Politics affects most everyone's life.  We deal with it in the office, in the news, and sometimes even in our homes.  As a result, most people believe they understand it better than they really do (read: Dunning-Kruger effect).  Not unusually, the most vocal tend to be the least informed.  This often translates to those who are more entrenched in their political beliefs are more willing to shout down disagreement.

I don't worry about being/becoming a "dinosaur" as independents and non-partisans make up roughly a third of the American voting populace.  Though that ratio is a bit smaller here in Alaska, neither party has enough to win an election purely on their own base so they cannot run completely amok without worrying about accountability come vote day.