Someone else on the board was asking "why be conservative?". What was patently obvious was that people thought they were picking a side like one picks a favorite football team. The reality is more like being gay or straight, your level of liberalism/conservatism is something you're gentically pre-disposed to being and then certain environmental factors throughout your whole life shift you around.
Its also important to note, that in this context conservative and liberal "mind sets" don't always (but usually do) correlate with your political party views. For example, hard core communists where I live (in Romania) are the conservatives, and still wait for Ceucescu to be ressurected to come save them from this capitalist mess that's been created here.
Instead of asking why, maybe people should just see where they actually stand - this test is from a noted psychologist that has been studying the right-left phenomenon for almost 30 years. I'll post just the questions now and later I'll post the scoring system. DON'T TOTAL YOUR SCORES. Grading the test is tricky and its hard to cheat if you even think you're being honest.
FOR EACH QUESTION, WRITE -4 to +4. Negative means you disagree, zero means you don't care, and positive means you strongly agree with the statement. You can either post your answers or keep them to yourself, whichever is easier for you.
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1) The established authorities generally turn out to be right about things, while radicals and protestors are usually just "loud mouthed punks" showing off their ignorance.
2) Women should have to promise to obey their husbands when they get married.
3) Our country desperately needs a strong leader who will do the right thing to stamp out the radical new ways and sinfulness that are ruining us.
4) Gays and lesbians are just as healthy and moral as anybody else.
5) It is always better to trust the judgment and proper authorities in government and religion than to listen to the idiots that just want to create doubt and cynicism.
6) Atheists and others what have rebelled against established religions are no doubt good and virtuous people.
7) The only way our country will get through the oncoming crises is to get back to our traditional values as good Americans, put some leaders with balls in power, and silence the pundits and protestors spreading lies.
8) There is absolutely nothing wrong with nudist camps that allow the whole family to participate.
9) Our country needs free thinkers who have the courage to defy tradition, even if this upsets people.
10) Our country will be destroyed someday if we do not smash the perversions eating away at the foundation of our society.
11) Everyone should have their own lifestyle, religious beliefs, and sexual preferences, even if it makes them different than everyone else.
12) Good old-fashioned American values still show the best way to live.
13) You have to admire those who challenged the law and the majority's view by protesting for abortion rights, animal rights, or to abolish school prayer.
14) What the USA needs is a strong, determined leader who will crush the evils that surround us and take us back to our true path.
15) Some of the best people in the country are those who are challenging government, criticizing outdated religious beliefs, and ignoring "the way things are supposed to be done."
16) God's laws about abortion, pornography, and marriage must be strictly followed before it is too late, and those that break them must be strongly punished.
17) There are many radical, immoral people in the US today who are trying to ruin it for their own selfish purposes, whom the authorities should put out of action.
18) A "woman's place" today should be wherever she wants to be.
19) Our country will be great if we honor the ways of our forefathers, give service to our nation and our leaders, and lock up or banish those that are unpatriotic.
20) There is no "ONE right way" to live, everyone creates their own way.
21) Homos and feminazis should be praised for being brave enough to defy tradition.
22) This country would work a lot better if certain groups of jackasses would just shut their pie holes and accept their place.
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Again, I'll post the scoring system along with some more observations after letting this run about a day.
Its also important to note, that in this context conservative and liberal "mind sets" don't always (but usually do) correlate with your political party views. For example, hard core communists where I live (in Romania) are the conservatives, and still wait for Ceucescu to be ressurected to come save them from this capitalist mess that's been created here.
Instead of asking why, maybe people should just see where they actually stand - this test is from a noted psychologist that has been studying the right-left phenomenon for almost 30 years. I'll post just the questions now and later I'll post the scoring system. DON'T TOTAL YOUR SCORES. Grading the test is tricky and its hard to cheat if you even think you're being honest.
FOR EACH QUESTION, WRITE -4 to +4. Negative means you disagree, zero means you don't care, and positive means you strongly agree with the statement. You can either post your answers or keep them to yourself, whichever is easier for you.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1) The established authorities generally turn out to be right about things, while radicals and protestors are usually just "loud mouthed punks" showing off their ignorance.
2) Women should have to promise to obey their husbands when they get married.
3) Our country desperately needs a strong leader who will do the right thing to stamp out the radical new ways and sinfulness that are ruining us.
4) Gays and lesbians are just as healthy and moral as anybody else.
5) It is always better to trust the judgment and proper authorities in government and religion than to listen to the idiots that just want to create doubt and cynicism.
6) Atheists and others what have rebelled against established religions are no doubt good and virtuous people.
7) The only way our country will get through the oncoming crises is to get back to our traditional values as good Americans, put some leaders with balls in power, and silence the pundits and protestors spreading lies.
8) There is absolutely nothing wrong with nudist camps that allow the whole family to participate.
9) Our country needs free thinkers who have the courage to defy tradition, even if this upsets people.
10) Our country will be destroyed someday if we do not smash the perversions eating away at the foundation of our society.
11) Everyone should have their own lifestyle, religious beliefs, and sexual preferences, even if it makes them different than everyone else.
12) Good old-fashioned American values still show the best way to live.
13) You have to admire those who challenged the law and the majority's view by protesting for abortion rights, animal rights, or to abolish school prayer.
14) What the USA needs is a strong, determined leader who will crush the evils that surround us and take us back to our true path.
15) Some of the best people in the country are those who are challenging government, criticizing outdated religious beliefs, and ignoring "the way things are supposed to be done."
16) God's laws about abortion, pornography, and marriage must be strictly followed before it is too late, and those that break them must be strongly punished.
17) There are many radical, immoral people in the US today who are trying to ruin it for their own selfish purposes, whom the authorities should put out of action.
18) A "woman's place" today should be wherever she wants to be.
19) Our country will be great if we honor the ways of our forefathers, give service to our nation and our leaders, and lock up or banish those that are unpatriotic.
20) There is no "ONE right way" to live, everyone creates their own way.
21) Homos and feminazis should be praised for being brave enough to defy tradition.
22) This country would work a lot better if certain groups of jackasses would just shut their pie holes and accept their place.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Again, I'll post the scoring system along with some more observations after letting this run about a day.
Last edited by GorillaTicTacs (2007-04-04 05:20:31)