It's not OK. But here is what I think happens.

By definition, conservatives don't favor change and liberals do.

In my experience, conservatives have a tendency to want to prevent or obstruct the liberals proposed change, in fear that it will affect their conservative life.

The trouble starts when that change has a bearing on what other people perceive to be their rights.

So a conservative person is then seen as someone who is interfering in someone else's life. An intruder if you like.

Then comes religion. When a conservative person quotes religious text, it is usually done in a prohibitive manner. It is about why you should not do something that you would otherwise have "fun" doing. Now, this obviously stirs up negative emotions, very similar to how your parents prohibited you from doing something fun. But when faced in adulthood, it can feel heavily patronizing. Either because it implies that the person knows better than you or because it implies that you still need a parent (albeit one in the skies).

I have yet to come across a liberal that has tried to force (legally or by persuasion) their views on conservative strangers. But I have witnessed the opposite.

When liberal people propose legislation on controversial issues (abortion, gay rights) it is mostly with the intent to allow someone the choice, without dictating what choice you should make.

Conservatives on the other hand usually like to dictate other people's choices, so their proposals are mostly prohibitive.

Now, it's obvious that if you go around telling people how they should live their lives you are cruising for bruising. And instead of complaining about the backlash, you can very easily end it. All you have to do is mind your own business. :o)

Attacks come from insecure and jealous individuals. It is difficult to be true to yourself and stand up where it is easy to name call and attack with a loud mouth. Take Pelosi for example (enough said)

When you attack a conservative, you normally get a well reasoned, mature response. When you attack a liberal you get...., well.... remember how Perez Hilton reacted to Carrie Prejean's answer to his gay marriage question? You get that, shrill name calling or, as I call it, crazy talk. So that's why people have turned towards political correctness; in order to avoid pissing off a liberal and getting a bunch of crazy talk. ;)

Hmmmm.....Booooooo to Al Gore. :D Feel better? :P

No seriously, I do see what you mean, it's kind of more okay to be harsh to conservatives than liberals, it seems. I think it's cause people are ticked off at Bush and about the economy, state of foreign affairs, etc., and are kinda taking it out on conservatives in general. Just my theory. I'm not saying that all conservatives are nice, lovely people that don't deserve any criticism, just that conservatives in general do get slammed a lot more than they ought to.

Well, this applies more to media coverage than anything else. People in general are childish morons who resort to ridiculing. Well... it was an ultraliberal who wrote the book on ridiculing conservatives (and basic use of ridicule on those you disagree with). it's amazing how we see things like this today in the liberal media. But, i do admire the guy. He basically defined the liberal argument (and he encouraged it). he's like the father of trolling.

Conservatives can troll as well, but i honestly don't see it as much in major blog sites or the media.

It's not that Liberals do it more (believe me, from personal experience it's 50-50), it's just that Liberals have a way bigger voice than Conservatives do.

Huh? Really? I don't think the way someone argues back has anything to do with their political standing. I think it's more about the fact that most people are simply passive-aggressive and they feel compelled to take a stand and speak out, even if it comes out a little immature. The way they say their argument probably goes as simply as to what type of speaking environments they've grown up in. If you grow up in a household with parents always screaming, attacking, name-calling, and cursing (basically, verbally abusive), you're bound to pick up the same habits. The only thing that can subside one to grow out of what they grew up within is education. For instance, I, unfortunately, grew up in a verbally abuse household, and I do bust out some name-calling here and there, but I also manage to be at a calmer and more proper level than my parents were at through my education (from excessive practice). That's just my opinion on it all though.

Conservatives always have a victim complex about everything. It's really kind of pathetic. There is a difference between attacking and disagreeing with. No one is saying it is okay to disagree with conservatives, but not liberals.

Conservatives deserve it for being so nasty .

Liberals are insecure idiots with feelings of hatred between anyone who has different ideas than you but love different races.