The Off Topic Topic

[The Brain]

I support National Centrism.

[DGuller]

Only zealots and idealogical true-believers feel threatened by centrism.

It's not about feeling threatened.  It's about feeling annoyed.  Centrist thinking also, paradoxically, can help the ideologues, if one of them are much more willing to go to further extreme than the others (as is the case with Republicans currently).  They can just go 10 points nuttier, and rational centrists will go 5 points nuttier in response.

[Sheilbh]

Only zealots and idealogical true-believers feel threatened by centrism.

I've no issue with centrism as an ideology. 

Very often people declare a 'pox on both your houses' and 'they're all as bad as each other'.  It's not centrism, it's laziness clothed in cloying self-righteousness.

[Admiral Yi]

There is nothing thoughtful about taking the middle ground for the sake of taking the middle ground.  Computers can do that.

Jesus Fucking Christ.  What did I write in my post that makes you or anyone else think that he took the middle ground for the sake of taking the middle ground?

[citizen k]

Only zealots and idealogical true-believers feel threatened by centrism.

I've no issue with centrism as an ideology. 

Very often people declare a 'pox on both your houses' and 'they're all as bad as each other'.  It's not centrism, it's laziness clothed in cloying self-righteousness.

Not if it's true. You're looking at it from a cynical view.

[Razgovory]

I've always found the idea of "The truth is always in the middle" kinda silly.  You wouldn't do well with that on a True/False test thinking like that.  I agree with Sheilbh that's often lazy and self righteous.  Cowardly cynicism plays a major part as well.

[Eddie Teach]

What is self-righteous about cynicism? 

[citizen k]

I've always found the idea of "The truth is always in the middle" kinda silly.  You wouldn't do well with that on a True/False test thinking like that.  I agree with Sheilbh that's often lazy and self righteous.  Cowardly cynicism plays a major part as well.

You are assuming one extreme is correct.

[Sheilbh]

Not if it's true. You're looking at it from a cynical view.

I don't think truth's got anything to do with it.  But there's definitely a sort of centrism that is, as I say, a thought through genuinely held belief and not just a lazy response.  I've no issue with that.

Jesus Fucking Christ.  What did I write in my post that makes you or anyone else think that he took the middle ground for the sake of taking the middle ground?

Did a poll biased against left, found out they're not bright.  Did one with equal opportunity bias, found out that everyone's crap.

[Razgovory]

Only zealots and idealogical true-believers feel threatened by centrism.

I've no issue with centrism as an ideology. 

Very often people declare a 'pox on both your houses' and 'they're all as bad as each other'.  It's not centrism, it's laziness clothed in cloying self-righteousness.

Not if it's true. You're looking at it from a cynical view.

'Pox on both your houses' is a cynical viewpoint.  It's really safe.  You never have to be wrong!  You never have to make concessions!  You don't risk being disappointed!  It's perfect for someone who wants to discus something and look intellectual with out saying or being anything of real substance.  You just sit on the sidelines and dish out scorn or useless advice without ever fearing that facts will contradict you.  I have a similar problem with libertarians (who never have to risk seeing their ideas discredited).

[Razgovory]

What is self-righteous about cynicism? 

A lot.

[Razgovory]

I've always found the idea of "The truth is always in the middle" kinda silly.  You wouldn't do well with that on a True/False test thinking like that.  I agree with Sheilbh that's often lazy and self righteous.  Cowardly cynicism plays a major part as well.

You are assuming one extreme is correct.

You are assuming both sides are actually "extreme" and likely incorrect.  Two men see a snakehead.  One man says it's clearly a reptile.  One man claims it's a fish.  Is the man who is saying it a fish "extreme"?  Would taking the middle ground and saying it's an amphibian be more sensible?

[Admiral Yi]

Did a poll biased against left, found out they're not bright.  Did one with equal opportunity bias, found out that everyone's crap.

Exactly.  He found out everyone is crap.  He was hoping and expecting that the right would do better on the corrected test.  He learned something he didn't know before.

This argument is really bizarre.  It's as if some physicist proved two competing theories incorrect and you all jumped on him for taking the middle ground for the middle ground's sake.

[Razgovory]

Did a poll biased against left, found out they're not bright.  Did one with equal opportunity bias, found out that everyone's crap.

Exactly.  He found out everyone is crap.  He was hoping and expecting that the right would do better on the corrected test.  He learned something he didn't know before.

This argument is really bizarre.  It's as if some physicist proved two competing theories incorrect and you all jumped on him for taking the middle ground for the middle ground's sake.

How do you know his second poll wasn't biased?  His first one was.

[Admiral Yi]

How do you know his second poll wasn't biased?  His first one was.

I don't.  In fact, I thought one of his righty gotcha questions was dubious.

Here are the questions (actually they're statements that you either agree or disagree with):

1. Restrictions on housing development make housing less affordable.

2. Mandatory licensing of professional services increases the prices of those services.

3. Overall, the standard of living is higher today than it was 30 years ago.

4. Rent control leads to housing shortages.

5. A company with the largest market share is a monopoly.

6. Third World workers working for American companies overseas are being exploited.

7. Free trade leads to unemployment.

8. Minimum wage laws raise unemployment.

9. A dollar means more to a poor person than it does to a rich person.

10. Making abortions illegal would increase the number of black-market abortions.

11. Legalizing drugs would give more wealth and power to street gangs and organized crime.

12. Drug prohibition fails to reduce people's access to drugs.

13. Gun control laws fail to reduce people's access to guns.

14. By participating in the marketplace in the United States, immigrants reduce the economic well-being of American citizens.

15. When two people complete a voluntary transaction, they both necessarily come off better.

16. When two people complete a voluntary transaction, it is necessarily the case that everyone else is unaffected by their transaction.