This forum subliminally promotes the right-wing agenda?

[Fuego]

Our beloved forum is biased! I have found the definitive proof in the post icons box, right here: If I wish to give a thread a thumbs up symbol, the symbol is pointed to the right, while the thumbs down is pointed conspicuously to the LEFT! I demand equal representation! It's bigoted, I tell you. The liberal media is a lie! This media right here is SO conservative it's scary!

[/rant], I just had a funny thought pop into my head and wanted to post it. Discuss.

EDIT: lol, i forgot to put a left-pointing thumbs down as the icon...

[Unitik908]

i still dont really know which is what.. like left wing.. is that demcrat or republican...

Chase

[john_childs]

i still dont really know which is what.. like left wing.. is that demcrat or republican...

Chase
As much as I dislike going to Wikipedia for political issues I'm going to give in and do it here cause it's the quick and easy link to find.
Right-wing politics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_wing)
Left-wing politics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left-wing)

And just realize that Wikipedia is not a definitive source for controversial or political issues cause it's too easy to edit just for kicks by kooks on either side.

[john_childs]

Here's a site to help you figure out where you're at on the political scale. Left, right, up or down. The Political Compass (http://www.politicalcompass.org/).

[harper]

Roaming through the political spectrum, when I look to my left I see John Childs on the horizon. When I look to the right I see an open frontier.

[bugman]

Roaming through the political spectrum, when I look to my left I see John Childs on the horizon. When I look to the right I see an open frontier.

If your eyesight was a little better you may see me on the range. The shooting range.:D

[Spudman]

My physics teacher is mega-right.

My ultra-left friend tried to get her arrested... heh heh...

[harper]

If your eyesight was a little better you may see me on the range. The shooting range.

Next time I'm in Hot-lanta let's go. I can try out your arsenal.

[boo radley]

My physics teacher is mega-right.

My ultra-left friend tried to get her arrested... heh heh...

i had a prof. that was mega-right. i wrote ultra-left papers just to piss her off. bad idea to mess with the person that controls your grades.

[Borges]

Here's a site to help you figure out where you're at on the political scale. Left, right, up or down. The Political Compass (http://www.politicalcompass.org/).
Talk about subliminal bias. I got a score of MINUS one (a little left of the middle) on the left-right scale. Harper would probably get a significantly "better" score. Yet another thing besides the swimsuit model career to be envious about. Oh well... I'll just have to accept that I'm inferior :(

[john_childs]

Talk about subliminal bias. I got a score of MINUS one (a little left of the middle) on the left-right scale. Harper would probably get a significantly "better" score. Yet another thing besides the swimsuit model career to be envious about. Oh well... I'll just have to accept that I'm inferior :(
It is a tricky survey. You have to know your feelings and position on all the issues presented to get an accurate score. I don't fully agree with the score it gave me. I answered a lot of questions with agree or disagree. To get a more accurate score that moves you further away from the center it looks like you need to answer strongly agree or strongly disagree more often or when appropriate. That takes more thinking. It's easy for most of the questions to figure out the agree or disagree part. Figuring out if it goes into the strongly agree or strongly disagree category is more difficult.

I'll have to try the survey again and pay attention to using the strongly agree and strongly disagree options when appropriate.

Some of the questions are also kind of hard to figure out what exactly they're aiming at.

[Mikefule]

5 to the left and 4 down. (Libertarian left wing.) Somewhere around Mandella and the Dalai Lama.

[ThisGuyIKnow]

Economic Left/Right: -6.38
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -4.87

John I want to see your scores, show them to us

[DK]

Economic Left/Right: -1.00
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -7.44
I didn't really like that test and I didn't understand some of the questions

[halfbike]

And just realize that Wikipedia is not a definitive source for controversial or political issues cause it's too easy to edit just for kicks by kooks on either side.

Yes, but they will change it back really fast. I made an edit once that was very relavant and contributive, but they changed it back like lightning.

[john_childs]

I don't much like the Political Compass either. Getting an accurate result is tricky and I suspect that the vast majority of people taking the survey do not get a final result that is not actually correct. I suspect that it does an OK job of putting you in the correct quadrant but the positioning in that quadrant is going to be hit or miss depending on how well the survey taker understands the global (Western democracy) political spectrum and range of views.

One thing that seems to have thrown me off is that I was answering from a very US centric point of view. I wasn't thinking globally. In the US the political system operates within a narrow area of the political compass. On that compass there isn't a lot of difference between a typical Democrat and a typical Republican. On a global scale the US system and range of accepted political ideology is very limited. So answering the questions based on a US centric view will skew the results. Gotta think about how your views fit on a global scale.

Other countries also have similar problems. For example a conservative in Canada is more like a liberal Democrat here in the US. So a Canadian answering the questions from a Canadian centric view will also end up with a skewed result.

I'll have to retake the survey later with all that in mind.

[hell-on-wheel]

Some of the questions are also kind of hard to figure out what exactly they're aiming at.

It's been a while since I took a statistics class, but I'm pretty sure the survey-taker isn't suppose to know what the questions are aiming at. It's not about trying to get yourself into the quadrant that you perceive yourself being in. Otherwise, why ask the questions, just put a dot on the grid.

For what it's worth:
-6.38
-4.77

Just a hair below Ghandi, and almost perfectly diagonal from G. W. Bush.
(Don't judge me too hard, I'm still young and idealistic, I'm sure I'll gravitate up and right as I get older and lose hope for the world.)

[ThisGuyIKnow]

One thing that seems to have thrown me off is that I was answering from a very US centric point of view. I wasn't thinking globally. In the US the political system operates within a narrow area of the political compass. On that compass there isn't a lot of difference between a typical Democrat and a typical Republican. On a global scale the US system and range of accepted political ideology is very limited. So answering the questions based on a US centric view will skew the results. Gotta think about how your views fit on a global scale.

But isn't having US-centric or global-centric views part of where you end up falling on the political spectrum. Right now you are viewing your result on a US-centric model by even bringing in the concept of Democrat and Republican because the test itself certainly doesn't bring thos terms into the discussion.

In order to even out the scores among each other to keep our scores comparable we should all retake the test answering only agree or disagree, and ignore stongly agree and strongly disagree.

As far as the US-centric vs. global-perspectived that is all part of your political view point. If you're taking the test from a US-centric point of view is that because you tend to see the world in a US-centric manner?

We all understand the inaccuracy of the test but I am still curious to see your results, not so much to judge you, but to judge the test see we already have a limited understanding of your poitics from your posts on the board.

[john_childs]

But isn't having US-centric or global-centric views part of where you end up falling on the political spectrum. Right now you are viewing your result on a US-centric model by even bringing in the concept of Democrat and Republican because the test itself certainly doesn't bring thos terms into the discussion.

In order to even out the scores among each other to keep our scores comparable we should all retake the test answering only agree or disagree, and ignore stongly agree and strongly disagree.

As far as the US-centric vs. global-perspectived that is all part of your political view point. If you're taking the test from a US-centric point of view is that because you tend to see the world in a US-centric manner?

We all understand the inaccuracy of the test but I am still curious to see your results, not so much to judge you, but to judge the test see we already have a limited understanding of your poitics from your posts on the board.

There are questions that very much depend on what you consider to be the moderate position. For example the economic and business regulation questions. What we in the US would consider heavy handed regulation would be considered very light regulation in someplace like Sweden. A US liberal would be considered a right winger in some countries. So basing your answers on a US centric view will tend to skew your results to the left side of the compass graph.

I was looking at the survey all wrong. I'll have to retake it later tonight when I get back home. I don't have time right now.

The first time I took the survey I ended up slightly to the left of John Kerry. :eek: That is way way wrong. That's why I need to take it again considering the global perspective.

[ThisGuyIKnow]

There are questions that very much depend on what you consider to be the moderate position. For example the economic and business regulation questions. What we in the US would consider heavy handed regulation would be considered very light regulation in someplace like Sweden. A US liberal would be considered a right winger in some countries. So basing your answers on a US centric view will tend to skew your results to the left side of the compass graph.

I was looking at the survey all wrong. I'll have to retake it later tonight when I get back home. I don't have time right now.

The first time I took the survey I ended up slightly to the left of John Kerry. :eek: That is way way wrong. That's why I need to take it again considering the global perspective.

I think you still ahve it wrong by trying to filter your views through a country. Take all of the questions personally. If the statement is something you would say mark, agree. If it's something you wouldnt' say mark disagree.

I look your looking way too into this and trying choose answers on how you think you're supposed to think rather than how you do think.

I will admit that taking a survey like this is difficult. Everything exists in shades of grey so sometimes it's hard to mark an answer when there are only black or white to choose from.

Many cosider the failings of our current president, that he is only able to see issues as black or white. He's even vocalized this belief with statments like, "you're either for us or against us". So it's sort of hypocritical for me to ask you to take black or white stances on all of these issues, but this is just for a little internet test, not to determine the future of the free world.

[bugman]

:rolleyes: The roll eyes look to the right also.

[Spudman]

And the little X button on my window is on the right too!!!

[Borges]

The first time I took the survey I ended up slightly to the left of John Kerry. :eek: That is way way wrong. That's why I need to take it again considering the global perspective.

When you retake the test, won't it be hard not to think about making the test put you where you feel comfortable?

[john_childs]

I retook the Political Compass questionnaire and got got a result much more consistent with where I actually am on the political spectrum.
Economic Left/Right: 6.63
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -0.97

A chart comparing the political compass positions for the Presidential candidates in the 2004 US election: Political Compass Presidential Election 2004 (http://www.digitalronin.f2s.com/politicalcompass/uselection.php)

Here's another political ideology questionnaire for US politics: Politics Match (http://www.ontheissues.org/quizeng/XPolitics/start.asp)
On that test I am pegged as a Libertarian-Leaning Conservative. That matches up with what I got on the Political Compass.

[john_childs]

When you retake the test, won't it be hard not to think about making the test put you where you feel comfortable?
Nope.
Same thoughts, same views. Just reconsidered what I considered to be the center for picking the strongly agree or strongly disagree options. Only my economics score changed. The social score stayed pretty much the same.

[Borges]

Nope.
Same thoughts, same views. Just reconsidered what I considered to be the center for picking the strongly agree or strongly disagree options. Only my economics score changed. The social score stayed pretty much the same.

The reason I asked was that the previous election I took a similar test. The 2. best match for me was a candidate from a party I DON'T feel comfortable with. When I later retook the test to get a closer look at the candidates, I found out that the candidate from that party had moved down the list. I think that my feelings about the party subconsiously affected my choices.

My scores in the compass (-1, -4) seem pretty accurate to me though I would have liked a "Don't know" category for some of the questions where I didn't know what they where getting at.

[cathwood]

Economic left/right - -5.63
Social liberatarianism/authoritarianism - -6.36.
Libertarian left wing.
Somewhere around Mikefule, actually.

Cathy

[theotherguy]

why can't we all just get along and be in the middle? :confused:

[cathwood]

why can't we all just get along and be in the middle? :confused:

PML

Well, I guess you are young and innocent.

On the other hand, the first part of the question is probably why I got 'into' psychology. And look where that has got me - a 100 mile a day round trip to work for the next 3 years. And the answer seems more complicated now than when I started. Actually, even the question is complicated now.

Cathy

[Mikefule]

For what it's worth:
-6.38
-4.77
Just a hair below Ghandi, and almost perfectly diagonal from G. W. Bush.
(Don't judge me too hard, I'm still young and idealistic, I'm sure I'll gravitate up and right as I get older and lose hope for the world.)

I really did laugh out loud.:)

[Mikefule]

The compass thing is of course no more than harmless nonsense, because the position of the two axes betrays the designer's own preconceptions about where the middle ground is.

Also, even the most honest and self-aware person may give a different answer depending on how deeply he or she thinks about the question, or how literally he or she interprets the very subjective terms used in the questions.

However, as a general guide, I suppose you could simply ignore the axes and compare your own position to the positions of other people. I expected to be left-ish and libertarian-ish, and that's where I ended up on the grid, so it isn't complete hogwash.

I doubt that Bush, Ghandi or the Dalai Lama participated, so it is a little presumptious of the designer to put them on the grid.

[harper]

why can't we all just get along and be in the middle?

We are all in the middle as long as you loosen the resolution of the scales enough.

[Mikefule]

Almost any position can be redefined as moderate if you choose the right extremes as a basis for your average.

Thus, a left wing US politician would usually be considered right wing in Europe. Hitler was a big softie compared to Atilla the Hun.

To put it another way, I would appear to be above average height if I played Snow White in the panto.

[john_childs]

I doubt that Bush, Ghandi or the Dalai Lama participated, so it is a little presumptious of the designer to put them on the grid.
But they do have enough public positions and opinions from speeches, platforms, essays, votes, etc. that they can be fairly accurately placed on the grid.

[john_childs]

The reason I asked was that the previous election I took a similar test. The 2. best match for me was a candidate from a party I DON'T feel comfortable with. When I later retook the test to get a closer look at the candidates, I found out that the candidate from that party had moved down the list. I think that my feelings about the party subconsiously affected my choices.

My scores in the compass (-1, -4) seem pretty accurate to me though I would have liked a "Don't know" category for some of the questions where I didn't know what they where getting at.
Being close to a candidate on the Political Compass does not mean that you necessarily would agree with their platform and what they would do if elected.

Here's the spread for the candidates in the 2004 US Presidential election (http://www.digitalronin.f2s.com/politicalcompass/uselection.php). I'm closest to Michael Badnarik on the graph but if you look at actual party platforms I am much closer to George Bush. Doesn't make much sense but that's the way it is.

These kinds of political quizzes have faults and aren't necessarily going to match you up correctly with a candidate or party that you are comfortable with.

[Borges]

The political debates during an election rarely has more than a few topics. The a quiz like the political compass forces you to make up your mind on alot more topics. But mainly they're fun.
Being close to a candidate on the Political Compass does not mean that you necessarily would agree with their platform and what they would do if elected.
I found out I did agree with them on many things, there where just some topics where "Strongly disagree" wasn't enough and there should have been a "Would never under any circumstances vote for someone with this oppinion".

[Mikefule]

if you look at actual party platforms I am much closer to George Bush. Doesn't make much sense.

You said it.:p

If I was close to george W Bush on a platform, I would push him off the edge.:D

[john_childs]

You said it.:p

If I was close to george W Bush on a platform, I would push him off the edge.:D
Getting pushed off the platform is a risk you take when you stand so close to the edge, like say someone way over at -5, -4. :)

why can't we all just get along and be in the middle?
You can't get pushed off the edge if you stand in the middle.
But then, if you stand in the middle you don't really stand for much either.

[pdc]

Economic Left/Right: 2.88
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -0.97

[GILD]

a 100 mile a day round trip to work for the next 3 years.I'm jealous. Just think of all the albums you can listen thru in (relative) peace and quiet.
You are driving, aren't you?

[JJuggle]

Getting pushed off the platform is a risk you take when you stand so close to the edge, like say someone way over at -5, -4. :)

why can't we all just get along and be in the middle?
You can't get pushed off the edge if you stand in the middle.
But then, if you stand in the middle you don't really stand for much either.
Economic Left/Right: -4.88
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -5.33

Virtually exactly where Gandhi is placed. :)

[fexnix]

Economic Left/Right: -4.50
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -3.54

[GILD]

Economic Left/Right: -2.50
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -5.74

[mscalisi]

Looks like I'm pretty close to a lot of you.

[mscalisi]

Lets try that again.

[phlegm]

You all are a bunch of leftist liberals! :p

Here are my scores:
Economic Left/Right: -5.00
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -3.08