Quiz Results and What I Think is Wrong with the Quiz and then I go off on a Tangent
Your Political Profile:Overall: 10% Conservative, 90% LiberalSocial Issues: 25% Conservative, 75% LiberalPersonal Responsibility: 0% Conservative, 100% LiberalFiscal Issues: 0% Conservative, 100% LiberalEthics: 0% Conservative, 100% LiberalDefense and Crime: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal
How Liberal Or Conservative Are You?
Here's a better title for the quiz "Which Extremist Position are You Slightly more Comfortable With?"
I am not that liberal, this isn't to say I'm not liberal, but just not to that extreme. The problem (inherent in most blog type quizzes) is that when given the statement "Carrying a gun is" and the choices are that it is either smart for self defense or irresponsible I have to say its irresponsible to carry a gun with you wherever you go (the grocery store, your child's school, the airport). In general (not 100% of the time, but usually) most public places are relatively safe. It is highly unlikely that you or I will be attacked in a public place, I'm not saying it never happens, but I think its fairly paranoid to expect to be physically attacked every time you leave your home. If that is happening to you everytime you go out, then you have bigger problems than a gun can solve. That being said, I see nothing wrong with owning a gun and keeping it in your home except when you plan to use it. I own a gun, I don't know its exact location anymore and I reported that to the police as it is registered in my name and since it isn't in my posession at this time it could possibly be used in a crime that I know nothing about, but I own one. There was no option for "Owning a gun and practicing proper gun safety and not owning a gun at all are equally acceptable personal choices". No shade of gray.
Reminds me of a Philosophy class I had in college, one day the Prof said, "Let's suppose that there are only two categories into which all things in the world can be put, and those categories are Ice Cream and Dog Shit." He then had us categorize everything into those groups, some things were easy (the sky is Ice Cream and nuclear waste is Dog Shit). The problem is that so many things require an in-between category. Is fire Ice Cream or Dog Shit? What about water? I suppose its Ice Cream when you're taking a shower but maybe Dog Shit when you're drowning? In and of itsef though, what is it? Where would you put it? All good or all bad?
Too often people try to simplify the world in this way. Everything and everyone is either good or bad, like in a movie. They do this because it makes life less scarey and our surroundings more understandable. Problem is that the world isn't like that and approaching situations and people with that attitude sets you up for unresolvable conflicts with those around you, particularly when you try to categorize people in this way. Nobody is Ice Cream, we all have flaws or annoying habits, not one of us is universally loved. At the same time, nobody is Dog Shit and universally hated either.
How Liberal Or Conservative Are You?
Here's a better title for the quiz "Which Extremist Position are You Slightly more Comfortable With?"
I am not that liberal, this isn't to say I'm not liberal, but just not to that extreme. The problem (inherent in most blog type quizzes) is that when given the statement "Carrying a gun is" and the choices are that it is either smart for self defense or irresponsible I have to say its irresponsible to carry a gun with you wherever you go (the grocery store, your child's school, the airport). In general (not 100% of the time, but usually) most public places are relatively safe. It is highly unlikely that you or I will be attacked in a public place, I'm not saying it never happens, but I think its fairly paranoid to expect to be physically attacked every time you leave your home. If that is happening to you everytime you go out, then you have bigger problems than a gun can solve. That being said, I see nothing wrong with owning a gun and keeping it in your home except when you plan to use it. I own a gun, I don't know its exact location anymore and I reported that to the police as it is registered in my name and since it isn't in my posession at this time it could possibly be used in a crime that I know nothing about, but I own one. There was no option for "Owning a gun and practicing proper gun safety and not owning a gun at all are equally acceptable personal choices". No shade of gray.
Reminds me of a Philosophy class I had in college, one day the Prof said, "Let's suppose that there are only two categories into which all things in the world can be put, and those categories are Ice Cream and Dog Shit." He then had us categorize everything into those groups, some things were easy (the sky is Ice Cream and nuclear waste is Dog Shit). The problem is that so many things require an in-between category. Is fire Ice Cream or Dog Shit? What about water? I suppose its Ice Cream when you're taking a shower but maybe Dog Shit when you're drowning? In and of itsef though, what is it? Where would you put it? All good or all bad?
Too often people try to simplify the world in this way. Everything and everyone is either good or bad, like in a movie. They do this because it makes life less scarey and our surroundings more understandable. Problem is that the world isn't like that and approaching situations and people with that attitude sets you up for unresolvable conflicts with those around you, particularly when you try to categorize people in this way. Nobody is Ice Cream, we all have flaws or annoying habits, not one of us is universally loved. At the same time, nobody is Dog Shit and universally hated either.