What are your political beliefs?

[dahamsta]

Only had one ball, apparently. Goring had two, but they were small.

(Sorry, just came into me head.)

[Dodge]

Bearing in mind that Foot.iers opted for FF in the last election poll!

Didn't labour top 'our' poll?

[John83]

Didn't labour top 'our' poll?
I though so too, but the exit poll (http://foot.ie/threads/61603-Election-2007-Foot.ie-1st-Preference-Exit-Poll) shows FG, Greens, Ind, Lab, FF in that order. Maybe there was an earlier poll.

EDIT: The above was the 1st pref poll. The 1st, 2nd & 3rd poll (http://foot.ie/threads/61606-Election-2007-Foot.ie-Votes-1-2-3-Exit-Poll) shows a Labour win.

[pineapple stu]

There was a much more recent one (as in, last few weeks) on who you would vote for. I think Labour walked that.

Edit - here (http://foot.ie/threads/142190-Election-2011-Poll?daysprune=100]) we go.

[dahamsta]

I've started aggregating the Foot.ie polls here: http://foot.ie/threads/145420-Election-Polls

[bennocelt]

Didn't labour top 'our' poll?

http://foot.ie/threads/59062-Election-2007

[holidaysong]

Economic Left/Right: 0.38
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -5.54

Puts me closest to the Greens and Labour, who are the two parties I've voted #1 in the last two elections.

[Magicme]

Your political compass
Economic Left/Right: -5.62

Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -6.26

Quelle suprise.

Interesting questions and I did surprise myself with a few of my answers but mainly due to interpretation. E.g. mothers having careers, of course they should be home makers first and foremost or don't bother having children but equally so for the father.

[BonnieShels]

Brain shape may dictate your political beliefs...


NEUROSCIENTISTS ARE examining whether political allegiances are hard-wired into people after finding evidence that the brains of conservatives are a different shape to those of left-wingers.
Scans of 90 students’ brains at University College London (UCL) uncovered a “strong correlation” between the thickness of two particular areas of grey matter and an individual’s views.
Self-proclaimed right-wingers had a more pronounced amygdala, a primitive part of the brain associated with emotion, while their political opponents from the opposite end of the spectrum had thicker anterior cingulates.
The research was carried out by Geraint Rees, director of the UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, who said he was “very surprised” by the finding, which is being peer reviewed before publication next year.
It was commissioned as a light-hearted experiment by actor Colin Firth as part of his guest editing of BBC Radio 4’s
Today*programme but has now developed into a serious effort to discover whether we are programmed with a particular political view.
Prof Rees said that although it was not precise enough to be able to predict someone’s stance simply from a scan, there was a strong correlation that reached all our scientific tests of significance.
“The anterior cingulate is a part of the brain that is on the middle surface of the brain at the front and we found that the thickness of the grey matter, where the nerve cells of neurons are, was thicker the more people described themselves as liberal or left wing and thinner the more they described themselves as conservative or right wing,” he told the programme.
“The amygdala is a part of the brain which is very old and very ancient and thought to be very primitive and to do with the detection of emotions.
“The right amygdala was larger in those people who described themselves as conservative. It is very significant because it does suggest there is something about political attitudes... either encoded in our brain structure through our experience or that our brain structure in some way determines or results in our political attitudes.” – (PA)

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2010/1229/1224286422454.html

[holidaysong]

You're a complete lefty Magicme. Save the whales.

[jinxy lilywhite]

Economic Left/Right: -0.62
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -2.62

I am a little bit more right wing than Gandhi.
Funny I thought I would of been on the right hand side

[Magicme]

Yup. Too soft for my own good probably.

[Eminence Grise]

Economic Left/Right: -6.75
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -5.64

Sounds about right, much the same result as the last time I did this.

[dahamsta]

BonnieShels, please read the rules about quoting content from other sites.

[Cymro]

Did this a while back and ended up not far from the Pope's position. A few years on, I'm a little bit more liberal but still basically the same:

Economic Left/Right: -4.38
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -0.72

Can I also say, some of the questions are stupidly worded. Like the one on abortion. There's no room for any wiggle room. Now, technically I'm not in favour of it only when there's a risk to the woman's life, I'd also add another couple of caveats like when there's a severe, incurable deformity to the child. But basically I'm against it so I had to click 'agree' on that question even though I didn't technically agree with the statement.

Another dumb one is the first one which says something like 'if globalisation is inevitable, should it primarily serve humanity or corporations?' Of course it should primarily serve humanity, why wouldn't anyone agree with that?

To be honest, I think the questionnaire is a bit rigged to give people liberal-biased results and make them think politicians are so far away from their positions. Actually, I think the positions of politicians on the compass are pretty out there; Gordon Brown is not a right-winger by any stretch of the imagination (incidentally, they might want to update that to give the positions of current leaders like Cameron, Clegg, Obama etc. instead of Bush and Brown.)

[shantykelly]

if anything, it serves to highlight that it isn't all that easy to pigeon-hole people into particular belief sets. like the man says, we are all different.

[BonnieShels]

I agreee with Cymro there but hey it was just a wee bit of fun. What is interesting is the difference in a lot of people's perception of themselves. However as has been said here already, the fact that it's a Yank site will mean that it's X and Y axes are unfit for European consumption.

[dahamsta]

some of the questions are stupidly worded.

No they're not. You haven't read the FAQ so you're not qualified to comment on the methodology. For example, there isn't meant to be wiggle room in the case of abortion, in this context.

Oh, and in the case of humanity v corporations, the answer is "company directors and shareholders". Seriously, if you're that oblivious of the selfishness of (some, but particularly large) business operators, you need to open a newspaper. Bhopal is a good place to start your education, but if you'd like something a bit more contemporary, try BP and the Deepwater clusterfeck.

[Sullivinho]

Economic Left/Right: -6.75
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -3.85

I now consider myself Gandhi-approved.

[Cymro]

No they're not. You haven't read the FAQ so you're not qualified to comment on the methodology. For example, there isn't meant to be wiggle room in the case of abortion, in this context.

Oh, and in the case of humanity v corporations, the answer is "company directors and shareholders". Seriously, if you're that oblivious of the selfishness of (some, but particularly large) business operators, you need to open a newspaper. Bhopal is a good place to start your education, but if you'd like something a bit more contemporary, try BP and the Deepwater clusterfeck.

Actually, I have read the FAQ, read it years ago when I first took the quiz. Their argument is basically that they have extreme and moderate propositions and they try to gauge your opinions based on what answers you put. If you agree with an extreme proposition, they take it you have extreme views on that issue and they bump up your score accordingly.

My argument is that that misses the point. You need to have both extreme and moderate propositions on various political issues to accurately gauge someone's view because if you just have one set of propositions then you distort someone's true view as I illustrated with the examples I gave.

[osarusan]

I think that to expect a survey consisting of 40-50 statements and responses of choice conducted anonymously over the internet to accurately gauge anybody's political positions with great detail is expecting too much.

[Cymro]

I think that to expect a survey consisting of 40-50 statements and responses of choice conducted anonymously over the internet to accurately gauge anybody's political positions with great detail is expecting too much.

Why? But let's say for the sake of argument that you're right.

My solution: they could either increase the number of propositions to include extreme and moderate positions on each issue, or they could simply scrap the idea of propositions combined with '(strongly) agree/(strongly) disagree' and give questions such as: 'The closest statement to my view on _________ is:' and then give four or five choices for each one.

It's not as if they're limited to the number of questions they can ask/propositions they can put forward.

[osarusan]

they could simply scrap the idea of propositions combined with '(strongly) agree/(strongly) disagree' and give questions such as: 'The closest statement to my view on _________ is:' and then give four or five choices for each one.


That suggestion would mean that the survey would have exactly the same problems as you say it does now - people being asked to align themselves to a position on an issue based on a choice from a limited number of responses, none of which accurately describes what their view is.

[Cymro]

That suggestion would mean that the survey would have exactly the same problems as you say it does now - people being asked to align themselves to a position on an issue based on a choice from a limited number of responses, none of which accurately describes what their view is.

The point is that such a system would give people more choice. It's impossible to cater for every viewpoint, but it shouldn't just be a choice between supporting or rejecting one extreme statement. And I'm pretty sure that, given enough choices, people would be able to find one which almost exactly matches their view.

[pineapple stu]

It just needs a "meh" option is all.

[dahamsta]

My argument is that that misses the point.

Their argument is that it /is/ the point. The questions aren't taken in isolation, they're contextualised against other "extreme" answers. So the questions aren't "stupidly phrased", they're very specifically phrased - and lack "wiggle room" - to achieve that end.

[Dodge]

Most surbveys of this type (personality tests etc) have several questions asking the same question in different ways. Its a built in check to see your views are consistent.

Always gives me a chuckle to see people not agreeing with the findings of tests/surveys based on their own pre-conceptions of themselves

[SkStu]

It just needs a "meh" option is all.

where would a selection of all "meh's" place a person? :)

[Poor Student]

Always gives me a chuckle to see people not agreeing with the findings of tests/surveys based on their own pre-conceptions of themselves

Indeed. I'm much more of a leftist than I thought.:(

[BonnieShels]

Me too. It's a weird feeling.

[Macy]

where would a selection of all "meh's" place a person? :)
Fianna Fail - the party with none and every ideology.

[thischarmingman]

where would a selection of all "meh's" place a person? :)

In that case you'd be a Mehderate.

[Cymro]

Their argument is that it /is/ the point. The questions aren't taken in isolation, they're contextualised against other "extreme" answers. So the questions aren't "stupidly phrased", they're very specifically phrased - and lack "wiggle room" - to achieve that end.

They're contextualised against answers to questions on totally unrelated issues. For one example, they say one of the questions which helps decide if someone is an 'authoritarian' is the one about astrology, because (according to them) if you believe in astrology you believe in fate and so you're of a more determinist and therefore authoritarian bent. But that's total horlicks, someone could believe in astrology (which in my experience is far more prevalent with political liberals, but that's by the by) and be in favour of abortion on demand up to birth, legalisation of all drugs etc. yet because of political compass's way of doing things, the quiz wouldn't be able to determine that. It'd just know that that person believed in astrology and thought that abortion should be legal in exceptions other than the 'life for a life' one, as well as supporting the legalisation of cannabis for private use, which is a fairly moderate position although rarely spoken of by politicians. Based on that, I imagine political compass might characterise them as a mild authoritarian or mild liberal. It's distorting and needs more questions or propositions on a range of issues IN MY OPINION.

[dahamsta]

<shrug> I don't agree. It's a guide at best, a toy at worst; it should be treated with the same credibility as Wikipedia -- useful, but [citation needed].

[tetsujin1979]

<shrug> I don't agree. It's a guide at best, a toy at worst; it should be treated with the same credibility as Wikipedia -- useful, but [citation needed].
completely off topic, that made me think of this xkcd strip: http://xkcd.com/285/

http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/wikipedian_protester.png

[The Fly]

Fianna Fail - the party with none and every ideology.

Or, in other words, the National party.

[BonnieShels]

Or, in other words, the National party.

The Natural party you mean. Of government that is!

[pauliek]

Economic Left/Right: -2.38
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -3.95

[shakermaker1982]

Economic Left/Right: -7.25
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -1.95

[apo11o]

Left -2.75
Libertarian - 1.95

In the company of Gandi and Nelson Mandella but not as far Left.

[apo11o]

Not surprised how close Hitler and Thatcher were and didn't she have one ball aswell???

[osarusan]

Came across this old thread while looking for something else, and decided to take the survey again.

7 years ago:

Economic Left/Right: -5.62
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -6.10

Today:

Economic Left/Right: -5.25
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -4.97
Well well well.

[TheBoss]

Previous

Economic Left/Right: -2.75
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -0.46

Today
Economic Left/Right: -4.5
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -5.59


Seems I have changed a bit...

[passinginterest]

Economic Left/Right: -4.12
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -5.90

Looks almost identical to the Dalai Lama on the chart. Not the worst company I suppose.

Now it seems I’ve gone even more liberal leftie.

Economic Left/Right: -6.25
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -6.46

[bennocelt]

Interesting
Didn't do it originally, which is a pity but I am leaning a little to the right these days, albeit i am an anarchist at heart! :D

My Political Compass
Economic Left/Right: 1.75
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -0.31

[nigel-harps1954]

Economic Left/Right: -4.25
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -6.05

Interesting that.

[Mr A]

Economic Left/Right: -4.00
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -2.10

But mostly what I believe in is the Harps and nothing but the Harps.

Am drifting more left and libertarian. Am basically Gandhi.

Economic Left/Right: -6.75
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -5.23

A lot of the economic questions ask specifically about trusting corporations which maybe can skew it? Generally would consider myself a left leaning centrist, surprised to find myself so extreme here!

[DannyInvincible]

Am drifting more left and libertarian. Am basically Gandhi.

Economic Left/Right: -6.75
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -5.23

A lot of the economic questions ask specifically about trusting corporations which maybe can skew it? Generally would consider myself a left leaning centrist, surprised to find myself so extreme here!

Maybe it shows how the notion of where the centre lies is somewhat skewed in our political culture and particularly in the UK and US. Corbyn would be comfortably centre-left in, say, Scandinavian political culture, yet he's seen as "hard left" (and was formerly regarded to be "unelectable" until that pseudo-analysis could no longer be sustained) in the UK media. The likes of Trump and the Republicans in the US are seen as centre-right there, whilst the Democrats are portrayed as centre-left; on this side of the Atlantic, both of those main US parties would be on the right with the Republicans pushing near far-right territory.

I think the real centre - arguably an average of where most people would sit - is much further to the left than our media and politicians like to admit or portray in their quest to persuade the public of the "normality", "neutrality" or "wider social benefit" of right-wing policies that primarily serve either themselves or the economic elite who support/fund them.

I remember doing this questionnaire years ago, but can't remember the specific results and I don't think I posted them here, or can't find them anyway. I do think I recall being in Gandhi's corner though, which is where I seem to find myself again:

Economic Left/Right: -8.38
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -7.28

So I've clearly learnt nothing!

[BonnieShels]

I am a slightly libertarian super leftie
(Economic Left/Right: -8.50 Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -1.79)
I never would have thought so!
So in essence... I haven't a clue. :)

A nationalist unionist socialist democrat maybe?

http://www.politicalcompass.org/test

Economic Left/Right: -8.5
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -5.38

That's a change and a half.

[backstothewall]

I've done this a few times. from memory i tend to float around the centre in economically, but am super liberal socially. I'll do it again now to see for the sake of interest, but I thought i would put my cards on the table before i did it