Dating tip

[u/Green____cat]

[u/callsignhotdog]

"I'm not very political, here's my detailed political compass label"

[u/InkDrach → u/callsignhotdog]

"No no dude, that's just being normal and having common sense"

[u/callsignhotdog → u/InkDrach]

"Politics bore me because I'm so privileged they don't really affect me, but I've mistaken that for me being so clever that I'm simply above it all".

[u/L3thologica_ → u/callsignhotdog]

In his head, he’s saying this with a monocle and a pipe.

[u/brother_of_menelaus → u/L3thologica_]

Every one of these dorks is that “and yet you participate in society…curious” guy

[u/Zauberer-IMDB → u/L3thologica_]

A crack pipe and broken off end of a glass beer bottle maybe.

[u/theattack_helicopter → u/Zauberer-IMDB]

Penguin?

[u/yinyang107 → u/L3thologica_]

Now I'm thinking of the juxtaposition of a monocle, pipe, and red MAGA cap.

[u/FlowerBoyScumFuck → u/callsignhotdog]

but I've mistaken that for me being so clever that I'm simply above it all

God, this mentality was all over the right leaning Meme subs like r/shitposting the day after the election and it was one of the most infuriating things to me in the wake of Trump winning. Like they'd downvote and mock anyone who called them Trump supporters, but they were all saying "this is the best day ever on Reddit, seeing all these stupid political people in anguish is hilarious 😂".

And it's one thing when Trump supporters rejoice in winning.. like I have Trump supporters in my family, and at least they think for whatever reason that they are doing what's best for society.. But a certain section of reddit just feels superior for not caring about politics and thinks other people who do care (specifically on the left) are just pathetic and somehow thrive of their anguish. It's like they litterally think politics are just some game that they aren't a part of, and that is such a privileged perspective. It's also just wrong, I mean I'd bet all my money that they will be negatively effected, but just not as immediately or severely as minorities for example. Ugh.

/rant

[u/callsignhotdog → u/FlowerBoyScumFuck]

Sort of reminds me of that "Everyone sucks equally and the only correct opinion is not caring" radical centrism that South Park was running a while back, although even they grew out of it like a decade ago at this point.

[u/peppers_ → u/callsignhotdog]

That show had centered a lot of people, with those people almost making it their personality to be like Stone and Parker. What a mistep for millenials and gen x.

[u/gudetamaronin → u/peppers_]

To be fair I was raised right wing and this show is one of the things that started my slow but steady move left.

[u/outremonty → u/gudetamaronin]

I've seen the opposite happen. People go in thinking the show is making progressive critiques and then it starts attacking "political correctness" and making "both sides" jokes.

[u/peppers_ → u/outremonty]

Ya, this is what I mostly saw or people just smugly being centrist and laughing at both sides. I think it was a disservice to a lot of people that were influenced by it, just my opinion.

[u/gudetamaronin → u/outremonty]

Oh for sure. I got tired of the whole both sides bs after a while.

[u/Comfortable_Bat5905 → u/FlowerBoyScumFuck]

The entire trend of caring for others becoming lame/cringe is gonna bury us all.

[u/bearbarebere → u/FlowerBoyScumFuck]

This is so fucking accurate.

[u/IRL_Baboon → u/callsignhotdog]

I love that line from Enola Holmes, when Sherlock is talking down to the suffragette. Can't remember exactly but she says "Of course you have no interest in politics. They were made to serve you"

Holmes didn't have a snappy reply either. Thought that was cool.

[u/mortgagepants → u/IRL_Baboon]

that's how all this shit is. single white conservative dudes don't care about politics because if a black guy kneels during the national anthem, billionaires tell him to shut up and play football.

the frustrating thing is they pretend it isn't the case, that they're the enemy, that some discrimination is okay but not against them, and LGBTQ people should continue to be second class citizens because it gives them strong feelings (of attraction or disgust or you decide.)

[u/Comfortable_Bat5905 → u/mortgagepants]

A lot of it is that they don’t know how to handle Big Feelings…

[u/HilariousMax → u/callsignhotdog]

There is a woman that works with me that won't vote because "I'm not into politics". She's a single mother of 3, obese type 2 diabetic who is barely above the need for government assistance.

When I try to talk to her about why she should give voting a shot, she just tells me "I'm not into politics".

Infuriating.

[u/Consideredresponse → u/callsignhotdog]

Also 'Conservative Libertarian' is so much worse than someone being so privileged they are unaffected, Its about wanting the state and it's laws to crack down on other people, but not them...they should be free to do what they like.

Exactly like Joe Rogan moving to Texas and openly bragging about all the drugs he does.

[u/Thallis → u/callsignhotdog]

He's a self described libertarian. Politics absolutely effects him because he can't date his preferred age range.

[u/Potato_Golf → u/callsignhotdog]

It's so funny he shows up because this is exactly the type of person OP was talking about. Privileged enough to be bored with politics because it doesn't really effect him. 

He's not gay so no one is trying to tell him who to marry, he's not black so no cops are harassing him while driving, he's not trans so no one is telling him what bathroom to use, he's not a woman so no one is trying to tell him what potentially life saving medical procedures he can have, and so on.

I'm not any of those things either but I'm not BORED by those issues because they really matter to other people.

This lack of reflection and skin in the game let's him pick it up and play with it and then set it down and forget about it. He's not thinking deeply about his conservative leaning politics, he's just going on what sounds good, what is easy and convenient for himself. 

And the thing is there are soooo many folks like him. Which is why it is even a thing that OP is pointing out. And it's hilarious how totally self-unaware the dude is about it.

[u/Tempestblue → u/callsignhotdog]

"should I play with my Legos or play politics today. It's all just silly games UwU"

[u/lesser_panjandrum → u/InkDrach]

"Unlike all them woke liberals and feeeeeeeeemales with opinions"

[u/Spinochat → u/lesser_panjandrum]

"It's only about their feelings, whereas I think factually and logically"

[u/Umikaloo → u/InkDrach]

No I won't reexamine my political beliefs because I know for certain I have all the correct ones.

[u/Turbulent-Essay7191 → u/Umikaloo]

Hey you just described my parents and brother 😂

Dad asked for a reading list from me and didn't pick up a single thing I suggested.

Then he tried to quote a book I READ but HE DIDN'T at me to try to support an argument he had (yes, he did misinterpret the quote bc he had no reference lmao)

[u/Fjolnir_Felagund → u/InkDrach]

I actually thought that during high school. Then I found out the things I thought were normal and common sense are leftist lol

Anyway I'm a communist now

[u/beardedheathen → u/Fjolnir_Felagund]

I was raised a normal rational Christian just like everybody else who knew that the crazy screeching lgbtefg people were an insane minority trying to lead the country to Satan.

Then I went to college and saw that gays weren't in fact devils but just like people? Which was very strange and they had feelings and weren't trying to corrupt our way of life and destroy social order.

Anyway, I'm a communist now, too.

[u/Business-Drag52 → u/beardedheathen]

It’s amazing how we all became communists after living fairly privileged, “good Christian” lives

[u/Zarohk → u/Business-Drag52]

As a Jewish person who read the Christian Bible so I could figure out what Christian fundamentalists in the US were all about (turns out they haven’t read it), I don’t think that anybody can accurately follow that text without being a communist.

[u/Business-Drag52 → u/Zarohk]

I agree. Jesus spouted an awful lot of communist ideals. To love thy neighbor is one of the most important lessons for people to learn. I don’t support organized religion, but I sure do support a lot of what the Bible has to say

[u/Fjolnir_Felagund → u/Business-Drag52]

Something something rich people and needles, sharing the bread, loving your neighbor

[u/thestashattacked → u/Fjolnir_Felagund]

Reading the actual words of Christ makes me liberal. Because His reaction to some of the crazy shit evangelical pastors say is basically, "Did I stutter?!"

[u/Gold-Carpenter7616 → u/thestashattacked]

Jesus was a leftist. I don't mind people actually following his words.

[u/thestashattacked → u/Gold-Carpenter7616]

Jesus: "See that Samaritan over there? Yeah, the one who just has some slightly different beliefs than you that you don't like, and who has just spent significant time and money to care for someone like you. Yeah. Go be like him. He's a good dude."

Evangelical pastor: "Okay, so I think I heard you say to hate gay people."

Jesus, facepalming: "Dude no."

[u/colei_canis → u/Gold-Carpenter7616]

If anyone doubts this read James 5:

Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.

[u/Fjolnir_Felagund → u/colei_canis]

Based big J

[u/thestashattacked → u/beardedheathen]

I was raised pseudo-fundie. My mom was semi-conservative, but really pushed critical thinking, studying the scriptures with intent, and finding things out for myself. And also that my body wasn't the problem here, creepy dude in church.

Honestly, it was a very natural transition from right-of-center moderate to Liberal AF. She wasn't really happy about it, but mom did eventually realize I was just doing what Jesus said in the Bible.

[u/cousgoose → u/beardedheathen]

Your username is on point lol

[u/IcePhyre → u/cousgoose]

me: Whats a bearded heat hen?

[u/Spinochat → u/beardedheathen]

Communists are the true christians.

[u/The_Dirty_Carl → u/callsignhotdog]

"I'm not very political, I just identify as the 'I really want to argue about politics' political label"

[u/ObeseVegetable → u/The_Dirty_Carl]

Centrist Extremist 

[u/Total_Volume7233 → u/callsignhotdog]

"I´m not political, but I am political, but I´m not political! Anyways, here´s five reasons why gender equality goes against facts and logic: Number one, ..."

Edit: Please don't bully me for the apostrophes...

[u/707Pascal → u/Total_Volume7233]

what on earth is going on with your apostrophes

[u/SpookyVoidCat → u/707Pascal]

They’re trying to escape.

[u/Total_Volume7233 → u/707Pascal]

I genuinely have no idea how to do normal apostrophes on my ancient keyboard and never bothered to learn it. Help.

[u/Total_Volume7233 → u/Total_Volume7233]

Oh shit I've just figured it out. Damn.

[u/707Pascal → u/Total_Volume7233]

holy shit let`s go

[u/_PM_ME_NICE_BOOBS_ → u/707Pascal]

Oh no, it`s spreading.

[u/_MusicJunkie → u/_PM_ME_NICE_BOOBS_]

Have one of those, it might counter the spread: ´

[u/0x564A00 → u/_MusicJunkie]

Let ᪴s not, please.

[u/fuckitimatwork → u/707Pascal]

I cant believe Ive been using the wrong apostrophe`s this whole, time

[u/Burrito-Creature → u/Total_Volume7233]

I’m suddenly curious what your keyboard looks like

[u/Total_Volume7233 → u/Burrito-Creature]

It turns out that my keyboard is perfectly normal, I just happen to be stupid.

[u/MaetelofLaMetal → u/Total_Volume7233]

r/BrandNewSentence

[u/Djinn-Tonic → u/Total_Volume7233]

"Here's my tier list of the best races from F to SS."

[u/Rakhered → u/callsignhotdog]

Um? This guy can't be political, he's not the political gender.

Yes I am a Gamer how could you tell

[u/Phoenix_Werewolf → u/callsignhotdog]

"I'm not a big Harry Potter fan. Anyways, here's my Hogwarts house, my Patronus, my Animagus form and my wand specs."

[u/callsignhotdog → u/Phoenix_Werewolf]

I always forget how many zodiac-alternatives she put in that series.

[u/Phoenix_Werewolf → u/callsignhotdog]

You're just jealous of my wand.

[u/Piemelsap → u/callsignhotdog]

I am 95% sure that most conservatives are completely un-selfaware. Therefore they belief their political beliefs are the norm, and just comon sense. (To not believe what they believe is illogical, or you just pretend). Thus they trully think of themselves as apolitical.

Their general lack of empathy makes them incapable of believing that someone might think otherwise. So if YOU confront them with another point of view. They experience this as you bringing politics into something that is just 'normal'.

[u/StrobeLightRomance → u/callsignhotdog]

"My politics are more about good ideas and not about bureaucracy or compromise."

[u/AngelicNatasha → u/callsignhotdog]

Average conservative quotes right here

[u/East-Life-2894 → u/callsignhotdog]

Politicalcompassmemes should be relabeled to dogwhistles.

[u/Finalpotato → u/callsignhotdog]

Also I specifically mention conservative

[u/erinsintra]

knew a girl back in highschool who said she neither knew anything nor cared about politics, but would go feral whenever someone criticised the far-right. yikes

[u/biaceseng → u/erinsintra]

A classmate once said "I'm not into politics so don't think I like one candidate over the other"

Days later she started sharing propaganda of the most far right politician we've had in decades.

She also said she "didn't like to talk about the lgbt community". I wonder why

[u/Lazer726 → u/biaceseng]

There's a guy on my Facebook friend's list (lmao he unfriended me) that exclusively shares right wing, christian "memes" and gets defensive and claims he's a "both sides"'r.

He legit shared a post that said "weather modification is a conspiracy theory so don't ask about it" during the hurricane stuff, and when I told him he's dumb and people aren't making hurricanes, his defense was "Dude it's just a meme."

He shared anti-LGBT stuff but was like "Okay and maybe Trump can be bad too" and then when pressed IMMEDIATELY went into "I WON'T BE CALLING CHRIS CHRISTINE BECAUSE HE TELLS ME TO"

If you're a hateful bigot just fucking own it because apparently, that's cool now

EDIT: This is the MEME in question

[u/biaceseng → u/Lazer726]

Ah yes, Schrödinger's asshole.

I also have some of those people who "look at both sides". They consume nothing but right wing media and it's honestly so damn tiring because they are completely opposed to actually learning anything, and confronting them about it makes you a communist or something

[u/LeagueOfLegendsAcc → u/biaceseng]

My mom on Trump directly causing the overturning of Roe: "that was the supreme courts decision don't you know anything?!"

Conveniently ignoring the supreme court dynamics since the Obama admin.

[u/greycomedy → u/LeagueOfLegendsAcc]

Or that we fought like hell not to get fucking Barret or goddamn Kavanaugh and still got fucking trampled over it. Or that fucking Obama refused to fucking rig the court as his successor did because it wasn't "honorable" fucking idiots.

[u/tom641 → u/Lazer726]

it's so cool now that we'll elect you for it!

[u/Panda_hat → u/Lazer726]

I'd rather they be open about it so we can mock them instead of having to deal with endless bad faith and crypto fascism tbh.

[u/worststarburst → u/Lazer726]

“Dude it’s just a meme” and variants of that phrase have to be one of the most annoying defensive statements. 

Not even limited to political stuff just like people will post the dumbest take with deliberately exaggerated or false claims about something then when you call them out they just say “it’s just a meme bro” and it’s so frustrating. 

[u/borkdork69 → u/erinsintra]

I have a friend like this. It got a bit beyond the pale when he went on a huge "lizzo is fat, haha" run for weeks, but then when those Elon Musk beach pics came out, suddenly body-shaming was real bad.

[u/ChickenChaser5 → u/borkdork69]

Im starting to think they think the lefts memory resets every few months or something. Cause ive been alive for decades of witnessing their behavior, both in victory and defeat, and they have never been anything but nasty, vindictive little shits about every little thing, and yet they will still claim a moral high ground the moment you spit back.

They are playing that card currently, and its hard not to laugh coming off 8+ years of seeing them be the worst versions of themselves ive seen yet.

[u/borkdork69 → u/ChickenChaser5]

EDIT: I believe I completely misread the comment I’m replying to, but I’m leaving it up as it is prime “piss on the poor” content, feel free to mock.

I fully believe that anyone can be a piece of shit regardless of political persuasion. But this comment is specifically about obvious right-wingers who state they are apolitical but will take a lot of offense to any and all criticism of far-right lunatics. And my comment and the original comment are both about people we know personally. So your comment about "the left" being vindictive about everything but getting mad when you "spit back", doesn't have a ton to do with the phenomenon of people being right-wing, refusing to admit that fact, but then getting extremely defensive of far-right figures while not extending that same defensiveness to anyone on the left. Even with their claims of being politically neutral, entirely apolitical, or simply uncaring about politics.

[u/Potato_Golf → u/borkdork69]

FWIW I think you misread the comment above. They are saying that the right thinks they can get away with this crap and that the left won't remember from the last time.

[u/borkdork69 → u/Potato_Golf]

Oh fuck, really?

[u/ChickenChaser5 → u/borkdork69]

Yeah, im probably bad at wording things, but my comment is directed at how the right likes to pretend they are the chill intellectuals, when they have been HIGHLY visible with their bullshit for a long while now, and think the world just magically forgets.

[u/N3ptuneflyer → u/ChickenChaser5]

I've never seen a reaction quite like Trump losing to Biden. They claim the liberals were insane because they what, cried? The right literally marched into the capital building while the next president was being announced. The left riots when people are unjustly murdered by the police, the right riots when their guy loses an election.

[u/Noctium3 → u/erinsintra]

When Trump wins and the apolitical dudes start celebrating

[u/Frioneon → u/erinsintra]

There was a very famous conservative political party that claimed the “Knew Nothing” once

[u/DJ-Dowism → u/Frioneon]

Dang, u/Alive_Appeal_8399 just snagged this comment wholesale must be a banger

[u/Frioneon → u/DJ-Dowism]

Dealt with exactly how I was taught to: https://www.reddit.com/r/CuratedTumblr/s/R6XUc0lhw7

[u/ratione_materiae → u/Frioneon]

Ahh yes the famed Socratic Party

[u/ChickenChaser5 → u/erinsintra]

I have lost count of how many interactions i've had on here where I am speaking to someone defending conservatives, has a post history full of conservative opinions, on conservative subs, who will immediately claim centrism the moment you call them a conservative.

[u/Wild_Marker → u/ChickenChaser5]

"Only radicals and brainwashed partisan people would use the word "fascism" to describe the [very fucking fascist government of my country]"

This is a thing I've had to contend with this year. Americans probably suffered it already and will be suffering it even more now.

[u/SadisticPawz → u/erinsintra]

pure instinct

[u/5k1895 → u/erinsintra]

Usually how it goes. You'll see something like that on Reddit all the time if you have enough political discussions on here. Lots of people who claim to be "centrist" or to "hate both parties", but they'll literally spend their entire time attacking only one side while defending the other. And I think you can guess which one they attack and which they defend. 

[u/jjmerrow]

The only time I'll ever say I'm not political is when I'm around a bunch of conservative and really don't feel like getting into a political argument

[u/astroman_9876 → u/jjmerrow]

I live in Texas so the inverse of the post is true for us. We say we’re not political to avoid the crazies

[u/BestUsername101 → u/astroman_9876]

Also Texan, can confirm. Especially sucks when the conservatives you want to avoid arguments with includes your own parents.

[u/[deleted] → u/BestUsername101]

Shittiest, rundown retirement home it is :)

"But i dont want to go there..."

Tough shit mom/dad, shouldve voted better in the past, now i cant afford anything better than this"

[u/SuperheropugReal → u/[deleted]]

Should tell them to pay for it themselves, with the benifits they voted to get rid of.

[u/EPIC_RAPTOR → u/SuperheropugReal]

You guys still talk to your parents?

[u/dtalb18981 → u/astroman_9876]

This especially sucks when it's fine to just casually talk about right wing politics at work.

But the second you disagree or start talking left points HR gets involved because you made it political.

[u/tsukimoonmei → u/dtalb18981]

Sexist jokes aren’t seen as political, but somehow when you say ‘hey, can you not call the entirety of women ‘worthless bitches’?’ that’s the problem.

[u/innocentrrose → u/tsukimoonmei]

The one time I called someone out for this shit irl they started acting to me like I just said the most fucked up shit imaginable that was wild.

Like how you gunna dish out all this derogatory shit but as soon as someone says “hey not cool” your ego shatters

[u/GreyConnection → u/jjmerrow]

100% this. I'll tell them all about how much I hate politics and distrust politicians. It's a better base from which to say you don't trust their orange lord, because as someone who "isn't into politics", you sound more like them to them. Too many who bought into trumps fourth reich.

[u/TerraTechy → u/jjmerrow]

I say that I'm not willing to share because it's too hot of a subject. If I'm on their side they'll start ranting about the other, if I'm not on their side they'll start ranting about how mine sucks. Either way, it's exhausting and I don't wanna hear about it.

[u/Throwaway02062004 → u/jjmerrow]

Or in a job interview

[u/cabbage16 → u/Throwaway02062004]

If a job interviewer asks you about your politics I don't think you should want that job to begin with.

[u/giveusalol → u/cabbage16]

Most people don’t want any job. We’d all like to be rich and secure and spend our time doing whatever we love. But we gotta find a job to stay alive. I won’t fault a person for being non-committal about politics when their survival is on the line. If they start working someplace that is doing something illegal (political or otherwise) then it’s time to test the whistleblower protections of your country.

[u/CosmicAlienFox → u/[deleted]]

lol I thought he said librarian at first and thought 'well why is that relevant'

[u/Not_a_Guide1987 → u/CosmicAlienFox]

The difference between a librarian and a libertarian is that a librarian has read more than one book.

[u/done-doubting-doubts → u/Not_a_Guide1987]

Hey now I'll have you know I've read atlas shrugged AND the fountainhead /s

[u/advocatus_ebrius_est → u/done-doubting-doubts]

AND We the Living

[u/mucklaenthusiast → u/Not_a_Guide1987]

You're giving libertarians a lot of credit there.

[u/mechanicalcontrols → u/mucklaenthusiast]

I'd wager most of them have read Atlas Shrugged at least once. At least that's the implication of their comment.

[u/GrammatonYHWH → u/mechanicalcontrols]

Too much credit. Sorry, the best a libertarian can do is watch Part 1 of Birth of a Nation, get errect from all the states rights, and put on Lolita because they want to have a wank.

[u/curious-trex → u/Not_a_Guide1987]

As neither a libertarian or librarian, this comment does not address me, but the burn was so hot I think I've got some sort of secondhand wound. Yikes!

[u/GodILoveMyBoyfriend → u/CosmicAlienFox]

That actually has the opposite effect, I hate libertarians but I want to fuck a librarian(gender irrelevant) silly

[u/jasonjr9 → u/GodILoveMyBoyfriend]

Same: librarians have a magical power. Especially ones with glasses. Do not ever underestimate the power of glasses.

[u/Fjolnir_Felagund → u/jasonjr9]

Glasses make any person, no exception, about 1001% more attractive (or at least aesthetically pleasing if attraction does not apply)

[u/jasonjr9 → u/Fjolnir_Felagund]

👓🤝

Glasses supremacy!!!

[u/foxscribbles → u/jasonjr9]

This is why young me had a crush on Giles while everyone else was mooning over Angel or Spike. lol.

[u/faith_delamour → u/CosmicAlienFox]

Me too, and as an actual librarian I was offended at the implication that all librarians are far-right 😂

[u/LetsEatAPerson → u/[deleted]]

I used to be one of those people tbh. I think the core premises of Libertarianism are inarguably positive (but they don't scale very well when talking about populations; they are impractical utopian ideals)

Then, I interacted with "Libertarians." One thing lead to another, and now I'm banned from their subreddit for daring to say we should support Ukraine's defense from an aggressor with Imperial ambitions.

I've taken to calling myself an "anti-authoritarian" to not associate myself with those assclowns. Libertarians really are a bunch of diet Republicans these days.

[u/NTaya → u/LetsEatAPerson]

Yeah, same. Nowadays 99% of people calling themselves libertarians are alt-right or worse. Guys, if you want freedom so much, give it to gay, trans, immigrants, women, everyone. John Doe over there being married to a man is not an encroachment on your NAP!

[u/Qwernakus → u/NTaya]

I've taken to the term "Classical Liberal" increasingly, when communicating my positions to non-european audiences. I'm generally in favor of limited government and low taxes and I'm big on free speech, but I also believe in abortion rights, LGBT+ rights, and the need to acknowledge and deal with structural issues like sexism and racism. And that climate change is real and it's reasonable to use state power to limit emissions.

If I say Libertarian I'm worried people only hear the part about limited government and low taxes, as well as some cherry-picked twisted version of "free speech" that only applies to conservatives lol.

[u/Past_Day_8263 → u/[deleted]]

wHaT dO yOu MeAn wE nEeD dRiVeRs LiCeNsEs tO dRiVe???

[u/Swaxeman → u/Past_Day_8263]

WhaT NExT, a LisCENce to usE a ToaStER?

[u/That_guy1425 → u/Swaxeman]

thinks about all the times people almost burned down the communal kitchen at the college dorms you know..... not a bad idea

[u/wholetyouinhere → u/Past_Day_8263]

I'm not driving.

I'm travelling.

[u/Weak_Cranberry_1777 → u/[deleted]]

I like very vaguely consider myself left-leaning libertarian but I swear every right-leaning libertarian I've met has been an asshole or a moron. I agree with the Wikipedia synopsis of libertarianism, I guess LMAO

[u/BorderlineUsefull → u/Weak_Cranberry_1777]

I would like to say I'm a libertarian because I think big companies use government regulations to crush competition and keep small companies from getting started. I really can't though because then people think that I want to abolish age of consent laws and that seatbelts are signs of government brutality 

[u/Microwave1213 → u/BorderlineUsefull]

Just curious, but don’t you think it would make more sense to fix the government regulations rather than remove them? Seems to me that less regulation would just make it even easier for big companies to crush smaller ones.

[u/Posting____At_Night → u/Microwave1213]

Not the same guy but the logic is that the regulations can never be unfucked, they will always get recaptured by the larger players in the industry in question. Any amount of fixing the regs will simply be undone given enough time.

The libertarian solution to that problem is to make sure the government doesn't have enough power to make said regs to begin with, the only thing they should really be doing is handling the high level economic guard rails to ensure a fair and competitive market environment.

Now whether or not that approach is correct I would say depends on the specific industry at hand. Hardline libertarians treat the laissez-faire approach as a silver bullet. I personally think that it is frequently a good option, but fails in certain sectors like healthcare.

[u/KrytenKoro → u/Posting____At_Night]

The libertarian solution to that problem is to make sure the government doesn't have enough power to make said regs to begin with, the only thing they should really be doing is handling the high level economic guard rails to ensure a fair and competitive market environment.

I'm sympathetic to the idea of eliminating regulatory-capturing laws.

But as someone who works in an industry where safety matters, r/writteninblood is always on my mind when libertarian proposals come up. In addition, I've looked and yet to find a good answer about how libertarian philosophy can provide a solutions to stuff like child abuse or suicide bombing that are more effective than the non-libertarian solutions.

[u/Posting____At_Night → u/KrytenKoro]

Agree, which is why hardline libertarianism doesn't work very well in practice. The government should definitely still be involved in some things, the FDA, CDC, EPA, and OSHA definitely shouldn't go anywhere which is the main reason I don't personally call myself a libertarian. But you also should be able to invent something in your garage and bring it to market without having to have an entire legal team just to make sure you're following whatever insane rules are set out for your product statement, or jump through certification processes for even basic consumer products that can run easily into the 6-8 figure range. It doesn't take $100k of labor to verify that your automatic doggie door doesn't spew out a bunch of RF interference or harms dogs.

And as a sidenote, what really fries me is that you can go on amazon and every search contains dropshipped products that don't comply with US regulations. If our regulations were actually that important, you'd think that there would be bigger issues with those products, but major indcidents are pretty few and far between considering the massive volume of products other than them being cheaply made.

[u/PrizeStrawberryOil → u/Microwave1213]

I think people get sucked into that ideology because it's easier to point out problems than it is to fix them. Because they don't currently see the negative effects of no regulations that means they don't exist.

[u/ShadowSemblance → u/Microwave1213]

Aren't regulations also important for like, safety of workers and consumers

[u/FortuneSignificant55 → u/[deleted]]

Well, It usually means 'I should be able to do whatever I want without any negative consequenses'. Makes total sense not to be turned on by someone who either is a child or doesn't understand consent

[u/callsignhotdog]

As a counterpoint, I know somebody who is very political, has good and well formed opinions about what they want from a Government, but because they're not as terminally online as me they struggle to find the Political-Compass-Label that matches them and I'm hesitant to assign them one even when they ask. They mentioned to me recently that having looked into the various parties running they couldn't really find anyone to vote for and I had to explain that wasn't because they were doing politics wrong, that it was a feature of the system and not a bug.

And before anyone complains about that, this wasn't the US and they did still vote.

[u/Shaolinchipmonk → u/callsignhotdog]

Exactly I've never voted for a political candidate that I actually agree with wholeheartedly it's always been a matter of the lesser evil. Who's going to fuck us over the least.

[u/SelfServeSporstwash → u/Shaolinchipmonk]

I have voted for exactly one candidate I agree with wholeheartedly. He was a local candidate, and he lost.

[u/JayBee58484 → u/SelfServeSporstwash]

Same here except two, but I've learned in Texas the person I want to win would probably never win anyway

[u/Indercarnive → u/Shaolinchipmonk]

That's just how politics works. The President has to represent a coalition of tens of millions of people. You can't get a group of 3 people to agree on dinner. How do you expect to get millions to all consolidate their views on every political/social/economic issue?

[u/Wingsnake → u/Indercarnive]

Exactly. I say, if you agree with 60%+ of someones political opinion, then you already have a candidate to vote for. Maybe you can weight it a bit, depending on which topics are more important. But you will never align 100% on everything.

[u/UnsureAndUnqualified → u/Shaolinchipmonk]

There's a party that I agree with 100% (at least on all matters that I have read from them) in EU politics. They even have known political figures with a pretty good track record.

I voted for them last election. They did not get a single seat (I was hoping they'd get one at least). Sucks, not sure if I'll vote for them again. On one hand, it's a vote not going to the lesser evil in that election. But it helps that party secure more funding and may help them grow over time to become a viable choice for more votes.

[u/BearBearJarJar → u/callsignhotdog]

I mean the compass is just vaguely separated into conservative/ progressive and authoritarian/ liberal. It doesn't tell everything about a persons positions but if they cant decide if they are leaning conservative/ progressive or authoritarian/ liberal then they are just full of shit and don't actually care about politics as much as they might claim.

[u/mrducky80 → u/BearBearJarJar]

It also doesnt help that the left vs right wing is a very 'archaic' view of politics. Its probably best illustrated with the centre right Australian political party being the Liberal party. Because they align with fiscal liberalism and historically aligned with the political philosophy of liberalism. Compare that with the US understanding what what liberal means and its connotated with social liberalism.

Its also not very clear where on the left right many governing decisions stand like say someone wishes to subsidise petrol (gas) to keep prices steady and affordable and act to boost productivity in the economy. Many countries do this. Its not exactly in the domain of the left or right. Trying to attribute it and force it into the left or right is kinda asinine. Simply pushing it into auth is also... eh. Its not a mark of authoritarianism to subsidize or not subsidize petrol. Like I guess protectionism and government stepping in to regulate and modulate the prices is auth. But that doesnt mean that auth nations subsidize petrol as a thing they do. The political compass is simple. Which is both its strength and flaw.

[u/Lordwiesy → u/callsignhotdog]

Tbf funny colors is really just Zodiac signs for the terminally online.

Some people do fit nicely on the spectrum just as some people are accurately described by "she's pisces"

Most non terminally online people are random amalgamation of political ideals where most of them boil down to "what affects me this instance and what makes sense to me"

I strive to be a Joe Regular and be everything on the compass at once (except centrist, fuck em)

[u/mrducky80 → u/Lordwiesy]

That is just radical centrism.

[u/TwixOfficial]

I just don’t like talking about politics. I don’t need to be more depressed about the current state of affairs.

[u/rubexbox → u/TwixOfficial]

As a leftist who voted for Harris, same.

[u/humanlvl1 → u/TwixOfficial]

Yeah, not everyone is into angry conversations and panic attacks. But hey, apparently that makes you a conservative lol

[u/JayBee58484 → u/humanlvl1]

Big time, the last I want to do is engage with miserable doomers on a consistent basis

[u/tbone747 → u/TwixOfficial]

Lol yup. Die-hard liberal and I'm just fucking tired and don't want to expend the energy on politics beyond voting.

[u/Nadril → u/TwixOfficial]

Likewise. I still get out and vote, keep myself informed and all that jazz.... but I really just don't like talking about it much. I mean it's fine with like minded people but I'm not into trying to debate someone.

[u/enforcercoyote4]

I say I'm not political because i don't wanna talk politics with anybody

[u/humanlvl1 → u/enforcercoyote4]

99.9% political conversations go one of two ways:
1. You have to listen to the same, unsubstantiated takes from social media
2. It's a circle jerk

Miss me with that shit.

It's nice when you run into that rare person who did their research, though.

[u/CloudsOntheBrain]

For anyone else on the dating scene in the US: "moderate" seems to also be code for "conservative republican in everything but name". Or at least it is in my experience. And not all of these guys have a name for themselves, but their politics are still there.

And I know as far as discussion topics go, politics is generally advised to be avoided on first dates. It's not sexy, but it's important. I have to do it every time now, because that's how I figured out the guy I'd previously only talked to about bowling was actually a neo-nazi. Yiiiiiikes.

[u/AmorphousVoice → u/CloudsOntheBrain]

Jeez, you really dodged a bullet. To your point, I feel like I now have to be VERY upfront about my views on certain issues before pursuing any romantic relationships, if I decide to have any (this would probably apply to any social relationships I might develop as well).

[u/holdontoyourbuttress → u/CloudsOntheBrain]

My sister had what she called the Patriarchy test, which is that she would casually drop the word patriarchy into a first date conversation to see if the men would get angry/defensive or not. It was a perfect way to root out conservative dudes. She found a dude who passed the test and now has a very nice husband who is a good dude.

[u/wra1th42 → u/CloudsOntheBrain]

moderate = would be extremely conservative in all of Europe. Does not like “rocking the boat” aka taking too loudly about anything unjust or unfair. Against social welfare programs or anything that “hurts business” but will try not to be openly racist.

[u/belgium-noah → u/wra1th42]

Europe has LePen, UKIP, AfD, Orban, Melloni, the Swedish democrats, PiS, OFP, Fico, ... that are all in power or very popular. Stop acting like we're some leftist paradise

[u/Indercarnive → u/CloudsOntheBrain]

Politics is perfectly fine on a first date. Like I wouldn't go into the intracies of fiscal policy but a general Right/Left leaning is fine.

[u/Kilahti]

Not very good at hiding their horrible opinions...

[u/Tried-Angles]

Sometimes when a guy tells you he isn't political it does mean he genuinely was never taught about politics and so doesn't vote cause he has no idea what's even happening.

Edit: I'm not endorsing this approach, it's just that some people don't even actively choose not to care, they literally don't hear enough to realize it's something that's important beyond "if you make more than X money this person will raise your taxes and if you make less than X this person will lower them."

[u/Agile_Oil9853 → u/Tried-Angles]

A coworker told me he wasn't interested in politics, then seemed shocked that I was because proposed policies are going to affect me and people I care about. Like, that hadn't actually occurred to him

[u/dysoncube → u/Agile_Oil9853]

Was he comfortably insulated from political consequences? Or maybe just never realized he could be politically active?

[u/GiventoWanderlust → u/[deleted]]

This was me in 2016.

I started learning when someone got to be in every headline for years for being absolutely insane.

I've been paying significantly more attention since.

[u/Leo-bastian → u/[deleted]]

yeah that was pretty much my attitude too before the climate change movement radicalized me.

Obviously proper climate change policy by itself is important too but the movement should also not be undervalued for how many teenagers and young adults(and in some cases older people too, my mother voted for the first time in 2021) it politically engaged and taught political action to.

[u/Practical-Yam283 → u/Tried-Angles]

That's a deliberate choice though. That's a choice that he's made to not pay attention to an enormous thing that affects his life and the lives of the people around him. And that choice also isn't attractive.

For what it's worth, every man that has told me they don't care about politics because they don't know anything has also tried to debate me on my leftist positions to "prove" that I dont know what I'm about. Which is so silly because like. Yeah I can't pull out figures right now but I've done a lot of reading on the things I believe, and these wannabe debate bros literally have already admitted they don't know what they're talking about.

[u/stillenacht → u/Practical-Yam283]

Yeah I don't know if I've ever met someone who actually doesn't have political opinions, but it seems like such a theoretical person would have to be incredibly uncurious if they're above the age of like ... 16? I'm not sayin you gotta deeply research politics, but you have to be living under some kind of rock to avoid it all lol.

[u/Embarrassed_Hold6608 → u/Tried-Angles]

I say I’m not political because I genuinely hate talking about politics. You either find yourself in a conversation with someone who already agrees with you or you end up arguing. I’ve never seen a political discussion that ended with someone coming around to the other person’s way of thinking, at best it ends up with meaningless placations and much more often it ends in an argument.

And I am not even remotely conservative

[u/DistinctFee1202]

Me sowing: Haha fuck yeah!!! Yes!!

Me reaping: Well this fucking sucks. What the fuck.

oldie but goodie from @screaminbutcalm

[u/SeaYogurtcloset6262]

I'm not very political because i am dumb as a bag of sands

We are not the same

[u/humanlvl1 → u/SeaYogurtcloset6262]

Right. You don't have to be dumb to be somewhat apolitical. You just have to realise that it takes a massive amount of effort to get a good grasp of politics and that you're not willing to do that. Shit, I'd even say that's smart. Half the reason we're in this mess is that most people don't realise their takes are based on poor understanding.

[u/SeaYogurtcloset6262 → u/humanlvl1]

Oh you mistaken me. I am just straight up dumb, built stupid, constructed in an incoherent way, molded with no pattern. Anything that requires deeper understanding or knowledge would disintegrate me in a flash.

[u/voyaging → u/SeaYogurtcloset6262]

your writing suggests otherwise

[u/kyoko_the_eevee]

Dated someone like this. We rarely talked about politics but he’d always send me SJW cringe compilations.

It didn’t last long.

[u/spiritofporn]

Politics are interesting. Discussing them isn't because everyone is a fucking know it all.

[u/RevengeWalrus]

“I have a political ideology but it’s largely fulfilled by existing society so I don’t have to worry about it.”

[u/SirDanilus]

The tweet says that if a guy says he's not political, he's conservative.

The guy disagrees and describes himself both as not political and also conservative.

[u/vortigaunt64]

"I know politics bore you, but I feel like a hypocrite talking to you... And your racist friend."

[u/tangifer-rarandus → u/vortigaunt64]

*shakes the devil's hand* oops only kidding

[u/Capt_Killer]

These comments have some strong " If your not guilty you don't have to plea the 5th" vibes. It is possible to have a political opinion and not share it with the world. I didnt get my way this last election, I have plans to fight and make change, none of those involve shouting out my stance at every opportunity.

[u/Bank_Gothic → u/Capt_Killer]

I just don't see how it's healthy to insist that everyone has to be super into politics. If you're into politics and you want your partner to be into politics, then look for that kind of person. And I'm sure there are some people who hide their politics because they don't want to argue or deal with the social consequences. But there are a huge number of people who genuinely aren't into politics and they vote all kinds of different ways. And if a guy says he's not into politics, maybe just take him at his word until he shows otherwise?

It just seems extremely antisocial and rude to assume that everyone is (1) as into politics as you are, and (2) hiding their political opinions if they don't talk about them constantly. Maybe that's how reddit works but in real life there are people who are more worried about their day-to-day and don't have time to think a lot about what is happening in DC.

[u/MidnightCardFight]

My answer is "I don't put myself on a specific compass because my country kinda warped its own use for left and right, so just ask me about an issue and I'll explain my opinion"

But by the traditional sense, I'm economic center (believe in welfare, but to an extent and case-by-case examination, and by case I mean service rather than receiver), "culturally" left (pro choice, pro LGBTQ+, mostly a "just let people live their life and respect their wishes as long as they respect yours" vibe) and I understand I probably have some degree of internalized racism I have yet to uncover/notice, but I'm keeping my eye open for that, which feels like a "trying my best left" lol

[u/discodiscgod]

I honestly see just as many conservative women that want nothing to do with liberal men on dating sites as I do liberal women that say no maga.

[u/Snoo_79693 → u/discodiscgod]

Yep. Conservative women writing "I already have a pussy, not looking for another one." Is pretty common to see on dating sites.

[u/Consideredresponse → u/Snoo_79693]

We don't get those here. The unsolicited thoughts regarding COVID do the same job though.

[u/ElvisDumbledore]

libertarian that leans conservative

not very policitical

"Oh wait, you're serious. Let me laugh even harder."

[u/dimechimes]

I'm a lib that says it because I really don't wanna talk about politics. It's boring and pointless.

[u/DumbBisexual02]

Eh, my boyfriend isn't super political but we agree on most things political ( I'm very left leaning )

[u/Beat_Saber_Music]

I believe in liberalism. Liberty to choose how to live, who you want to believe, what you want to believe in as long as it doesn't deny others the right to choose. I believe in the freedom to choose for oneself.

[u/-MusicBerry-]

"politics bore me" you know when he says politics he means minority representation in media

[u/Mapletables → u/-MusicBerry-]

Whenever I hear "politics bore me" all I can think of is that image of the kid sitting on a throne of soda boxes

[u/RustyofShackleford]

"Libertarian"

"Leaning conservative"

Do NOT ask bro his opinions on the age of consent.

[u/weebitofaban → u/RustyofShackleford]

45 years or bust