# Conservatism Is A Mental Disorder! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 28, 2003, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservatism-is-a-mental-disorder/191493 "2003-07-28T18:54:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservatism-is-a-mental-disorder/191493/101 "2003-07-30T00:00:23Z")
Damned if I know! I mean, I even included > [@](#): > > In the finest liberal tradition, I call for immediate action of an unspecified nature. and it zipped past them like a message from Robin Hood. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservatism-is-a-mental-disorder/191493/102 "2003-07-30T00:08:34Z")
> [@](#): > > C’mon, elucidator, what’d you expect from folks who think Mallard Filmore is funny? Ahem. This is where someone says “if you can find a single person on this board who thinks MF is funny, I’ll kiss your ass on Main Street”. Except it won’t be me. Chances are there actually IS at least one such idiot out there. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservatism-is-a-mental-disorder/191493/103 "2003-07-30T00:40:08Z")
Man, is this thread _still_ cooking? What, exactly, is left to say? When I read the OP a few hours ago, I remember thinking, “I wonder how many people got whooshed by this.” Then I kept reading. Thanks, **'luci** , we needed a good breeze here to dispel some of the humidity! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservatism-is-a-mental-disorder/191493/104 "2003-07-30T01:34:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gary Kumquat \* > Sorry L\_C, but I must disagree. To just wade in to the pit with an OP claiming that conservatism is a mental disorder really is just looking for a fight, and a bit disappointing. > > Seriously, I thought better of Elucidator. I admire someone with strong beliefs, but to just deliberately make posts to offend…well you know how much it annoys you when December does similar. Maybe you’re right, maybe if the bear and the stick were on different shoes . . . but even I can distinguish between trolling and banter, a wind-up and a joshing. I just can’t see that this was intended to deliberately offend, it wasn’t even supposed to whoosh. What’s the old saying, you can lead Conservatives to water but you can’t make him take his pills. Oh well . . . ---
**Author:** ![Yumanite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/b487fb/32.png) [@Yumanite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yumanite)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservatism-is-a-mental-disorder/191493/105 "2003-07-30T02:12:49Z")
Chalk me up as one who _clearly_ saw the OP as poking fun at the study, rather than conservatives. My (far less entertaining to read) interpretation was something like this: “Psychologists at Berkely are implying conservatism is a mental ilness. What an absurd idea! Even one as liberal as myself must laugh at this one!” All you who found offense in the OP, permit me to ask – if the same post had been written by someone you didn’t recognize, rather than **elucidator** , would you have jumped to the same conclusions about its intent? ---
**Author:** ![Tee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@Tee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tee)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservatism-is-a-mental-disorder/191493/106 "2003-07-30T02:19:28Z")
I thought it was hilarious, but I also live near Cambridge. The OP is familiar territory. And imo **elucidator’s** distinct prose is worth suffering through a bit of liberal wiseassery, anyway. He knows it though. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservatism-is-a-mental-disorder/191493/107 "2003-07-30T14:44:42Z")
Well, whether elucidator was joking or not, the study he cited is real enough. So, what does the study say are the defining characteristics of the conservative psychosis? 1. A DESIRE TO RETURN TO A GOLDEN AGE, AN IDYLLIC PAST. Hey, sounds like the liberals who still dream of JFK and a return to Camelot! Or the old hippies who want to return to a harmonious, blissful state of nature, and live the way the Indians did! 1. RESISTENCE TO CHANGE, AND A DESIRE TO RETAIN THE STATUS QUO. Wow- sounds a lot like the Texas Democrats, who haven’t won ANY statewide elections in over a decade, but who insist that Congressional districts (which currently give them a big advantage over the Republicans) must NEVER be changed! 1. HUMORLESSNESS AND INABILITY TO LAUGH AT THEMSELVES. Have you ever seen Ralph Nader crack a smile? And that Noam Chomsky, boy, THERE’S a guy you’d want to invite to your next party! - Wow, it appears that all the leftists I’ve disdained over the years are actually CONSERVATIVES! Who knew? As for us ordinary Republicans, I think Cal Thomas put it best: we don’t mind being diagnosed as having a mental illness, PROVIDED we get to park in handicapped spots at the mall. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservatism-is-a-mental-disorder/191493/108 "2003-07-30T15:01:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elucidator \* > \*\*In the finest liberal tradition, I call for immediate action of an unspecified nature. \*\* Actually, I did miss that and must admit it’s a nice line. Alternatively, you could have gone for a Helen Lovejoy style “Won’t someone think of the poor, poor conservatives”…nah, your line was better. I guess that’s the problem, elucidator. You’ve kind of been a bit…repetitive in constantly singling out conservatives for criticism and condemnation. It’s a bit of a shame as the heavily partisan rhetoric actually drowns out a lot of amusing and interesting content, such as the above. Oh, and please accept that I realise you’ve no reason to listen to any of the above, as it’s purely an opinion from an anonymous poster. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservatism-is-a-mental-disorder/191493/109 "2003-07-30T15:34:51Z")
What I think is throwing everyone off is… Main Entry: elu·ci·date Pronunciation: i-'lü-s&-"dAt Function: verb transitive senses : to make lucid especially by explanation or analysis intransitive senses : to give a clarifying explanation ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservatism-is-a-mental-disorder/191493/110 "2003-07-30T23:11:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gary Kumquat \* > \*\*…Oh, and please accept that I realise you’ve no reason to listen to any of the above, as it’s purely an opinion from an anonymous poster. \*\* I have every reason. You may be right. I might be wrong. But do you really think there is some advantage in being even-handed simply for the pretense of open-mindedness? I can easily cop to being “opinonated” in the sense of “I am firm, you are stubborn, he is a pig-headed fool.” Humor without preaching is mere piffle, any fool can do it, any fool can listen, neither benefits. Fuck _that_ shit. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservatism-is-a-mental-disorder/191493/111 "2003-07-31T01:00:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elucidator \* > \*\* > Humor without preaching is mere piffle, any fool can do it, any fool can listen, neither benefits. Fuck _that_ shit. \*\* So, on the one hand, you get taken to the woodshed for a particularly vapid OP, and you claim that you were just joking and people are taking it too seriously. On the other hand, you imply that you don’t do humor (however utterly lame it might be) without preaching. Which is it? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservatism-is-a-mental-disorder/191493/112 "2003-07-31T01:30:36Z")
You know whats cool? You can believe whatever you want. That’s really cool. And you can’t possibly be this interested in my personality, can you? ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservatism-is-a-mental-disorder/191493/113 "2003-07-31T01:53:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elucidator \* > \*\*Humor without preaching is mere piffle, any fool can do it, any fool can listen, neither benefits. Fuck _that_ shit. \*\* But. It wasn’t even funny. It has to be funny to qualify as humor. Your OP comes off as naked vitriol, hidden behind a veneer of facetiousness meant to protect you from your own words. That’s how it comes off. -So say I. (and it’s rumored that I know how to tell a funny.) ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservatism-is-a-mental-disorder/191493/114 "2003-07-31T03:17:53Z")
Piffle. You knew I was out for a lark from the first sentence. When you saw the crowd ganging up, you jumped in for a couple of cheap swipes at Betty Noyer. You should stick to domestic comedies, you make a good Dagwood. ---
**Author:** ![Ferrous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Ferrous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferrous)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservatism-is-a-mental-disorder/191493/115 "2003-07-31T05:04:53Z")
Well I thought it was funny. Not “Archie Comics funny”, but good for a chuckle. Especially the “action of an unspecified nature” bit. And **Scylla** ’s joke was funny too. I like both you guys. _Why can’t we all just get along?_ ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservatism-is-a-mental-disorder/191493/116 "2003-07-31T13:28:56Z")
Yeah, I thought they were both funny, too. **Scylla** , it’s one thing to say that Mallard Fillmore isn’t funny – there’s not a soul on this planet that laughs at that comic, not even its author (I hear tell the author finishes each strip, gazes at it for a full minute, then cries himself to sleep). But even I, a dyed-in-the-wool librul, can see that Limbaugh has good comic timing and can tell a funny (if mean-spirited and disingenuous) joke. It surprises me that you can’t recognize **elucidator’s** style, even if you disagree with its substance. And hell, I disagree with your political posts more often than not – but when you make a joke in them, I can appreciate its humor. Oh well. _De gustibus_ and all. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservatism-is-a-mental-disorder/191493/117 "2003-07-31T17:19:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DanielWithrow \* > [BIt surprises me that you can’t recognize **elucidator’s** style, even if you disagree with its substance. And hell, I disagree with your political posts more often than not – but when you make a joke in them, I can appreciate its humor. \*\* I recognize the style. I have given credit to elucidator for pulling a good yuck, where he has done so. This OP, is just not funny. All that leaves is mean. I repeat. Not funny. Ironically, elucidator’s rhetorical counterpart on the conservative side seems to have addressed this very subject. Not only that, she manages to pull about 3 yucks doing it. Ahh. Damn. I lost the link. Next post. ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservatism-is-a-mental-disorder/191493/118 "2003-07-31T17:21:04Z")
[http://www.anncoulter.org/](http://www.anncoulter.org/) Heh. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2003, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservatism-is-a-mental-disorder/191493/119 "2003-07-31T19:43:29Z")
Yeesh – elucidator’s not funny, but that is? As I said, de gustibus. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservatism-is-a-mental-disorder/191493/120 "2003-08-01T01:37:37Z")
Things funnier that Ann Coulter: Leper colony baseball leagues Dostoyevsky Yoko Ono _The Jeffrey Dahmer Cookbook_ _Shoah_ dead baby jokes _The Killing Fields, The Musical_ Carrot Top P.J. O’Rourke’s drinking problem I can’t recall the poster who nailed this one but: “Ann Coulter is proof positive that rabies is not invariably fatal.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservatism-is-a-mental-disorder/191493.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conservatism-is-a-mental-disorder/191493.md?page=7)