"The strange part is, I came into this column with an anti-censorship leaning..."

[shirenomad]

"...but the strident arguments of my own side pushed me back towards center a bit. Must be an election year." - Chris Jones, GIA Double Agent

Politically, I'm moderate. I lean to the left on some issues, I lean to the right on some issues, and on some issues I remain undecided.

However, put me in a room where everyone leans to the left or right, and I will almost inevitably take the other side of every argument. I think it's important that both sides be represented, not only for the side that isn't there to speak, but also for the side that is there... and under the delusion that everyone with intelligence agrees with them. The debate runs stagnant and a feeling of total superiority sets in. Now your words are dogma, and any disagreement, heresy. That's a bad attitude to take.

A lot of you only see me in "right-wing mode." If that's the case, it's because I've noticed a lot of people making left-wing statements as if they were the most obvious thing in the world, and everyone else chipping in with a "me too!" leaving me to wonder if there's a single member of the GOP left on LiveJournal. But trust me: I do just the opposite when in an environment full of hardline Republicans. Ask westmarked about all the times his hippie brother has annoyed him if you don't believe me.

Comments

[thunderphoenix.livejournal.com]

I've noticed in the same situation my stance is "Keep my mouth shut and don't call attention to yourself". I sort of wonder if this is healthy, smart, or wise.

[westmarked.livejournal.com]

On the internet? Very, very wise. This is why I'm a better wizard than cleric.

[pretzelcoatl.livejournal.com]

Agreed. I've learned to do the same on the Internet, even when I'm sorely tempted to say something.

However, with your analogy, it would depend on which wizards you were talking about. If you were talking about the Discworld wizards... ;)

[westmarked.livejournal.com]

Actually, I was referring to DnD Wizards and Clerics--i.e. I don't have the wisdom to keep my mouth shut. I could cite examples if you like.

[pretzelcoatl.livejournal.com]

Oops. My bad. I read that as "Wizards keep their mouth shut, Clerics don't."

See, we Clerics (or, if you ask others, Monks) get confused very often. Heh.

[thunderphoenix.livejournal.com]

Ah, you're new here, so I have to explain.

I operate under the presumption that if I do something, there must be something wrong with it.

[pretzelcoatl.livejournal.com]

I think reading this has earned you more Respect Points. I have the utmost respect for moderates because I like having a balance* between different points of view.

You know that I'm liberal, but sometimes I play devil's advocate with liberal friends if I find that they're straying too far into the realm of Overreacting or Being Crazy or something like that. I don't do it often, but I do have a tendency to say, "Well, to be fair..." I'm now in an environment where my ideals are more the norm, but I feel bad for my friends who are more on the conservative side, because I feel like liberals can (somewhat ironically) be close-minded. I know of some moderates who tend to feel like the odd man/woman out because of their views, and I can completely see why, given how far apart the "conservative" and "liberal" camps are sometimes.

* And when I say "balance" I mean a reasonable amount. My roommate fall semester last year was annoying in his pride for "being balanced," when really he just liked arguing to the point where it was hard to tell which side he's really on.

[mountainranger.livejournal.com]

Though I'm probably not much of a moderate, I do something rather similar. When people are bashing Bush, I feel like challenging them and discussing, and when my parents are talking about Bush or something, I bring up typical arguments and insults on the opposing side to see how they react and respond.

[westmarked.livejournal.com]

Oh come now. When have you "annoyed" me on politics? I've sent rejoinders to you statements on occasion, but I don't believe I've ever expressed annoyance.

I'm reminded, however, of a comment made by a college friend of mine: "Oh, I'm only a liberal here [at Wheaton]. When I go back to California I meet real liberals and run rightward."

I'm fairly certain a prolonged stay at Wheaton would make you a confirmed left-winger.

[aphistis.livejournal.com]

It's funny, I could paste this post over to my own journal without changing a word. I play the conservative advocate here on LJ because most of the folks I know here lean to the left; at home with my archconservative relatives, I think I've been quietly branded the family's token pinko commie. Damned middle ground.

[shirenomad]

We know we're doing it right when no one agrees with us. ^^;