I'm not a moderate ANYTHING!!!

from JoeUser Forums

I notice a tendency on the internet for individuals to describe themselves as "moderate" when they cannot neatly fit into the box of left or right. The assumption seems to be that if you aren't left, and aren't right, moderate must be the only choice.

What's funny, though, is that as I evaluate my position on various issues, I couldn't describe myself as a "moderate" anything. On most individual issues, I go to extremes. This is where I sit. On some issues, my stance may be perceived as "extreme left"; on others, "extreme right". But on all, I truly hope to advocate for liberty and rights for all. Sure, I may miss the boat on a few individual positions in someone's eyes, but I feel that it could fairly be said that I usually take the "pro liberty position", be it left or right.

The reason we are stuck with "moderate" as opposed to "left" or "right" is because we have been conditioned to see politics on a simple linear scale, rather than a more complex scale. The truth is, most people simply don't fit on a linear scale if you analyze all of their positions objectively. "The World's Smallest Political Quiz" (accessible online at www.lp.org) is one effective way of showing political positions beyond the linear left/right model. And what's interesting on it, is, it proves my point in no small way.

On it I rank as QUITE extreme. Extreme Libertarian (or, as I'm fond of saying, "More Libertarian than Ayn Rand")

politics
2,382 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
I guess I probably do actually fit the "moderate" in most things as I dislike extremes. In my personal experience extremes are rarely if ever correct, and truth or reason lies somewhere in between two extremes.
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
I think we all venture to be called moderates, as we don't want to be referred to as extremists, as it has a negative connotation to it.

But I don't care. I'm on the extreme left (even for Canada). No, I'm not moderate. Got a point?

PS: 100% personal issues, 20% economic issues.
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Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
I'm going with Latour. Exremism just does not sound good. I personally refer to extremism as genuine hatred for those without your views; not to say that those with extreme political beliefs are like that, but it's just how I interpret it.

By the way, I got 90% personal, 40% economic.
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top

I personally refer to extremism as genuine hatred for those without your views

I see extremism more as "extreme advocacy for your absolute position". On most issues, I'm pretty extreme (my advocacy for the abolition of the CPS, for instance, couldn't be described as anything BUT extreme; but I firmly hold to that position).

Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
been conditioned to see politics on a simple linear scale, rather than a more complex scale.


More like a Matrix than a line.
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
And in the end, it is really centrist as you do cross lines (like me and many more).  Moderates are just condoms with holes in them.  Cant say they do, and cant say they dont.