# A five-question ideological typology **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 9, 2015, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-five-question-ideological-typology/734067 "2015-10-09T20:06:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-five-question-ideological-typology/734067/1 "2015-10-09T20:06:31Z")
I am curious about the extent to which answers to the following questions track partisan ideology. Please answer the following yes/no questions and tabulate the number of “yes” answers. Then click the poll option that corresponds to your number and whether you generally identify with the left or right in your country. [ol] [li]Do you believe the average person’s position in life is mostly a product of his or her choices?[/li][li]On hearing someone else describe a political or moral problem, are you more likely to think they are making too complicated rather than oversimplifying it?[/li][li]Assuming it had no other consequences, if you could save the life of your young child by causing the painless death of two random unknown people in another country, would you do it?[/li][li]Assuming it had no other consequences, if you could save the life of two random unknown people in another country by burning a U.S. flag worth $20, would you choose NOT to burn the flag?[/li][li]Are some sexual practices between consenting adults wrong?[/li][/ol] ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-five-question-ideological-typology/734067/2 "2015-10-09T22:22:54Z")
I had to answer all five with “No.” However, questions one and five were tough. A person’s place in life is largely due to his own actions. I just had to stop short of saying “mostly.” And…well…some really extreme sex acts, like those involving asphyxiation, are wrong. But that’s so far out into oddball territory, I pretty much had to say, no, there aren’t any really worthwhile examples of acts between consenting adults I can point to as wrong. The others were pretty easy to say no to. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-five-question-ideological-typology/734067/3 "2015-10-09T22:35:41Z")
4 should say your country’s flag. I had intended it to be country-neutral. Thanks Trinopus. More of my thoughts after we get more responses. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-five-question-ideological-typology/734067/4 "2015-10-09T22:44:02Z")
It’s difficult to provide a simple yes or no for 1 and 3. Definitely 1 can’t be that answered that simply, and 3 I just don’t feel like working out the answer to a hypothetical involving my own child. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-five-question-ideological-typology/734067/5 "2015-10-09T22:44:18Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > And…well…some really extreme sex acts, like those involving asphyxiation, are wrong. But that’s so far out into oddball territory, I pretty much had to say, no, there aren’t any really worthwhile examples of acts between consenting adults I can point to as wrong. I answered yes to question 5. I was thinking of [Armin Meiwes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armin_Miewes) and his much-discussed Doper connection. ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-five-question-ideological-typology/734067/6 "2015-10-09T22:45:40Z")
1 was difficult, definitely. 3 was easy. If I had a child, and the chance to save that child from death, the rest of the world could go hang. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-five-question-ideological-typology/734067/7 "2015-10-09T23:01:11Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > It’s difficult to provide a simple yes or no for 1 and 3. Definitely 1 can’t be that answered that simply, and 3 I just don’t feel like working out the answer to a hypothetical involving my own child. Fair point about the kids in danger hypo. Probably needed a trigger warning. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-five-question-ideological-typology/734067/8 "2015-10-09T23:44:10Z")
> [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](#): > > 3 was easy. If I had a child, and the chance to save that child from death, the rest of the world could go hang. That was the only one I said “Yes” to. For exactly the same reason. ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2015, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-five-question-ideological-typology/734067/9 "2015-10-10T09:50:05Z")
A couple of issues: First, in the poll, even numbers are impossible if you follow the directions. Also, I think a better version of #3 is “should you do it?” Because the answer to that is “no” IMO, but I’m sure I would anyway. Anyway, 3-Left, and we can call me a liberal. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2015, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-five-question-ideological-typology/734067/10 "2015-10-10T10:01:16Z")
I answered yes to 1, 3, and 5, but the questions as asked make it difficult to include nuance. For example, I believe 99.9999% of sexual practices between consenting adults is none of my business, so not “wrong” in any meaningful sense as far as I’m concerned. However, there are possible situations where consenting adults could agree to some horrible mutilation, for example, that I would consider wrong. Make up your own scenario. Chopping off someone’s limb, whatever. That is such an outlier that I think I’m probably for all practical purposes a “no” for #5. “Mostly” a product of one’s choices and “position in life” are also something that requires qualifications that the question doesn’t really allow for. And a yes to 3 is immoral, I’ll admit, but I’m being honest in how I’d likely act. I’m generally libertarian conservative. ETA: Yikes! I just read SpoilerVirgin’s cite, so there’s a real example if you’re looking for one. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2015, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-five-question-ideological-typology/734067/11 "2015-10-10T10:23:30Z")
I’m very liberal, damn near socialist. 1. No. I think the circumstances of ones birth play a large part, for the average person. 2. No, too often the exact opposite. 3. Yes, in a minute. Sorry. 4. No. That was easy. 5. No. If they are consenting, I don’t care. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2015, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-five-question-ideological-typology/734067/12 "2015-10-10T17:15:31Z")
I would be very curious to know who said yes to four of them but identifies as “left.” **Smapti** , maybe? > [@TriPolar](#): > > Definitely 1 can’t be that answered that simply. Do you say that because you find it difficult to quantify and therefore hard to say whether “mostly” fits? Or, as Stratocaster mentioned, do you think the terms are too indefinite? > [@VarlosZ](#): > > A couple of issues: First, in the poll, even numbers are impossible if you follow the directions. Also, I think a better version of #3 is “should you do it?” Because the answer to that is “no” IMO, but I’m sure I would anyway. Hmm. Yes, maybe should is better. Why are even numbers impossible? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2015, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-five-question-ideological-typology/734067/13 "2015-10-10T19:49:46Z")
> [@Richard\_Parker](#): > > Do you say that because you find it difficult to quantify and therefore hard to say whether “mostly” fits? Or, as Stratocaster mentioned, do you think the terms are too indefinite? The former I guess. I don’t think it’s simple enough to apply ‘mostly’. If you had been more indefinite in that, maybe using ‘largely’ or ‘significantly’ instead, then I would have been able to answer ‘yes’. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2015, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-five-question-ideological-typology/734067/14 "2015-10-10T19:58:10Z")
ISTM most people would say largely or significantly. The divide I have seen is that many conservatives believe choices account for the vast majority of it. ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2015, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-five-question-ideological-typology/734067/15 "2015-10-10T20:00:17Z")
Not a great poll, but I did my best: “Do you believe the average person’s position in life is mostly a product of his or her choices?” _No, it’s mostly circumstances of birth, including those that determine one’s choices._ “On hearing someone else describe a political or moral problem, are you more likely to think they are making [it] too complicated rather than oversimplifying it?” _No, that rarely happens, unless it’s a personal action decision._ “Assuming it had no other consequences, if you could save the life of your young child by causing the painless death of two random unknown people in another country, would you do it?” _Yes, probably._ “Assuming it had no other consequences, if you could save the life of two random unknown people in another country by burning a U.S. flag worth $20, would you choose NOT to burn the flag?” _Goddamit, you couldn’t just phrase this normally, could you? “No” to the question, answered “yes” in the poll._ “Are some sexual practices between consenting adults wrong?” _Assuming we really mean competent adults, I still say yes - specifically those guaranteed to drag others in unwilling._ So, 2 Left, but 3 in the poll. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2015, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-five-question-ideological-typology/734067/16 "2015-10-10T20:19:16Z")
I just wanted to share my thoughts I why I could answer yes on #5 about the consenting adults. Just to avoid any hot-button issues I’ll use alcohol as an example. From a legal standpoint, I have no intention of telling you if/when/what/how much to drink in your own home as long as you’re the only one affected. Knock yourself out. But the Bible does say “Do not get drunk on wine.” So there you are. Some people think this bars all drinking, but it’s at least wrong to get drunk. I don’t intend to do it myself and won’t encourage you to, but Lord knows I have my share of other wrong things that I do anyway. It’s not my place to tell you what to do. Also, I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that adultery is pretty obviously wrong unless there are _three_ adults consenting… ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2015, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-five-question-ideological-typology/734067/17 "2015-10-10T21:03:12Z")
1. No. I think the circumstances of ones birth play at least as much as their choices. 2. No, I think most people over simplify. 3. Absolutely yes. Sorry, two random people, I will always choose my child. Hell, I would choose my child over two people I know. 4. No. I can’t imagine anyone saying yes. 5. Yes, because I believe adultery is wrong. And by adultery I mean actually cheating when the person’s spouse is unaware and would be against it. I don’t mean open relationships. ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2015, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-five-question-ideological-typology/734067/18 "2015-10-11T03:32:53Z")
> [@Richard\_Parker](#): > > Why are even numbers impossible? I may have misunderstood. I thought we were doing +1s and -1s for each question, then adding up the result (so 4 Nos and 1 Yes would be 3-left, which is where I wound up). I guess instead it’s … what is it? I’m still confused. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2015, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-five-question-ideological-typology/734067/19 "2015-10-11T05:09:55Z")
> [@Richard\_Parker](#): > > I would be very curious to know who said yes to four of them but identifies as “left.” **Smapti** , maybe? One of them was a complete mis-vote by me and can be ignored. > [@Nametag](#): > > Assuming we really mean competent adults, See, I didn’t assume that ;). That disturbing German incident was enough for me to say yes on that one. I similarly had a hard time with the choices vs. circumstances question. Because I can posit over 50% choice. But really I think the percentage would vary from individual to individual. ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2015, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-five-question-ideological-typology/734067/20 "2015-10-11T05:37:12Z")
Two yes, and I tend to be left leaning. 1. Generally, yes. 2. Yes. Most people tend to overly complicate things when they explain them, regardless of how political or moral. 3. No. But I don’t have children. This may change if ever have children. 4. No. I would burn the flag. It’s just a flag. 5. No. What two consenting people do in their own homes is not my business. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-five-question-ideological-typology/734067.md?page=2)