New video contains 7 minute segment about The Villages
 

The U.S. Presidential Election: Can Donald Trump can once again defy the polls? | Four Corners - YouTube


Segment from the 7 minute to the 14 minute mark about The Villages. I wish I could edit this to just that segment as the rest of the video is about how important it is to win Florida in the upcoming election. My purpose is not political but to point out how we - The Villagers look to the rest of the country independent of political party and relay some sadness this has personally caused me. There is a segment around the 10 minute mark that describes people having become so hostile to each other they have been ousted from social circles. This hits home for me. For years I had a golf group playing 3 times per week. Last year it got so bad as leader had to make a rule no talking politics. Didn't work. We had to abandon the group and some friendships parted ways.

Your experience is not unique to TV.

The real heartbreak in this is two of the group has passed away before we all reconciled differences. Please don't let this happen to your group.

rustyp,

I will try to watch your video later. But I just wanted to say that you bring up an interesting point that I wish we could have a thread discussing — but it probably would not last.

There are so many vignettes of the division in everyday lives of everyday people showing us that many relationships are probably ripped beyond repair.

There was an overheard conversation at a table of ROMEOs (Retired Old Men Eating Out) who were at an outside restaurant. Two of the men said that their adult granddaughters no longer speak to them.

If we ever decide to sell our house, I thought I knew what agent we would use — unless we FSBO. But then her husband decorated his vehicle to the max to go to a parade. I suspected she follows his thinking but even so, how dumb it is to mix business and politics. I won’t forget and our listing now would never be with her. That commission would be a tidy sum and I just don’t feel the same about these people. Petty? I don’t think so. There is too much that has been revealed about who they really are — in my opinion anyway. (I keep my mouth shut but I sometimes wish I did not. I am glad we are not allowed to have signs because I might be tempted to put some in my yard.)

Families, and even couples, are being torn up to a place far beyond anything remotely imaginable in politics-past.

It makes me sad. (“It was my party and I’ll cry if I want to.” That’s probably what I would put on a sign — a sign from which only an elder-Boomer would pick up the allusion.)

The Villages isn't what it was when we moved here in 2014. The people are outrageously rude, mean, no filters and for no reason! I have no idea what happened over the years but I would love to find somewhere else to live. My husband FINALLY got to see the true colors come out in people today.... I'm actually embarrassed for their attitude and the way they act!

I'll take how things are in The Villages, over how they are in Seattle, Portland, Chicago, Baltimore, NYC and the like any day.

Very true.

People should be able to vote as they wish without the hatred that is springing up all over.

My 3 sisters hate Trump and are mad at me for voting for him

Hopefully this will end after the election.

Of course you would prefer how things are here since there is barely any diversity you'll never have to worry about anything like that here and for probably another 60 miles. Your "comparison" of those areas to here isn't even close to reality. Living here is like burying one's head in the sand wrt most of the rest of the country. As long as there is golf courses and dogs and dancing every night everything is great.

Just because we live as we grew up doesn't mean we are racist. I was told by family as a young person that when it was time to pick a mate to choose someone who is the most like the people you know and respect. I did. It was good advice. It isn't WRONG to enjoy people who think and believe similarly to yourself. Unless you are an Ax murderer.

Perhaps diversity is extolled. It isn't always comfortable.

It is a free country. People can choose to live where they prefer. I am grateful for that.

I want to feel safe 24 hours a day wherever I choose to go as well as at home and happily live my life among law abiding, well educated congenial people whose companionship I relish. I love warm weather, am not fond of large crowds or having to breathe environmental tobacco smoke.

Others' preferences may vary as we are each unique.

The Villages is not unique in the division that pops up. The whole country is divided. Division was already there but it was below the surface. Now it is out in the open and not likely to get better anytime soon. It started years ago, with the aftermath of the Viet Nam war, Roe v. Wade, the Bork case, etc. Now we are at the point of an election that is seen as critical to the direction of the nation. On one side is hatred; on the other, fear -- a combustible mixture. If you think the riots we have seen in the news were bad, wait till the ones coming Nov. 3 and thereafter.

P.S. Generally speaking, the folks here are polite, considerate, helpful and friendly -- unlike some other places I will not bother to mention. Suggesting there are better, friendlier places to live is like looking for the Fountain of Youth or the Lost City of Atlantis -- relax and enjoy where you are. This is a great community!

81 years old. Been deeply involved in politics and political differences.

Never ever Seen anything like what has been created.

Shame is nobody will allow discussion of the reason

Seems the reason is founded in hate, not political differences....not issue discussions at all. Hate is difficult to discuss.

As outsiders looking in, my wife and I have seen the division, and most noticeable, the sheer intolerence between opinions getting worse each year
Over the last 20 years when playing golf or whatever activity, politics was seldom if ever mentioned, but for the last 4-5 years there was never a game without it being mentioned, and the vehemence and hostility shown by either side of the divide was quite frightening in some cases.
How reason and tolerance can ever be restored I have no idea, but unless people decide to stand back and say, we have to stop this before it is totaly out of control, the unthinkable could become a reality.
Your wonderful community, and country, is tearing itself apart!

Again, I use my personal experiences, but when did politics become insulting, demeaning, accusing of so many facets of American life ?

Where in the world do people expect language like that to end ?

There is only one destination....it is inevitable, and that ending solves no problem ever.

We live with it each and every day....in your face constantly. Think about it.....that kind of rhetoric cannot have a satisfactory ending. If you are labeled and attacked or called names, are you to simply forget it ? How long do you keep quiet.

This is not political differences....

Most posters on TOTV react and post to a wide genre of subjects. Most posters easily see the humor in other's posts and can laugh at themselves. Most posters on TOTV are interested in many things. Most of our lives do not begin and end with politics and politicians. After we begin to access and clearly "see" the foibles and faults of people in the public eye we than should say...That is how he acts. I won't vote for him and just not let it "get" to us. It harms us to obsess about people who may very well not be of influence in a couple of weeks. There was a large group who gathered on Friday, but a larger group that did not gather on Friday here in The Villages. Like Billethekid often reminds us. It isn't wise to focus on the few. It is the silent majority who usually runs the railroad.

With all due respect, the item or person in question is not simply an ambassador on the golf course and actions from that corner affect every single person, and not just in this country.

Sorry, but that is a fact of life. And I am interested in my "railroad".....I do not consider my "railroad" an idle hobby. I spoke up about every POTUS for the last 60 years and advice from anyone will not deter me. EVERY citizen should learn and do the same.

MEDIA REPORTS.

REPORTS is telling someone what happened.

IT is being fed by daily, almost hourly comments that travel the globe representing all of us.

I just watched rustyp’s linked video from beginning to end. It is a well done Australian production. (The world is watching and some are dancing with glee while others are feeling sorry for us.)

It made me think about Jon Meacham’s book The Soul of America.

The video covers all the bases. It is well worth watching.

Boomer

But you see those who have not even watched are commenting and criticizing.

Does this ring a bell? NO POLITICAL REFERENCES ARE ALLOWED ON THE WEBSITE. USERS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DIRECT COMMENTS TOWARD ANOTHER USER. DIRECT THEM TO THE TOPIC. VIOLATION OF THESE RULES CAN LEAD TO ACCOUNT TERMINATION AND BAN.

I would give anything to take a couple of shots here but it's against the rules.

The problem is that everyone thinks their rights are more important than everyone else’s. EVERYONE has a right to vote for whoever they choose whether you like it or not.

"Petty? I don’t think so. There is too much that has been revealed about who they really are."

"Seems the reason is founded in hate, not political differences."



Those two statements perfectly sum up where we are right now. Prior to 4 years ago, no one could have convinced me that there were so many people who harbored so much hate for others based on their skin color, gender, place of birth, sexual orientation or anything else that makes them different than themselves. To find out that I have so many friends and relatives, that have apparently had this bottled up for so long and now feel free, nae encouraged, to publicly express it, is like a high-voltage electrical shock to the whole body.

One of the great things about our country is you're given the chance to vote for whoever you want. I have always chosen to not let who my friends vote for interfere with our friendship. In fact, I applaud their choice, whatever that may be - and honestly, could care less who they actually vote for. I also make no effort to influence anyone's opinion. I've never lost a friend over politics and hopefully never will.

Are we hypocrites?
We don't seem to care what any of the "persuasions" are of the folks who sit around us or greet us in church.

In the emergency room we could care less about race, religion and especially politics of those who labor to save us.

Ditto when being rescued by police and or fire.

Ditto when we go to almost any function in the daily lifestyle here in TV (or any where else).

The hate hoopla in the magnifying glass on the few who with the help of the media and social media that make it sound like it is the prevalent mode.

As the old saying goes "...most people are good and well intended...".

The only hateful people I know of in The Villages are those cursing, impeding and otherwise harassing those peacefully parading for their candidate; outside TV hateful people are assaulting, battering, murdering, rioting, vandalizing, looting, robbing and setting fires. My relatives and friends are just trying to live their lives as peacefully, kindly and enjoyably as they can thank you very much.

So true. Lots of Hatred- why do we need to burn down cities to prove some point that nobody really even understands? I am sick of being called names, having my country denigrated, and my cities burned by people who are full of hatred.

According to Miss Manners suggestion; sex, religion and politics are off limits for dinner topic conversation. No preaching either. I would think it applies to other pleasant settings also.

How we look to the rest of the country has more to do with what is falsely reported in biased stories like this. I don't know of anyone who has lost their golf game or been kicked out of a club because of there support for either candidate. Of course that show that video of the golf cart parade with that one obnoxious woman yelling F**K Trump and the guy yelling white power in response. Then of course the leader of the democratic club complaining that it took days for someone to disavow it. The truth is that, in my experience, people like those two are few and far between here.

Who is the divider in that scenario? The woman yelling F**K Trump or the guy who responded?

I say if the Trump supporters want to have a golf cart parade, let them have it. If the Biden supporters want to have a golf cart parade, let them have it. People who are opposed to either candidate should not be going to the parade to taunt the people that they disagree with. It serves no purpose but to divide us.

How about everyone just support their candidate and leave the people that disagree alone.

Great thread, and great examples of people really not understanding what causes divides like the subject is about.

This is one of the best threads I've seen on this board to date - a serious political/philosophical discussion without naming names or being belligerent. Good going. The division in this country is serious...and sad. We'll only get past it if we have the courage to discuss it calmly.

The hardest person to live with is yourself

Agreed, it was created by the media. But how would you suggest the public be made aware of what’s going on in our country and the world? Millions say it’s “fake news”. I don’t buy it when you can watch video excerpts.

I'll remind people what I was pointing out was I did loose some friends and golf games here in The Villages. It was getting so bad I was having a tough time making teams because some "friends" refused to ride with another "friend" unless they removed their political sign from the golf cart for the round of golf. The post wasn't to be political in support of a candidate or party or even worse to find blame. The video made me aware of how we are acting towards our fellow TV'ers / neighbors in our own little microcosm. There is no reason we can't have freedom of choice while being civil . Please face the fact that many eyes on on us TV'ers for various reasons. What kind of image would you like be projected of our little Utopia here ?

It's not just TV.
 

The world and people, will continue to change for better or worse always has always will. Change is the only constant.

You hit the nail on the head when you said some wouldn’t ride in a golf cart because of the sign on it. It was in your face and caused anger? Frustration? No different than having white crosses on lawns or political signs in Windows. Some can ignore, many others can’t.
Why do people have that need to to put it in our face. I never have signs on my golf cart because of the negative feelings it promotes. What’s the sense in intentionally causing negative feelings/anger?

It’s sad. I grew up in a very conservative household. My mom once washed my mouth out with soap for saying the forbidden words “Shut up.” My language can be salty at times, but in the following sixty years, I never used language like that in my parents’ presence, and I never used language like that in my children’s presence. It IS possible to just not talk about politics in “mixed company” where it will offend. It takes an effort, and it may leave a hole in the conversation, but it CAN be done. However, it is so much easier when people don’t post signs on their lawns, bodies, and golf carts and don’t post offensive memes on their Facebook pages. (Offensive to some others, not to the person posting, necessarily.) Just as we are avoiding the political name calling on here, we can do it in real life. But of course here we have a Moderator. (Thank you, Moderator!) I real life, we have to be our own moderators.

I am saddened also by the people of The Villages who are supposed to be so friendly. The first day I moved here 4 years ago I was told if I wasn’t a Trump supporter I should keep my mouth closed. I thought it was a joke. It wasn’t. I want to leave TV but now with Covid is not the time. I feel like I’m unwanted as a human being because I see things differently.

Sad that you change your perspective of someone so drastically based only on their political stance. Especially when you knew and liked them previously. Imo most come to their political opinion with a good heart. But opposing sides rarely Take the opportunity to see that good in the other. Guess love thy neighbor and love thy enemy doesn’t matter to many.

It has been difficult for me to consciously avoid political discussions with all but the very few people with whom I know we can have disagreement without hostility.

things have become more emotionally charged than I remember them being, since the '60s. Things were pretty hot back then, without obviously politically slanted media outlets deliberately stoking the flames, in the pursuit of ratings and advertising dollars.

It has been difficult for me to do it, but it has been good for the soul.