Discussion: Liberal v. Conservative

[routhman]

All,

Great fruitful arguments have their foundations in deep ideological differences.

Creation v. Evolution
Religion A v. Religion B
Choice v. Life
Nature v. Nurture

Liberal v. Conservative borrows from these and more; it is not an argument in and of itself, but a set of arguments that intertwine and inform one another. A constant churn of discourse. The great sociopolitical rivalry of our time.

Exchange ideas central to the ideological conflict.* Above all, truly try to understand the other side--if it's inconceivable now, even better; try harder. Ask about the background that led your ideological complement to their beliefs. Ask them about their certainty and conviction in their beliefs.

I'll begin: Clearly, either SSH has more liberal posters than conservative ones, or liberal posters are more active in the Politics subforum. Which is the answer, and why do you think that's the case? For example, if you think the SSH has more liberal posters, why do you think more liberal posters visit the site?

*As a disclaimer, the thread's title is a bit tongue in cheek. Treat each other with respect.

 

[TheReaper86]

I am a noob but I been lurking for a while and mostly just posted on the SHH homepage under movie articles. But from what I noticed it definitely seems like the majority here on this site are liberal progressives. Most of the conservatives are meet with hostility or ultimately get themselves banned so I think that's why any remaining conservatives choose not to post in this section of the forums. Just my 2 cents from a former outsider.

 

[Thundercrack85]

Well, it is a forum that focuses on comics, and related media. Kind of the domain of the more intellectually inclined (I believe the colloquial term is nerds), who are overwhelmingly left of center.

Though, we do have some conservatives.

 

[routhman]

I am a noob but I been lurking for a while and mostly just posted on the SHH homepage under movie articles. But from what I noticed it definitely seems like the majority here on this site are liberal progressives. Most of the conservatives are meet with hostility or ultimately get themselves banned so I think that's why any remaining conservatives choose not to post in this section of the forums. Just my 2 cents from a former outsider.

That's possible. To expand on that, the hypothesis would be that, early on, there was a demographically representative distribution of liberals and conservatives on the site (early 2000s?). Then the distribution changed gradually due an avalanche effect: once we passed the tipping point when there were more liberals than conservatives, the accelerating exodus of conservatives over the years produced the forum we know today.

What's interesting about this hypothesis is that it's a testable one. Not necessarily easily testable, but we could--in theory--write a computer program to assess the number of conservatives and liberals on the forum over the years--based on a linguistic analysis of users' posts. That'd be interesting to see for sure.

 

[routhman]

Well, it is a forum that focuses on comics, and related media. Kind of the domain of the more intellectually inclined (I believe the colloquial term is nerds), who are overwhelmingly left of center.

Though, we do have some conservatives.

That's dangerous territory, hermano. Let's be careful where this discussion goes.

It is true that academics and those with higher education are overwhelmingly liberal. That's just a fact. I wouldn't have necessarily assumed that those interested in comics and related media are overwhelmingly academic people as well, though that may be true and would be the simplest explanation; do you know of any hard evidence (not anecdotal) that that's the case?

 

[Thundercrack85]

Who here has a college degree or is in the process of having a college degree. Raise your hand.

Also, this is a forum on the internet. That too makes it considerably more likely that we're young, and by extension liberal.

 

[routhman]

As an aside, wouldn't that be utterly awesome if we could create polls in individual posts?

 

[Thundercrack85]

For the record, you can be an intellectual and conservative. But you're much more likely to be conservative if you are uneducated, and more likely to be liberal if you are educated.

 

[routhman]

For the record, you can be an intellectual and conservative. But you're much more likely to be conservative if you are uneducated, and more likely to be liberal if you are educated.

I don't think I've heard that the uneducated are more likely to be conservative. I know the educated are more likely liberal though. I also know that you can be a smart conservative or a dumb liberal; I've met my fair share of both.

But that still doesn't answer the unaddressed piece of your idea--are nerds predominantly more educated than the general population? I'd be inclined to think yes, but only with anecdotal evidence to support that.

 

[DJ_KiDDvIcIOUs]

For the record, you can be an intellectual and conservative. But you're much more likely to be conservative if you are uneducated, and more likely to be liberal if you are educated.

I feel the caveat with that is if you are educated and rich and/or greedy those people tend to overwhelmingly be conservative. Many conservatives I know claim they want the guberment to stop taking all their money and giving it to poor people but seem to have no problem with the literal billions more we give out in corporate welfare.

 

[Thundercrack85]

I don't think I've heard that the uneducated are more likely to be conservative. I know the educated are more likely liberal though. I also know that you can be a smart conservative or a dumb liberal; I've met my fair share of both.

But that still doesn't answer the unaddressed piece of your idea--are nerds predominantly more educated than the general population? I'd be inclined to think yes, but only with anecdotal evidence to support that.

I mean, they've done studies. To be honest, it seems so self-evident to me, when you look at modern-society. You have one side that denies evolution and climate change. Sure, you do have some anti-vaxxers on the left, but they're a small, annoying minority. But the Republican Party is basically the anti-science party in the United States, unless it has military application. Saying you believe in evolution gets you in trouble.

I think you mean you want non-ancedotal evidence.

 

[routhman]

I mean, they've done studies. To be honest, it seems so self-evident to me, when you look at modern-society. You have one side that denies evolution and climate change. Sure, you do have some anti-vaxxers on the left, but they're a small, annoying minority. But the Republican Party is basically the anti-science party in the United States, unless it has military application. Saying you believe in evolution gets you in trouble.

I think you mean you want non-ancedotal evidence.

We agree 100% that the right denies science and that intellectuals predominantly lean to the left.

Yes, I do want not-anecdotal evidence that nerds are primarily intellectuals. I was saying that I only currently have anecdotal evidence of that.

 

[TheReaper86]

Having a college degree doesn't automatically make you intelligent or liberal or vice versa . I know some people who only have a high school diploma that are more intelligent than my friends with college degrees. Also know people that are very intelligent but aren't liberals at all. I also meet some liberals who aren't to bright lol. I have a bachelors degree from Liberty University which is a Christian college. I am going going back for my masters degree this fall. My GPA is falls between a 2.8 or 3.0. I don't consider myself to be liberal or conservative. My ideals, morals, beliefs, ethics fall somewhere in between the two parties. Meaning somethings I agree with conservatives on and some things I agree with liberals on. But to just assume every person with a higher education is liberal is kinda crazy to me.

 

[Thundercrack85]

Having a college degree doesn't automatically make you intelligent or liberal or vice versa . I know some people who only have a high school diploma that are more intelligent than my friends with college degrees. Also know people that are very intelligent but aren't liberals at all. I also meet some liberals who aren't to bright lol. I have a bachelors degree from Liberty University which is a Christian college. I am going going back for my masters degree this fall. My GPA is falls between a 2.8 or 3.0. I don't consider myself to be liberal or conservative. My ideals, morals, beliefs, ethics fall somewhere in between the two parties. Meaning somethings I agree with conservatives on and some things I agree with liberals on. But to just assume every person with a higher education is liberal is kinda crazy to me.

It's a pretty good indicator of intelligence. Not a guarantee, but a good indicator.

If you're attending Liberty University you are a conservative. Or... just really confused. Or possibly taking part in a dare or a social experiment being conducted by another university.

Also you seem to be confusing, or conflating being left and right with being necessarily Democratic or Republican.

 

[TheReaper86]

It's a pretty good indicator of intelligence. Not a guarantee, but a good indicator.

If you're attending Liberty University you are a conservative. Or... just really confused. Or possibly taking part in a dare or a social experiment being conducted by another university.

Also you seem to be confusing, or conflating being left and right with being necessarily Democratic or Republican.

What are you trying to say? Everyone who attend Liberty Univerity is a moron because it's a religious university? The university does teach science courses you know. And people that attend aren't dumb hicks or anything like that. There are many intelligent conservatives where you want to believe it or not my friend.

 

[Iceman]

There are more liberals for sure here. But I think the Trump factor has affected things as the moderate conservatives who are not in favour of him might be embarrassed to post till his era is over. I am a centre right guy and would feel that way if a guy like that took charge of my favoured party.

 

[Thundercrack85]

No. But they are probably very conservative. I mean, it's a rather ideological school. Probably the most famous. Founded by Jerry Falwell and all. They teach Biblical creationism as a science.

I hear it has a fine music program though.

 

[Thundercrack85]

There are more liberals for sure here. But I think the Trump factor has affected things as the moderate conservatives who are not in favour of him might be embarrassed to post till his era is over. I am a centre right guy and would feel that way if a guy like that took charge of my favoured party.

Well, there are known conservatives here, who are against Trump.

I do think openly stating you support a raging racist demagogue (i.e. Trump) is going to open you up to criticism from most sane people on this forum.

 

[The Incredible Hulk]

Good ole Jerry Falwell. God, did Jerry hate porn, and gays, and jews, and Darwin, and....

 

[Thundercrack85]

Also I have nothing against religious schools in principal. Hell, my Catholic schooling is the reason I am the smart ass that I am today.

 

[TheReaper86]

It's cool thunder crack. I just met a lot of folks online who automatically assume anyone that goes to the school is unintelligent person who believes the earth is flat solely based off the religious aspect of the school. I am like it's possible to be religious and intelligent or be religious and not threatened by science. But for me I am caught in between political parties. Some ideals I agree with conservatives and some ideals I side with liberals. But I can't fully commit to either party just due to both sides having issues that clash with my personal beliefs.

 

[TheReaper86]

But on topic, yes this site is primarily liberal and l am sure conservaties that support Trump are afraid to due so more so because they don't want to get the hostility from users.

 

[Thundercrack85]

I always advise people against taking indefensible positions.

 

[2kt09]

Here's a position for people who abhor liberals v. conservatives & the prevailing political cycle, you'll get a kick out of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
It's unfortunate Luthor isn't as money-grubbing in his pursuit to have these two sides in conflict, but he's that relentless 1%-er wall street opportunist both liberals and conservatives love to cite.

Also, since the advent of the SJW, femi"nazi", and now more recently BLM, you would imagine liberals found a way to be just as spiteful as the dumb conservatives.

 

[Thundercrack85]

BLM is a group that causes traffic jams. Conservative Republicans control the congress, and many state governments.

I have yet to see my healthcare detrimentally effected by the actions of BLM. Well, maybe if I am ever in an ambulance.

I find conservative spite to be much more problematic.