Sounds painful.

I think it is a personality thing. Some people like Imperials, others like Stormcloaks. All the logic in the world is not going to change anyones point of view. I am the opposite of you. I cannot stand Imperials. They seem like a bunch of petty bureaucrats to me. But I have an Imperial character so I can do the Imperial civil war quests. It's fun playing a character you consider to be a "jerk" sometimes. For me, that would be an Imperial. For you, that would be a Stormcloak.

If I can enjoy playing an Imperial, I am sure you can enjoy playing a Stormcloak. They get to swagger a lot and drink mead, and boast and shout and fight with a big Nord axe. What's not to like?

I find that peoples opinions on Ulfric vary greatly depending on their opinions of the Nord race. And sometimes their IRL race.

Dunmer for life right here though. Ulfric can choke on a fireball.

I've been trying to get myself in the mood to support them in one of my playthroughs, but every time i just get upset with their standings and how Ulfric treats people that I end up storming right over to Solitude and doing the Legion again.

Didn't the Empire purposely leave legions behind in Hammerfell?

In Hammerfell, General Decianus was preparing to drive the Aldmeri back from Skaven when he was ordered to march for Cyrodiil. Unwilling to abandon Hammerfell completely, he allowed a great number of "invalids" to be discharged from the Legions before they marched east. These veterans formed the core of the army that eventually drove Lady Arannelya's forces back across the Alik'r late in 174, taking heavy losses on their retreat from harassing attacks by the Alik'r warriors.

I have been thinking of doing exactly this with a new Altmer character. I do not have any respect for the Skyrim Era Empire. It is not even a pale shadow of what it once was. But I have been thinking of making her a pro-Imperial. Why should she care about Talos worship? Pfft! An upstart round-ear is all he was. What does she care about Nordic freedom or their culture? They're humans after all! That is like pigs having a culture. At least the Empire knows how to heel and obey their elven masters, as all humans should. With their help all the humans will eventually become obedient slaves.

Politics are as good as any other reason. My first character, an Argonian, joined the Stormcloaks and while he didn't approve of some of their methods (mainly the racist ones) it would be quite the hypocrisy if he was willing to die to defend Argonia's independence but not Skyrim's. The Empire was more corrupt to him and the very thought of them lying in bed with the Thalmor made it worse. Knowing about the racism that flowed in Cyrodiil also shines bad light at the Empire, especially when they try to hide it from public knowledge. Not to mention that the Empire made it personal when they almost wrongfully executed him and later his lover, then murdered a very close friend, desecrating the body in the process.


Even more so since the last major event Argonia suffered was 160 years ago. The Great War was 30 years ago. IIRC elves aren't the most productive breeders and since Argonians have had more than a five times longer time span than the Thalmor to rebuild their military, the two factions have at the very least even military power.
Under Hist influence, the daedra were forced to close the Oblivion gates themselves because of the Argonians' ferocity. The elves didn't fare as well as the Argonians. So Argonians under Hist influence are quite the threat.
EDIT: And to my knowledge, no faction has ever truly conquered Argonia. Not even Tiber Septim or Reman II succeeded. The inner swamplands near Helstrom has always been Argonian.

One does not simply walk into Black Marsh.

What would happen? Another Knahaten Flu, infecting and killing everyone except the Argonians.
That epidemic wasn't a coincidence either. The Hist and the Argonians are bidding their time.