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Political Compass
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Political Compass |
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Mistletoe Angel 
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
 Hey, I found this interesting site where you are given questions, you answer a set of tests, and then based on the results, you are positioned on a quadrant graph on both the left to the right, or from libertarian to authoritarian status. Just for kicks, take the test, share your results, and then discuss how relevant or meaningless this test is! http://www.politicalcompass.org/ Sincerely, Noah Eaton "You'll find something that's enough to keep you |
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Mistletoe Angel
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
Here's my results: Economic Left/Right: -7.00 Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -7.18 I do believe some questions on the test are intentionally a bit biased or approached one-way, but in a general sense, you can kind of see with a small margin of error where someone comes from as far as a political background. These results here depict me as a libertarian socialist with anarchist instincts or desires for voluntary regional collectivism. They label some political figures on the chart as well in each quadrant, where I get ranked up with the Dalai Lama and Nelson Mandela. Sincerely, Noah Eaton "You'll find something that's enough to keep you But if the bright lights don't receive you You should turn yourself around and come back home" MB20 |
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Marshalzu
since 2001-02-15
Posts 2681Lurking |
Economic Left/Right: -3.00 Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -1.08 |
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Alicat Member Elite
since 1999-05-23
Posts 4094Coastal Texas |
Economic Left/Right: -1.12 Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -0.41 Right where I knew I would be, as a Moderate Liberal Republican.  |
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ice Member Elite
since 2003-05-17
Posts 3404Pennsylvania |
My political compass Economic Left/Right: -5.50 Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -5.28 Interesting survey, Noah... I am right where I thought I would be. ford |
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JoshG Member
since 2004-11-16
Posts 127TX, USA |
Economic Left/Right: -1.00 Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: 1.03 Interesting... question: does this mean that those that refuse to stand hard on issues fall in the middle? I think so, because I lean toward situational analysis on many issues. Joshua |
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Huan Yi Member Ascendant
since 2004-10-12
Posts 6688Waukegan |
Economic Left/Right: -3.25 Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -4.72 Apparently I would be happier on a mountain in Tibet, (absent Chinese troops running about). |
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Brad Member Ascendant
since 1999-08-20
Posts 5705Jejudo, South Korea |
Economic Left/Right: -8.5 Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -6.31 That shouldn't surprise anyone. Hey, what was with the question on astrology? |
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Marshalzu
since 2001-02-15
Posts 2681Lurking |
To be honest I was incredibly suprised, I thought that I would be in the + on both scales (i think thats authoritarian right). |
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ESP Member Elite
since 2000-01-25
Posts 2556Floating gently on a cloud.... |
I am Economic Left/Right: -5.62 Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -3.69 Along with Nelson Mandela, The Dalai Lama and Gandhi. Certainly where I prefer to be as these are people whose lives, thoughts, actions, words, I admire greatly. Interesting thread, Noah. Lizzie. |
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Mistletoe Angel
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
Yes, Marshalzu! The graph is set up just like a X-Y graph in physics or algebra, etc. When you count a coordinate to the right of the Y axis, the number is positive, to the left it is negative. When you count a coordinate above the X axis, the number is positive, below it is negative. By the way, if anyone is curious why I started this thread, it wasn't to make anyone feel exposed or anything and critique one another of how far to the left or the right, etc. we are. I felt this was somewhat of a good way to understand where we all come from politically, as often we misunderstand one another and fail to connect. And when we evaluate each others scores, I don't want someone to think, "Oh, you are so far left, so of course you'd believe that!" or "Well, you're quite the authoritarian, so I expected you'd believe that!". Rather, we have to realize and understand we are all unique in our own ways, we all have different thoughts and approaches to the world, and, if anything, reveals the diversity and individuality of us all. I feel culturally we're often put into a metonymy, with headlines always reading, "The U.S believes..." or "The U.S responded...", etc. I believe that's unhealthy. It sends out wrong information and the theory we all think the same way under what some think of as the "big machine". In a way, this sort of clears that misunderstanding and reminds everyone not everyone can expect to agree with everything you say and we must rather respect the diversity and fruitfulness of our ideas and thoughts, for dissent and diversity is what makes fruitful, healthy dialogue and development. As my results show, I am very far to the left, and very far down in libertarian status, and in fact thus far I've had the highest libertarian score here, but it doesn't mean I am so biased my heart is closed steel doors to those on the right who have opinions of their own. I respect what they have to say and though I may disagree quite often, I believe they have ever so much to contribute, to build communities, and must be respected. Of course, when you're young, your hormones are raging and you often have rebellious instincts because you're going through a difficult transition in life between staying in the nest and desiring to spread your wings and fly from the nest, so it could be I'm more liberal than I really am right now. Of course I do live quite an alternative lifestyle as well, so I do believe my results were pretty accurate. God Bless You All!  Love, Noah Eaton "You'll find something that's enough to keep you But if the bright lights don't receive you You should turn yourself around and come back home" MB20 [This message has been edited by Mistletoe Angel (11-27-2004 04:55 PM).] |
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Alicat Member Elite
since 1999-05-23
Posts 4094Coastal Texas |
One thing I couldn't help but notice were the questions regarding sexuality and religion. The more sexually progressive, the more to the left and down. The more religious progressive, the more to the right and up. And that right there is definate bias on the part of the questions, as I've known plenty of deeply religious Protestants of varied sects who were more socially and economically liberal, taking such phrases as 'all things in common' and 'sell your possessions and follow me' to heart and mind. A few of the even more emphatic people even formed religious communes, though I'm not sure now if those are still intact (and no, not the Branch Davidian type communes, but closer to the Amish). Judeo-Christian religions doesn't inherently equate to authoritarian/rightist ideologies. I did read the FAQs there, but instead of answering directly, the makers of that compass pointed to European governments as examples, deftly dodging direct questions. |
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Brad Member Ascendant
since 1999-08-20
Posts 5705Jejudo, South Korea |
I'm a little confused by that response, Ali. You are absolutely correct that a religious person can be a progressive, but I'm unsure what specific questions bothered you. As far as sex is concerned, it's really about public and private spheres. If you put sex in the private sphere, it's off limits to government and your intervention (God will take care of the private sphere in his own way.). If you don't, it's not progressive. In the same vein, separating God and government (secular and Divine authority) is key to understanding a progressive stance. If you can't do that, you're not a progressive.  Still another issue is whether or not the government should serve us or we serve the government. If you can see that distinction, you can see the difference. |
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Alicat Member Elite
since 1999-05-23
Posts 4094Coastal Texas |
Oh, no specific question bothered me, per se. Just an observation that agreeing with any religious based question shifted one more to the authoritarian/right, while disagreeing moved one towards the center or libertarian/left. I understand it's just the phrasing of those questions and how answers are compiled. Skew is skew. |
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Mistletoe Angel
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
Yeah, Alicat, I agree. Like I admitted before, I find some of the questions were intentionally aimed one-way, in fact a good number of them have that compulsory atmosphere. Take the question, "Good parents sometimes have to spank their children" for instance. I am opposed to spanking (could be because I have had a huge admiration for Benjamin Spock) but I respect everyone has their own idea of what makes a "good parent", etc. I wouldn't automatically call a parent a "bad parent" if they spanked their child even once, I just feel spanking doesn't teach anything and there are many better ways to discipline a child. The question on abstract act and on being considered art or not is another good example. I had some Republican neighbors back in Colorado who had abstract act hung on their walls. There was one red box with blue squiggly lines and a diagonal yellow trapezoid one made from some artist from Nederland and I said, "I like your art!" and he said, "Yeah, this is one of my favorite artists!" Finally, there's the question on pornography, and if that featuring consenting adults should be kept legalized for adults. I am in favor of pornography being kept legalized (except child pornography, of course, THAT shouldn't be allowed) because, after all, just about everyone in adolescence and beyond thinks about sex, so why should we hide it? I know there are so many to the right out there who are or were curious about this before in their lives, and I believe this is natural. Maybe this is just the Scorpio in me talking, but I am sure a majority would agree, even if they may not agree with keeping pornography legal, that they've had these strong feelings of curiosity and lust before. Despite the unilateral atmosphere on a number of questions, this was a test worth taking I feel for the same reasons I made before. Sincerely, Noah Eaton "You'll find something that's enough to keep you |
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Brad Member Ascendant
since 1999-08-20
Posts 5705Jejudo, South Korea |
Sorry, have to disagree. The conservative position is that spanking and corporal punishment is okay (By the way, I marked 'agree' on that one and still scored through the roof as a progressive). The conservative position is that representational art is the only true art. Just because you know progressives who spank or conservatives who like Picasso doesn't mean the test asked the wrong questions. It means people are more complicated than the test. Gee, is that something you didn't know before you took the test?  |
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Mistletoe Angel
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
Of course I knew that. But it doesn't change the fact there is an intentional bias in the atmosphere and construction of some of the questions. It's all a one-way or the another approach on some. If you spank your child, you're on that side of the spectrum, if you don't, you're on the other side. If you think of abstract painting as art, you're on one side, if not, you're on the other side. If you think it's natural for kids to keep secrets from their parents, you must be on one side, but if you don't think so, you're surely on the other side. I agree this test is designed to reveal the diversity between us all, and the complexities as well, and kind of paint a general picture of where we are positioned politically. I also just don't think it's fair to assume, "I do (or don't) think it's natural for kids to keep some secrets from their parents!" that it's surely a left or right or libertarian or authoritarian way of thinking, for I feel personally logocentrizing a question like that is a bit over the top. Sincerely, Noah Eaton "You'll find something that's enough to keep you |
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Alicat Member Elite
since 1999-05-23
Posts 4094Coastal Texas |
After some consideration, the name is a bit misleading. It's less a political compass, and more of a socio-economic compass, since the questions revolve around those as well as the names of the x and y axis. One's political views could easily, and oftimes do, differ from their socio-economic views. By the same token, sometimes they do intertwine. The spanking question was interesting though, since I've known some parents who refused to do that, but had, in my view, more punishing punishments. A childhood friend of my brother, who's parents were extremely libertarian, when punished for something would have to do the chair. Back against the wall, slide down until your thighs are parallel to the floor, and stay there until allowed up. If given the option, I'd would rather hand my dad his 2" thick leather belt (he had very good aim and never missed the same spot on the same buttock) rather than do the chair for a few hours on end. |
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Brad Member Ascendant
since 1999-08-20
Posts 5705Jejudo, South Korea |
Ali, I think you're right on the spanking thing, and I don't care what you call the quiz. quote: Sure you are. Because that's what being on one side or the other means. quote: Yep. quote: This one's a little trickier. I think the better question is whether they should keep secrets from their parents. If you think they should, you're a progressive. If not, you're a conservative. On that issue. And that's what I don't get. Are they biased? Sure, they're biased so that you can assess your bias. That's the whole point. quote: Look at this last part. What have you done here? You've placed the quiz in a charged dichotomy (libertarian, authoritarian), but the whole point of the quiz is to break that dichotomy. It's certainly fair to argue that a four point graph isn't much of an improvement, (I think it is, but that's a different question), but it's not logocentric in the way Derrida uses that term. You're the one being logocentric. You have to be careful here, for if you expand the term too far, you'll end up arguing that having an opinion at all is somehow a bad thing. By the way, what would an unbiased question be? (Yes, I'm trying to sucker you in. ) |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
Economic Left/Right: -1.25 Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -1.08 Hmm, interesting Noah! Considering I am Canadian but wanted to see where it put me. Once I figure it out I will tell you. I know that Ali is right though, if you answered the questions about religion and sex truthfully it would swing you for sure. Well, seems we are indeed more complex that a 6-page test then? |
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