Does your political affiliation define you?

I am just curious. Would you not be good friends with someone for being very conservative if you were very liberal or vice versa? Do you get disappointed in family members or friends for doing things or saying things that are politically at odds?

Nope, I more or less forget about politics unless it's specifically mentioned, so it's not something I even consider about people.

I am a conservative, and yes I think it defines me.
Most people I know are liberal or they don't much care about politics. We just don't talk politics. One friend didn't really know what she was but we both figured her as liberal.(She liked Hillary) We found a good test online and she ended up a little to the right. She's the closest I have to a conservative friend, but I think she's moving more to the right all the time. She likes Palin's Alaska! Now if I could just get her to watch Fox or any political shows for that matter.

Not at all. I can't stand extremists in any shape or form, but I have friends of every political persuasion. I rarely discuss politics outside of DP.

CaptainCourtesy said:

Not at all. I can't stand extremists in any shape or form, but I have friends of every political persuasion. I rarely discuss politics outside of DP.

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Just to be clear whatever you most identify with on there unless you are independent or just do like any normal person is that isn't a sucker like most of us on here and identify with whoever is giving you the answers you like at the time.

JohnWOlin said:

Just to be clear whatever you most identify with on there unless you are independent or just do like any normal person is that isn't a sucker like most of us on here and identify with whoever is giving you the answers you like at the time.

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I'm not completely sure what you are saying. Can you clarify?

CaptainCourtesy said:

I'm not completely sure what you are saying. Can you clarify?

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Do you tend to side with dems, republicans, or do you dip into both pools usually?

First of all I doubt seriously that many people define themselves as others define them.

Next we are who we are because of the cumulative effect of every experience we have throughout life, and that final result can be altered in the blink of an eye by something as simple as a smile from a stranger.

As people most at least semi-normal people see themselves in a better light than than others are going to, and that 's normal, but unless one has a problem and is obsessed with politics would anyone ever define who they are by what they do or group they identify with in one area or aspect of life.

For example I could say I am a Poet, Father, Uncle, Musician, reporter, etc.

But I would be wrong, because that is not who I am it's what I do or did, and not who I am.

I am all these things rolled into a person who can be defined by anyone at any time as most anything but mostly I believe we are defined by how we treat others, what kind of person we are.

Do we treat others with the same respect we expect of them, and are we honest in dealing with others and with ourselves, because this really helps define us.

I would hate being defined only as a Conservative and I try not to define others but such a narrow description, and I know that first impressions can be 180 degrees off the mark.

I rather enjoy being told by others that I'm a nice guy, don't mind at all being defined as such.Of course with all the hate and name calling being bounced around in here it all boils down to, do unto others period.

I never had a political affiliation and I don't understand people who do. The issues are so complex, how can you possibly side the same way on them all?

People who adhere so rigidly to their camp are a danger to politics in democracies, IMO. Flexible thinking is necessary to remain properly empowered.

Most of my friends have serious political differences with me. I can't imagine living in a world where it would be otherwise.

I have friends that range across the political spectrum. We rarely talk about politics when we're together.

JohnWOlin said:

Do you tend to side with dems, republicans, or do you dip into both pools usually?

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I tend to side with liberals more than conservatives, though not on all issues. Doesn't define me, though.

I tend to arrive to my conclusions independently and labels don't mean much to me. I think ideally everyone would forget that labels exist and take each issue in isolation.

Orion said:

I never had a political affiliation and I don't understand people who do. The issues are so complex, how can you possibly side the same way on them all?

People who adhere so rigidly to their camp are a danger to politics in democracies, IMO. Flexible thinking is necessary to remain properly empowered.

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No one "sides with them all". It's impossible.

I don't know if it really defines me or not. I have friends of most political persuasions, we can talk politics from time to time; but usually don't.

There is so often such an enormous gulf between the way people describe themselves and the actual meaning of the political terms they choose that I am loathe to describe myself as anything at all. Placing too much value on the labeling results in such forms of group think that people conform to the label instead of the underlying ideology the label represents, and so the partisan attachment to the group defines the beliefs rather than the upholding of the actual ideology. People follow other people instead of assessing the world according to values, and so CALL a position liberal, conservative, etc rather than asking whether such a position is actually conservative or liberal.

It is really more a matter of dogmatism than ideology, and the more a person identifies with the label, the greater the degree of dogmatism that usually represents. The right wing radio demagogues really play this up, as they manipulate their followers to believe that their very identity is tied up in being a conservative in an almost tribal sort of way. True to form, those who follow them repeat their every theme along with their identity as conservatives, labeling anything that does not adhere as liberal while blasting it in the process. Libertarians conform their beliefs around anything they read at Lewrockwell.com, throw out buzzwords like "statist" with abandon, and speak their own particular language, while there is a brand of politically correct, fundamentalist leftist who acts as knee-jerk apologist for the most truly illiberal people in the world as their basic fallback position.

I answered other, I dont identify myself as anything but a independent or centrist, basically anything in the middle and this board among many other things proves that. Ive been called a lefty and Ive been called a righty depending on the subject LOL

IMO people that let a party define them are either idiots, sheep or just dont care, they conform just to do so.
After my years of debate there are obviously nutballs on both the main sides and nutballs that are on their own unique side that often get misclassified depending on whether you agree with them or not. I have found the extreme righties to be the biggest nutballs and the most void of logic and common sense while being 100% delusional and hypocritical. BUT dont think for one second they dont have competition on the the left because they certainly do, its just IMO the extreme righties have the crown in this department. EASILY.

One thing that happens here a lot if a person is a so called righty and they disagree with someone they quickly try to write them off as a lefty and vice versa.

Not me I can think for myself and be objective with emotion playing little role, I prefer common sense and logic.

As far as my friends go I have all types, got a guy at work that is a classic nutball bias rightie, thinks everything right is RIGHT and anything left is evil. Loves beck and rush and hannity and fox etc, which is fine because I listen and watch those shows to but his issue is he doesnt see the obvious bias and lies that spring up on those shows. He believes them to be gospel which is an obvious red flag. He doesnt see the obvious opinions sold as facts, especially with the radio. Its actually mind boggling how a person can be so normal otherwise but such a political idiot?

I have another friend almost but not quite the opposite of him, he will atleast admit fault with the left when needed and praise the right wen needed BUT his craziness comes in with the radio shows and fox because he believes it grows people like my other friend and wants them shut down.

I explained to him idiots will be dumb with or with out mis-information.

Bottom line is be yourself, be objective, dont be a sheep and if you're one of the people that dont think Fox or MSNBA is bias you're joking, blind and bias yourself or a complete idiot, pick one because those are the only options.

I don't care what anyone's political beliefs are when I'm considering friendship with them.

I know when to talk politics and when to not talk politics. Depending on who I talk to my political topics vary greatly. NEVER talk politics at holidays though, everyone has that crazy uncle lol!. It usually doesnt define me other than what I pursue academically(which is to the left).

Conservative describes me, it doesn't define me. I call myself conservative because it matches what I already think. I don't tailor my beliefs to the label.

My political views are an outgrowth of how I view myself and the world around me. I find it difficult to respect, let alone like, those who see the world in a way that is significantly different from my own view.

Patria Antiqua said:

My political views are an outgrowth of how I view myself and the world around me. I find it difficult to respect, let alone like, those who see the world in a way that is significantly different from my own view.

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Has anyone mentioned lately how awesome it is that you call yourself "very liberal"?

I have!

Harshaw said:

Has anyone mentioned lately how awesome it is that you call yourself "very liberal"?

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Once you get to the left of "social democrat," you become very liberal in this country, assuming you are looking at things from a left/right perspective.

Being tolerant of other views doesn't mean that you have to like them.

No, my political views don't define me. I like and respect good people, left or right, atheist or theist, etc.