# Is this Message Board left-leaning or right? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 16, 2005, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-message-board-left-leaning-or-right/331377 "2005-11-16T20:33:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_stamos_left_ear/32/3198_2.png) [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-message-board-left-leaning-or-right/331377/1 "2005-11-16T20:33:12Z")
I’m new in these parts but I’ve been reading a lot trying to decide if the place is worth taking a flyer on and I’ve come to the conclusion that I cannot come to a conclusion. :smack: I’m reasonably sure that there is a mix of voices present here but what is the average poster here like politically, a Democrat or Republican? Or is this like the media where each side claims the other has the influence and scoffs when that is presented the other way… (For the record, my decision on paying does not depend on the answer to this so no need to send out the lobbyists… :)) ---
**Author:** ![John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_stamos_left_ear/32/3198_2.png) [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-message-board-left-leaning-or-right/331377/2 "2005-11-16T20:34:35Z")
Egads, it just occured to me that this might not be posted in the right forum… I was actually referring to this particular forum and saw how the question would probably lead to a debate in and of itself. Apologies if this was off topic… ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-message-board-left-leaning-or-right/331377/3 "2005-11-16T20:39:45Z")
[Slightly leftist, moderately libertarian (-1.26, -3.63).](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=330918) ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-message-board-left-leaning-or-right/331377/4 "2005-11-16T20:41:39Z")
> [@SentientMeat](#): > > [Slightly leftist, moderately libertarian (-1.26, -3.63).](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=330918) Assuming that test is accurate. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-message-board-left-leaning-or-right/331377/5 "2005-11-16T20:43:45Z")
We’ve had lots of debates about that subject… There are many non-US posters here, especially European, Canadian and Australian. Those countries are, on average, to the left of the US, so that introduces a leftward slant, relative to the US center. If you look at things economically and socially, you will find many right and many left leaning economic types, and many left leaning social types, but very few right leaning social types. For example, many of the posters here who are labeled “conservative” support same sex marriage. To your typical American, this board would appear pretty left leaning, especially in the social sphere. Not that social conservatives are unheard of, they’re just much rarer here than in the US as a whole. You will probably find that if any group is overrepresented here , it’s those who lean towards a libertarian philosophy. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-message-board-left-leaning-or-right/331377/6 "2005-11-16T20:45:43Z")
> [@SentientMeat](#): > > [Slightly leftist, moderately libertarian (-1.26, -3.63).](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=330918) To an American, that will seem like more than a “slight” lean, since that test was designed by Europeans. (And we all know how they lean! 🙂 ) ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-message-board-left-leaning-or-right/331377/7 "2005-11-16T20:48:19Z")
Well, let’s see: this is a gathering place for intelligent people seeking to dispel ignorance and find the truth. So yeah, it leans to the left. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-message-board-left-leaning-or-right/331377/8 "2005-11-16T20:52:48Z")
I tend to think of this board as neither left nor right, but in front. 🙂 Of course, that’s also the motto of the Green Party… Seriously, this place tends to be biased in favour of citable facts. Which tends to knock the legs out from under people whose arguments are based on emotional, irrational, or other non-factual appeals. ---
**Author:** ![John\_F](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/43a26b/32.png) [@John\_F](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_F)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-message-board-left-leaning-or-right/331377/9 "2005-11-16T20:53:41Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > To your typical American, this board would appear pretty left leaning, especially in the social sphere. I’m a typical American that has been here a few weeks and agree. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-message-board-left-leaning-or-right/331377/10 "2005-11-16T21:11:18Z")
> [@John F](#): > > I’m a typical American… It’s about time you got here. We’ve been waiting for you. Boy, do we have LOT’S of questions… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-message-board-left-leaning-or-right/331377/11 "2005-11-16T21:16:36Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > To an American, that will seem like more than a “slight” lean, since that test was designed by Europeans. (And we all know how they lean! 🙂 ) Hey, John, I am not prepared to get into an argument about the Political Compass and whether or not it is biased. But do me a favor: Google up “Jerry Pournelle” and “Pournelle axes” and see if you think **he’s** biased. (In fact, that might make an interesting discussion in and of itself.) ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-message-board-left-leaning-or-right/331377/12 "2005-11-16T21:28:45Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > Hey, John, I am not prepared to get into an argument about the Political Compass and whether or not it is biased. But do me a favor: Google up “Jerry Pournelle” and “Pournelle axes” and see if you think **he’s** biased. (In fact, that might make an interesting discussion in and of itself.) “Pournelle” sounds suspiciouly French… 🙂 I’m familiar with him, but I’m not really sure what your point is about “bias”. I never used that term, but in this context it’s impossible to avoid, and not necessarily bad. Any political measurement has to be measured in reference to something. There is no objective center, especially if we’re talking about international politics. The most carefully “unbiased” chart has to put 0,0 somewhere, so even if the questions themselves are perfect, you still have to pick a center, and that is going to not only be somewhat arbitrary, but is going to vary from country to country. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-message-board-left-leaning-or-right/331377/13 "2005-11-16T21:49:54Z")
> [@spoke-](#): > > Well, let’s see: this is a gathering place for intelligent people seeking to dispel ignorance and find the truth. > > So yeah, it leans to the left. 🙂 Hah! What a clever, witty and heretofore unknown thought. Would that I could be so original. In re: the OP, ISTM there’s been a definite influx of conservatives in the last month or three. Some have been quite thoughful and therefore welcome, others less so. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-message-board-left-leaning-or-right/331377/14 "2005-11-16T22:00:32Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > We’ve had lots of debates about that subject… > > There are many non-US posters here, especially European, Canadian and Australian. Those countries are, on average, to the left of the US, so that introduces a leftward slant, relative to the US center. > > If you look at things economically and socially, you will find many right and many left leaning economic types, and many left leaning social types, but very few right leaning social types. For example, many of the posters here who are labeled “conservative” support same sex marriage. To your typical American, this board would appear pretty left leaning, especially in the social sphere. Not that social conservatives are unheard of, they’re just much rarer here than in the US as a whole. > > You will probably find that if any group is overrepresented here , it’s those who lean towards a libertarian philosophy. And there’s a reason for that. Social conservatives got NOTHING in the area of rationality to lean on. They get pummelled senseless on the rare occasions when they pipe up on the issues.that define them (as they should). I wouldnt’ be surprised to learn that there are social conservatives posting on MPSIMS or Cafe Society or General Questions, but who don’t post in Great Debates or the Pit or IMHO on social conservatism issues. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-message-board-left-leaning-or-right/331377/15 "2005-11-16T22:08:16Z")
> [@Evil Captor](#): > > And there’s a reason for that. Social conservatives got NOTHING in the area of rationality to lean on. They get pummelled senseless on the rare occasions when they pipe up on the issues.that define them (as they should). I’m not so sure about that first part. But I do agree that there are certain posters who get pummelled senseless on a regular basis around here. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-message-board-left-leaning-or-right/331377/16 "2005-11-16T22:08:32Z")
The only extreme that is not over-represented here is the extreme Right. They get shouted down and piled on until they leave. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-message-board-left-leaning-or-right/331377/17 "2005-11-16T22:09:37Z")
Left leaning compared to what? By who’s yardstick? Seems you mean by the US’s. In that case I’d say its definitely left leaning, with a majority of posters probably being ‘independant’ but leaning towards the Democrat party (though I’m not sure anyone has ever asked that particular question…i.e. are you are Democrat, Republican or Other). As others have said the board leans ‘left’ (using US standards) on social issues…heavily in fact as only a few folks are socially conservative on this board (there are a lot of Libertarian/libertarian’s on this board…including your’s truely). Economically I’d say the board may actually lean a bit ‘right’ or be more fiscally conservative, though maybe a more accurate reading is that its all over the board but more posters are right of center economically than left. Those who are left though are WAY left. 😉 -XT ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-message-board-left-leaning-or-right/331377/18 "2005-11-16T22:21:18Z")
> [@furt](#): > > Hah! What a clever, witty and heretofore unknown thought. Would that I could be so original. My observation was trite and true. ---
**Author:** ![Rune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e68b1a/32.png) [@Rune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rune)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-message-board-left-leaning-or-right/331377/19 "2005-11-16T22:25:27Z")
> [@spoke-](#): > > My observation was trite and true. One out of two isn’t so bad. Wasn’t there a SDMB poll before the last US presidental election which found Kerry got something like 136% of the votes? ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-message-board-left-leaning-or-right/331377/20 "2005-11-16T22:37:46Z")
Well, I don’t know about 136%, but there were several polls showing a heavy leaning towards Kerry. There was also a thread a while ago (not SM’s thread another one) that showed a distribution of dopers on a political scale…and it showed a definite left leaning bent (left leaning by US standards…probably radically right wing by certain Euro standards 😉 ). -XT [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-message-board-left-leaning-or-right/331377.md?page=2)