# Do your beliefs match the area you live in? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 13, 2015, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-beliefs-match-the-area-you-live-in/734519 "2015-10-13T04:24:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-beliefs-match-the-area-you-live-in/734519/41 "2015-10-13T20:38:32Z")
I’m fairly conservative and living in the Seattle area, so I am definitely not the norm around here. Still, there is a sizable minority that more or less shares my views. I don’t feel particularly out of place. I voice my opinions when it’s relevant and do my best to say it in a way that won’t start a fight with everyone around me. I do my best to see the pros and cons of both arguments, and I think that’s a healthy attitude no matter where you live or what you believe. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-beliefs-match-the-area-you-live-in/734519/42 "2015-10-13T20:42:10Z")
I live in a pocket of fairly secular, liberal rule (Salt Lake City has had Democratic mayors continuously since 1976) in one of the very reddest states in the country (Utah is always in the top two or three states that vote most overwhelmingly for the Republican presidential candidate). I’m still to the left of most of Salt Lake, but not screamingly so. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-beliefs-match-the-area-you-live-in/734519/43 "2015-10-13T21:30:11Z")
You never know what you’re going to get with a city like Richmond. There’s a big liberal bent to the city proper, since the city proper has a lot of poor, college kids, and artsy-fartsy-nerdy college professors. Most conservative folks tend to hang out in the suburbs or in exurbia. But occasionally I come across some pockets of conservativism, especially in the more hoity-toity neighborhoods. And also, Confederate flag waving is a “thing” here. As for myself, I’m quite liberal. I’m also agnostic. I pretty much stay to myself, but I’m not afraid to let people know I don’t believe as they do. But I might feel differently if most of my associates weren’t liberal. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-beliefs-match-the-area-you-live-in/734519/44 "2015-10-13T21:43:56Z")
My views are a perfect match for San Francisco. (Except maybe for nudity. In general, San Francisco is more comfortable with nudity than I am.) It’s comforting to feel like everyone arounds me thinks the same way I do, even though I know that’s not the case in the wider world. And I never have to explain my views in relation to my location – when I say I’m from San Francisco, people assume they know what I think, and they’re right. I can always go online to argue with people who think differently. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-beliefs-match-the-area-you-live-in/734519/45 "2015-10-13T23:04:37Z")
I’m a lefty living next door to the “People’s Republic of Takoma Park” in Maryland. I’m pretty much in line with the thinking except I don’t favor a handgun ban (although I do favor licensing, waiting periods, eat.) ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-beliefs-match-the-area-you-live-in/734519/46 "2015-10-13T23:11:51Z")
I live in Mississippi. No. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-beliefs-match-the-area-you-live-in/734519/47 "2015-10-14T03:22:03Z")
> [@P-man](#): > > I"People’s Republic of Takoma Park" Hey, that’s where I went to junior high, as a Magnet (WE bring the gentrification to YOU!) student bused in from Gaithersburg. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-beliefs-match-the-area-you-live-in/734519/48 "2015-10-14T04:16:09Z")
I’m a liberal living in a liberal county, but directly across the street from me is a conservative, red-neck county. We literally live on the county line. But the city I live in is probably the most conservative city in the liberal county. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-beliefs-match-the-area-you-live-in/734519/49 "2015-10-14T05:33:46Z")
> [@P-man](#): > > I’m a lefty living next door to the “People’s Republic of Takoma Park” in Maryland. I’m pretty much in line with the thinking except I don’t favor a handgun ban (although I do favor licensing, waiting periods, eat.) I had dinner at the restaurant Republic in Takoma Park tonight and used to live there. To be honest, it’s losing a lot of it’s lefty character and is just becoming another close in affluent burb of DC. ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-beliefs-match-the-area-you-live-in/734519/50 "2015-10-14T07:17:18Z")
I live in the state of denial so I find my views to be very different from almost everyone around me. ---
**Author:** ![diggerwam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/919ad9/32.png) [@diggerwam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggerwam)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-beliefs-match-the-area-you-live-in/734519/51 "2015-10-14T10:52:23Z")
> [@pullin](#): > > Hard-right, affluent, Reagan Republican here. I prefer few-to-nonexistent gun laws, **severely limited welfare/safety net** , locally controlled schools, zero income tax, and draconian punishment of criminals including the frequent use of the death penalty. Waaay off topic, why would you prefer a limited safety net? When somebody falls on hard times, they deserve any external help they can get to get back to a pre-fallen position. Why would you tell people “tough shit”?? Extraordinarily heartless. ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-beliefs-match-the-area-you-live-in/734519/52 "2015-10-14T23:04:58Z")
> [@OneCentStamp](#): > > Hey, that’s where I went to junior high, as a Magnet (WE bring the gentrification to YOU!) student bused in from Gaithersburg. My kids went there (one magnet, one not). ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-beliefs-match-the-area-you-live-in/734519/53 "2015-10-14T23:20:14Z")
I’m a libertarian-leaning Republican - not a Free State Project or Occupy New Hampshire supporter, mind you - who is a little c Christian who lives in New Hampshire. There are too many liberals where I work (a college, so this was not a surprise going into the job) but people openly talk about religion with coworkers and neighbors about as often as their masturbatory habits, so on whole it’s okay. > [@diggerwam](#): > > Waaay off topic, why would you prefer a limited safety net? Do you know when the unemployment rate really started dropping after the 2008 recession? When they stopped extending unemployment. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-beliefs-match-the-area-you-live-in/734519/54 "2015-10-15T00:10:44Z")
Yes, thank gopod. I lived in a very Bible Belt Christian, very, very Red State area for many years. It was awful. I am so glad that I moved to the area I did. Much more liberal and secular, and I love it. ETA: I’m an atheist liberal socialist. If I’m going to be taxed all to hell (and I am), I want there to be a social safety net instead of corporate welfare. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-beliefs-match-the-area-you-live-in/734519/55 "2015-10-15T00:29:24Z")
> [@P-man](#): > > My kids went there (one magnet, one not). In that case, depending on their ages, I may have saved one of them from a wedgie from the other. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-beliefs-match-the-area-you-live-in/734519/56 "2015-10-15T06:24:00Z")
I live rural outside of Eugene, Oregon, a very liberal atheist. I fit in just fine in the town. More of a crap shoot with the rural neighbors – although liberal atheist types aren’t as rare out here as one might think. I’ve never really given a shit. No more Darwin fish on the car, though. ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-beliefs-match-the-area-you-live-in/734519/57 "2015-10-15T10:12:55Z")
> [@diggerwam](#): > > Waaay off topic, why would you prefer a limited safety net? When somebody falls on hard times, they deserve any external help they can get to get back to a pre-fallen position. Why would you tell people “tough shit”?? Extraordinarily heartless. Because the indolent will overload any source of “free” money once it’s made available. IIRC, the number of “disabled” people has increased by ~30% under the current administration, and the SSDI system is now bankrupt. I know damned well that 2 million people didn’t suddenly become disabled. They found a source of government largesse and showed up in droves. There is no government money, only other people’s money. As one of the other people, I’m ready to start saying “No”. ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-beliefs-match-the-area-you-live-in/734519/58 "2015-10-15T20:56:20Z")
> [@OneCentStamp](#): > > In that case, depending on their ages, I may have saved one of them from a wedgie from the other. 😛 They’re in HS now, so it’s unlikely you had any contact with either. Also, the one in the magnet was much bigger then (although he isn’t anymore). ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-beliefs-match-the-area-you-live-in/734519/59 "2015-10-15T21:48:46Z")
> [@DinoR](#): > > I’m strongly secular, classically to neo-classically liberal, economically center right, mildly libertarian. a supporter of both religious freedom acts and SSM, and a strongly foreign policy focused Republican. When the party platforms come out next summer I will strongly disagree with a large chunk of both of them. There will be another big chunk where they are closer to my views but still miss the mark. In several cases i will disagree with both parties stand on the same issue. There’s no place in the US that matches my views closely. > > People are people though. I don’t feel a need to agree with everyone about everything in order to deal with them. Being in a fictional town of people who all believed almost what I did would be boring anyway. A lot of this is also applicable to me though to a large extent my political view is the inverse of yours considering I’m a New Deal liberal/traditional right-wing social democratic (think Gaitskell not Blair), social nationalist, strongly anti-abortion and anti gun-control, generally sceptical of faddish social liberalism in general (although with the aforementioned exceptions I’m socially liberal in pure policy terms) and liberal internationalist old-school Democrat. I go to Brandeis University so while I fit into the overall political orientation of liberalism including supporting Bernie Sanders and the like, my actual worldview has little in common with the Tumblristas who’d immediately denounce me as a cisheterosexist white imperialist capitalist shitlord should I start discussing my opposition to abortion or my scepticism of modern SJWism in general although there’s a reasonable core of what I like to call “sober liberals” whom one can seriously discuss politics even if I don’t agree on every issue. I’m probably more in accord with the larger surround area of the city of Waltham and Boston metro which has a surprising number of Catholic working-class populist types (there’s quite a few anti-abortion Massachusetts state legislators and even Stephen Lynch in Congress was one until recently). My area of Orange County, California isn’t as conservative as some people would like to think due to being majority Hispanic and Asian at this point most of whom are standard liberals with some exceptions (such as evangelical Christian Koreans of whom at the least younger ones nonetheless vote Democratic) are closer to my own views. ---
**Author:** ![seal\_cleaner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@seal\_cleaner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seal_cleaner)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-beliefs-match-the-area-you-live-in/734519/60 "2015-10-15T22:59:27Z")
Atheist socialist living in the town that brought you the Duggars. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-beliefs-match-the-area-you-live-in/734519.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-beliefs-match-the-area-you-live-in/734519.md?page=4)