 19 yr olds, just to please republicans and gave them a war. Once he gained their confidence, he did something unheard of for a republican. He signed the Civil Rights Act in 1964, something most favorable towards American citizens. Then came Richard Nixon, opening trade with China, each president since then had some positive and some negative aspects in their reigns of presidency. UNTIL Trump, he literally has done nothing for the country, and is undoing what is good for citizens. Don, the orangutan, in question is using his very deep pockets to run the country, which he is actually ruining this country. His own party wants to get rid of him, but his pockets are deeper than their faith in their own party. Look how horrible Trump has been with John McCain. The followers of Trump, mostly Christian evangelical, the ones who are anti-progressive, very limited education, favor Jim Crows Laws, anti-LGBTQ community and their allies. Trying to defund Planned parenthood, pardoning real criminals, etc., etc.. Trump said he was not a politician, then why go into politics? Jesse "The Body" Ventura, proved you don't have to have a political background, to be a politician because he actually listened to his advisors. Trump is not doing that, he's appointed his family and partners in crime (literally) as political advisors, whom don't know what their suppose to be telling Trump. We can not get any lower than this, but it can if Trump has enough "core" supporters to keep him as president. for another fours years after 2020. Please do not let this happen. Please vote him out of office. Make America Relevant Again.

The almost instant reversion to name-calling, third grade tactics and pissing contests is disheartening. I find that often a simple question asked from ignorance draws the most venomous responses instead of an explanation of why the responder finds the question offensive.
Quite often a responder will interject a political remark (it seems to me) just because they think it is cute or clever, but it has no relevance to the thread. Is it a ploy to get attention? Trolling? After all there is a category for that for those who wish to talk about politics. Why not keep it there?
Or I may be wrong, that's always a possibility for people being people.

You're seeking validation - otherwise there wouldn't be a need to debate nor would there be this whine about how difficult it is to debate. The whine is likely a result of people not readily agreeing with your position. I never feel the need to debate because there are far more worthy things to talk about. Am I going to spend my time conversing with someone that disagrees with every political point I have to offer i.e., fact in my opinion or am I going to talk to people with similar interests like gardening? I choose gardening over debating with some misguided individual that Trump doesn't have their best interests at heart. Find other things to talk about people are weary of politics and social controversies - this site is one forum that allows you to distance yourself from all the noise.

This video is how I feel about anyone that supports Trump. I'm the guy doing the slapping, and the people being slapped are Trump supporters. And I'm slapping the shit out them trying to make them snap out of the Hitler-like spell they're under.

I freely admit that I loathe Trump and nothing you have to say is going to sway me on that. However, I'd be interested in knowing why otherwise decent people continue to support this man. Some of it I can figure out. They didn't feel heard. They felt looked down upon by a bunch of snooty liberals. Trump came to where they lived and told them what they wanted to hear. Add to that an intense dislike of Hillary. But how can they CONTINUE to support him? I guess Trump was right when he said, "I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn’t lose voters."

Yeah I'm so jaded on social media discourse, I try to not engage in any of it.

I'm a political activist, and I talk politics a lot.i don't think its possible for me to enter into a conversation with people who aren't on my side.They are wired differently and they like Trump because he is authoritarian. I don't care for how Trump has taken apart many of Obama's policies.i don't care for his lying, incompetent people around him.and chaos everywhere. Even his moving to the embassy to Jerusalem backfired. Trump has Palestinian blood on his hands for moving and getting people to escalate anger there was wrong.

In my travels I have engaged with many people and always try to start off at a person-person level on topics of mutual interest and consequently have met people where there is two-way respect, despite our differences of opinions or beliefs. Not always easy because many people are just natural opinionated bigots and best thing to do with those is simply quietly move on. At one stage I even engaged in on-line conversations in an ultra right wing group, very dangerous territory if you are a big mouth. Yet at times I actually managed to calm the waters by listening, analysing and putting things in terms they related to. Not something I would recommend for the faint hearted but it was a mildly rewarding experience.

I have never been as worried, sickened, disgusted, and discouraged as I am since Trump was elected. Every day brings a new low. I know so many people who voted for him, who I have always thought of as thinking, educated, and had some common sense, but, I can't believe that they are caught up by a maniac leading a cult that only exists to get him adoration and power. I am not saying republican vs democrat. Trump is neither. He is a Trumpist who sucks up to anyone who will give him the required toadying and worship him. That is his only agenda. He is an empty shell and has no moral compass. I have never had any of this worry and loathing for any other Republican, even though I disagree with their agenda. They seemed to have had some moral compass, some intelligence, and wanted to serve the United States. So, I will never make nice or respect Trump. He doesn't deserve it or has not earned it. He has earned disgust, and that is what he will get from me. If we don't stand up against this evil, our country will fall. It doesn't matter what political party you are aligned with. He is dangerous.

I go through the same thing off and on...it may have a lot to do with where we are emotionally at a given time. We may be looking for something that may or may not be found here or any where else, except a therapist’s couch! Maybe it has something to do with living through many phases of social orders and seeing how destructive some phases seem more so, than others! We need reassurance that the world is not REALLY falling apart! Then we try and have an in depth discussion and find other people appear to be scattered, in their knowledge and wisdom! This is my perception...

Ok brother... tell me more.

Most of us has some bias or another.... if all we want is like minded conversations to affirm some personal belief system then we are only preaching to the converted and that can be stultifying....