I would describe myself politically as a conservative who has many Libertarian leanings. I like a strong military, and generally approve of the Iraq invasion, but believe the Patriot Act poses grave threats to civil liberties and would prefer to see ten American cities go up in nuclear smoke before surrendering the slightest, freedom in the Bill of Rights. I’m anti-abortion, pro second amendment, but also believe in legalized drugs and prostitution. In any case I feel as if the political split is about 60-20-20 with sixty percent being left of center, 20% being moderate, and 20% some variation of conservative at the Dope. Is this in the ballpark or am I being paranoid. Honestly, I see more conservative thought at my University (which is one of the most liberal in Indiana). Over all I think the country is somewhat evenly split between right and left and I’ve read that the Internet is usually considered biased to the right so it seems strange that this site would be any different. On the other hand when my brother (who was a rapid Republican when he lived in Indianapolis) became a Democrat when he moved to Palantine IL. because he said that being conservative in Chicago was like being Catholic in Salt Lake City (you know there has to be other Catholics out there, but darned if you meet them). So if there are a disproportionate number of Chicago area participants that could account for the perceived situation.
Apparently the average Doper is to the left of the American political center. Since he’s to the right of the Swedish political center, I, as a Swede, always chuckle some whenever someone complains that this board is leftist. Brother, I’d like to say, you have no idea how bad it could be.
[sub]Lest someone misunderstands, I’m to the left of the Swedish political center.[/sub]
Just curious, have you had personal conversations with any of the members? I’ve found it’s a good way to feel less like a stranger if you make a friend or two. Often making one friend leads to making many more. Friends are great to have, even if you don’t have that much in common with them.
I’ve been back on this board for scarcely two days after a hiatus of nearly two years, and I’ve already talked to a couple of people. I’ve also found a few people I may never be friends with, but I suppose that’s to be expected. There are plenty of people out there who are really quite friendly and willing to let you become a part of their lives. Heck, if you’d like, I’ll be one. I’m here all the time, and I’ve got nothing to do but talk to people. 
I’m not saying Dopers are unfriendly just to the left of what I’m used to (which would be Allnurses, not that nurses are known as a particularly conservative bunch of people). It could be that my perceptions are not correct and that this is a centrist or even right of center (American Political center that is) board.
Ummm, which American cities in particular did you have in mind?
Gah !!! They are here!!! Run for your lives 
I think the split is pretty close to what you describe.
There are a few from the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy hereabouts - Sam Stone, Abbie Carmichael, Mr. Moto, manhattan, Dewey Cheatham und Howe, Scylla, Bricker, others - but we are pretty outnumbered. Don’t know what to say besides “get used to it”, but thru sheer Darwinism the ones who remain (apart from me) tend to be well up there in terms of intelligence and articulateness - to go with the thick hide necessary.
You have to accept a certain level of sniping and drive-bys that you wouldn’t get if you indulge in the ritual Bush-bashing, but if you stick around, you might learn something.
Regards,
Shodan
You forgot, **Starving Artist, Uncommon Sense, Bosda, **and BRUTUS.
Anyway, just stick to your guns yet have an open mind. God knows I’ve changed mine a time or two since I’ve been here. Others, not so much.
Roland, I’ll admit to being a proud member of the VRWC, however, I usually don’t chime in when political topics are being discussed or debated. That is not because I feel “outnumbered” or anything, it’s only because I find it extremely difficult to put into the written word what I’m thinking, and harbor an irrational (?) fear of coming across like an idiot. 
I’m fairly conservative, and this comes through in much of my posting, but I frequently will suppress the impulse to post in the more controversial threads, more or less on the basis of “who needs the headache”.
R.D. I agree w/ your political POV almost 100% (not sure about prositution, but not out of the question), and I have noticed (my personal O) that the left leaning members are more vocal, and also have a sort of arrogants (sorry) about them which they ‘look down’ upon non-PC views.
I consider myself a liberal. I grew up in Berkeley, I can’t help it. I also like to think I have some centrist tendencies – I’m pretty pro-military, I think. But if I were to come up with a ratio for the folks around here, I’d hazard something like 75-15-10. It’s really out of whack, which is unfortunate.
Fortunately, the conservatives who are active participants on the board are great to have around. If I were to make a short list of Dopers (of whatever political stripe) that I enjoy reading, I’m willing to bet it’d be a subset of the lists circulated above. No, I’m not going to tell who is on it and who isn’t. 
I hope you guys don’t get discouraged. If a handful of you all left, I’d probably move on, too. It’d be pretty lame to feel like I’m the right wing zealot for not supporting legalization of all drugs.
I couldn’t help but chuckle at this.
I deeply resent being clubbed together with the Bush-oids.
Especially because I am against–
[ul]
[li]The Patriot Act[/li][li]Prayer in school[/li][li]The infringement on our rights in the name of somebody else’s morality[/li][li]censorship[/li][li]The War[/li][li]The War On Drugs[/li][li]The War On Fun[/li][li]The War On The American Workingman[/li][/ul]
To the OP: how about not basing your sense of self on a politically-oriented ideology? Then you won’t feel so lonely around people whose political opinions differ from yours.
Among things to be personally identified with, politics, and political parties in particular, are among the most pathetically superficial.
Have you not found that arguments tend to stand or fall on their own merits here?
If so, there’s nothing to complain about.
I’d say your perception is accurate. More accurately, I’d say your perception and my perception agree, although saying 20% are conservative probably overestimates the number. (Of course, with the exception of Iraq, we are not too far apart.) I think it is mostly because the majority of the board is young, and the young are again more liberal than the old. Colleges in particular are very liberal (despite the comment about Indianna schools above), and a fair number of posters are students.
It is not as one sided as it could be though. I went to grad school in Boulder in the 80’s. I’m sure there was a Republican party in Boulder; I just never met or read of a member.
:dubious:
:dubious:
Roland, the following is merely an opinion, and certainly not intended to offend (on preview, it doesn’t look like I might, but I wanted to be sure):
I would say you feel slightly alone is because my impression of you as a poster is someone who starts a *ton * of threads, but I don’t see participate in other areas of the board. That could just be because I’m in different threads, which is fine - please disregard. But it seems that a lot of new posters that have a hard time assimilating are the ones that come in and flood the board with a bunch of threads before they get their feet wet in the community aspect of the board. Ultimately, I think you may be trying too hard.
Your political beliefs don’t bar you from making friends here. As long as you are cordial and civil in debates and disagreements, few rational people here will outright dislike you. To me, jerkish behavior knows no party lines, and is not limited to any particular race, creed, or geographic location. One thing I have observed on the SDMB is that the community is far more critical about how you treat others, how you cite/back up your arguments, and having the guts to apologize when you are out of line.
Unfortunately some individuals who are fond of living under bridges try to make it look like the SDMB hates right-wingers/Christians/etc. I find this to be largely untrue; it is the behavior of the poster that defines them in the community, not their political beliefs.
I think the OP is about right… but soon after the election there were tons of “hidden” conservatives that stopped just lurking. I think most conservatives keep more to than themselves than “leftists”. Why ? Intimidated… lack of writing skills… or just don’t care ?
I think the SMDB is a good place to test the endurance of your ideas. Way too many people just beleive in what others around them beleive… with little thought or reflection. In the SMDB you will get pounded for sure… but hopefully you will either become a moderate/leftist or you will be more analytical and understanding of your right wing political creeds.
Now I think by keeping quiet in the SMDB the "political right" is being disconsiderate to the rest. Why ? I think if people don't get exposed to good ideas from other angles and a chance to review their beliefs... we don't grow as much. My biased self says that your "loneliness" is due to a lack of intelligent right wingers who can cut it out here... my more moderate self says that its a pity we don't have more right wingers that can bring balance to the discussion.
(BTW I’m Brazilian and I would be condisered centrist with right leaning in Brazil… and in the US I’d be moderate/libertarian with left leaning.)