I openly wear my affiliation with the left, and Jill Stein around most of the Internet, and what I've found from doing so was pretty shocking even though I expected it.
The divide between left and right particularly in America has become so ferociously large (due most likely to media propaganda)  that no matter who on the right side of the spectrum I talk to they dismiss me as an idiot for the very reason that I'm on the left, even if the conversation wasn't political in nature.
Can this many people really manifest hatred for millions of people just because of their political views?
It's not hurtful,  I've been on the Internet for a long time now, I know how it works here, it just surprised me a little and I was wondering what others here might think. 

I know what you mean; how 'bout in the middle? You can say something that is far left or far right, but there is no middle ground. Why is that?

tRIUNE : Usually being in the middle means you support specific right positions but also specific left ones. I'm not sure how great of a way to gauge the spectrum that is, but with how polarised world politics have become everything is considered far to one side or the other.

pennylessz : What happens is politics are so divisive, especially the past few years. I've always thought politics are similar to religion or sports teams, where there's no room for conversation. I believe in my God or Alabama and you believe in your God or Auburn. There is no middle ground for the people most likely to talk about their opinions.

It's too bad because the conversation and the exchange of ideas is what makes politics work successfully. Instead, and I think the media is to blame for stirring the pot like you do, it has to be a "Take Sides" sort of thing because Americans tend to be all or nothing. We don't like ties in sports, we don't like uncertain answers and endings to movies, and we certainly don't like multi-party systems.

Win or lose. It's the American way.

If you don't like what I like, you're a moron is also the American way, especially with politics.

It's too bad.

I'm a right-sided person and I'll listen to what you have to say. I don't automatically assume you're an idiot for liking liberal points of a view and I'm a social liberal but I always ask the question: "Who's going to pay for this?" That's where I get my conservative voting from.

I think part of the problem is trying to discuss just about anything on the internet. When I meet people in person to talk about religion, politics or even [gasp] favorite sports teams I find that it is a million time more civil than nearly any conversation on the internet is when those topics come up. I have strong personal views but I've also learned that it is far easier to ignore these topics on the internet than to waste time trying to debate them. The "debates" end up going nowhere every time I try to have them.

geeogree :

Almost all my debates take place on chat now, because of what you said. I love forum debates when they're incredibly organized and well thought out. But a wonderful dislike system, and general user's immaturity really put a hamper on it for me. I know what you mean about things being far better in person though. In order for people to talk about important issues, the people discussing them must have mutual respect. Something much more easily shared between friends than faceless usernames who randomly stumbled upon you on a forum.

This is the reason why I don't reveal my political stance with anyone (usually) unless I've grown close enough to them to trust that they won't just stop being friends with me or become nasty to me because of it. I've never, ever, hated someone because of their political views, because it's kinda stupid to. I mean... we all have different views on everything so why not just accept that.

I also really, really hate debating. Doesn't matter where, it just always seems like people try to twist my words or not listen to me at all. I do enjoy debating with friends, however, if they're respectful xp.

Sword legion : I have the most fun debating with someone on chat one on one :v. In fact that's the only circumstance where I enjoy it...

If you would have just voted Rubio...

But really, we need a moderate party. That's what the Modern Whig party is for.

Join the Modern Whigs already.

Just making a general statement here, America will only get better when both Democrats and Republicans set aside there differences both values and views wise and start working together as one to make america better as a whole for the people after all they serve the people and this whole concept of which ever house holds the most seats in congress stops the other side and it becomes a stalemate over every bill needs to stop its not accomplishing anything ,I'd say we end both political parties and start over from scratch or let each party run things how they want for a year and then let the people decide on the third year who ran the country better and which party gets to run it from that point on

But anyways back on the original posters topic/main idea, you shouldn't have shown your political views so openly if you weren't prepared for individuals to criticize you. Granted people shouldn't dismiss your commentary on topics outside of politics based on your political views as being an idiot because you don't share the same political views as them that's just childish and immature, sorry that happened to you, but its the internet and there are trolls everywhere..don't feed them or let them make you think any less of yourself over what they say.

People are quick to assume and quick to judge so I don't find it baffling. Whenever I debate someone online it's very rarely to try and convince the other person. They're already set in their beliefs as am I, so to try and convince them especially when I'm just some stranger on the internet isn't going to work 99% of the time. It's rather because I hope to get to those who might be on the fence about a certain issue or perhaps aren't too invested into it.

That said the degree to which some people project on the internet is ridiculous. Countless of times when I've tried to debate someone on several sites, just because I disagree with them on a single issue they suddenly think they have me entirely figured out.  My every stance on every issue and even my entire lifestyle somehow.

That is why I don't like entirely affiliating with a certain party and try to steer away from falling completely under one ideology. That can often make people a lot less likely to hear you out simply because you have that label. It also promotes hive mind thinking which is something that should be avoided. People need to think more for themselves in stead of just getting all their "facts" from obviously biased sources like msnbc, fox news, the young turks etc.