General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Where do you consider yourself on the political spectrum? [View all]JackRiddler
(24,979 posts)These general terms are
a) generally meaningless
b) largely removed from any meaning they may have once had
c) long-ago perverted into attack terms with strawman definitions
d) obfuscatory
e) imposed by an ideological hegemony that seeks to limit debate
f) generally placed in false opposition and relation to each other
g) barely if ever correspondant to the most important conflicts and issues in society
h) generally without stable referents in reality
i) a frightened rabbit's way of avoiding left and right.
But other than that...
Your particular listing of it might as well come from Gallup or some such.
In particular, "moderate" might be the biggest bullshit term in the galaxy.
I support the status quo, perhaps with small modifications, therefore I am "moderate."
Or else: My views are an average of two points I have arbitrarily chosen and define as extreme. Therefore I am "moderate."
Or else: I want to win this debate. Therefore I choose to call myself something reassuring, which is "moderate."
Or else: I don't know very much, so I choose "moderate."
Or else: I don't have strong opinions and "don't like politics," not like those fanatics who actually stand for something, therefore I am moderate.