# It sucks to be a moderate **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 3, 2010, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-sucks-to-be-a-moderate/549072 "2010-08-03T23:15:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-sucks-to-be-a-moderate/549072/21 "2010-08-04T00:27:19Z")
I’ll pour. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-sucks-to-be-a-moderate/549072/22 "2010-08-04T00:28:12Z")
Congratulations on passing your exams. Now go sleep it off. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-sucks-to-be-a-moderate/549072/23 "2010-08-04T00:34:19Z")
A majority of Americans are moderates. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-sucks-to-be-a-moderate/549072/24 "2010-08-04T00:42:50Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > A majority of Americans are moderates. Absolutely. We got the Canadians in the west and the Mexicans in the north, so we are right there in the middle. ---
**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:** [August 4, 2010, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-sucks-to-be-a-moderate/549072/25 "2010-08-04T00:51:42Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > A majority of Americans are moderates. Extremely moderate, in fact. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-sucks-to-be-a-moderate/549072/26 "2010-08-04T01:15:26Z")
I think I might be pissed off, but I’m too bored to be sure. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-sucks-to-be-a-moderate/549072/27 "2010-08-04T01:19:20Z")
Just stick to what you believe. There’s no rule that says 1. if you ascribe to “this one thing” that 2. you have to go along with all the rest of the baggage too. No matter what side you take, someone will accuse you of not being “pure enough” - meaning not extreme or rabid enough. Aw hell, just go with good old Austin 3:16 ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-sucks-to-be-a-moderate/549072/28 "2010-08-04T01:24:45Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > A majority of Americans are moderates. [Not true.](http://people-press.org/report/?pageid=949) ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-sucks-to-be-a-moderate/549072/29 "2010-08-04T01:28:57Z")
“What makes a man turn neutral? Lust for gold? Power? Or were you just born with a heart full of neutrality?” -Zapp Branigan ---
**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:** [August 4, 2010, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-sucks-to-be-a-moderate/549072/30 "2010-08-04T01:38:05Z")
[QUOTE=Richard Parker] Being a moderate does, however, give you the opportunity for holier-than-thou posturing with respect to perceived ideologues. Don’t forget to take advantage of that [/QUOTE] It’s the little joys that make life worth living… -XT ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tao_s_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-sucks-to-be-a-moderate/549072/31 "2010-08-04T03:21:30Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > Everybody can tell me to fuck off if you don’t like this. I’m used to that. Being a moderate means pissing everybody off. The following aren’t things posted on this board, they’re just included to help you get the general idea. > > “This whole illegal immigration brehaha is a touch ridiculous” I’m a commie. > > “I know the disaster in the gulf is bad, but we need to keep drilling” Apparently, I kill sea turtles. > > “Gay marriage? Why not?” Why do I hate American values? > > “On the whole, firearms are a good thing for citizens to have” I should join a militia. > > I guess my point is that we should move away from categories and political platforms. Also, I just got done with my Nursing finals (A’s!.. well one B). Not bad for second career. And I’m kinda drubk right now. > ’ Aside from the oil thing (you turtle murdering rat bastard) I agree with that stuff, I don’t consider myself moderate all! Congrats on the finals though! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-sucks-to-be-a-moderate/549072/32 "2010-08-04T03:52:27Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > Everybody can tell me to fuck off if you don’t like this. I’m used to that. Being a moderate means pissing everybody off. The following aren’t things posted on this board, they’re just included to help you get the general idea. > > “This whole illegal immigration brehaha is a touch ridiculous” I’m a commie. > > “I know the disaster in the gulf is bad, but we need to keep drilling” Apparently, I kill sea turtles. > > “Gay marriage? Why not?” Why do I hate American values? > > “On the whole, firearms are a good thing for citizens to have” I should join a militia. > > I guess my point is that we should move away from categories and political platforms. Also, I just got done with my Nursing finals (A’s!.. well one B). Not bad for second career. And I’m kinda drubk right now. > ’ It’s okay to have opinions, even if they don’t march down the party line. Lots of people would have you believe otherwise. I own guns, voted for Obama, think Pelosi is a harpy, deplore the way children are pampered, and own a cat. I don’t apologize for any of the views I hold, popular or not. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-sucks-to-be-a-moderate/549072/33 "2010-08-04T04:03:09Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > > [@Richard\_Parker](#): > > > > Being a moderate does, however, give you the opportunity for holier-than-thou posturing with respect to perceived ideologues. Don’t forget to take advantage of that. > > Now that I think about it, I DO think it gives me a holier- than - thou - thou posture, because I think that anybody who thinks they are holier than thou are not, which gets me thinking that I’m not correct in thinking I’m holier than thou who is holier than thou. But that can’t be true because your’re thou and I’m me. And I’m an idiot. I’m not holier than anybody. I have a related problem. I inevitably see both sides of every issue, and it drives people nuts (and, to be honest, me too). But I feel strongly about both views: \*\*Abortion is WRONG! God loves life! _Making decisions for a woman is WRONG, TOO! God loves free will! \* And there’s evidence that **life begins at conception/life begins at birth** , so how can **you/me/you over there** be so closed-minded?_\* And I’ve got enough cites to argue with either side, or all twenty of the people at a party… ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-sucks-to-be-a-moderate/549072/34 "2010-08-04T04:07:36Z")
But I’m not moderate on the question of “Should you start a pit thread when it’s suppertime on a Tuesday night and you’re _ **already kinda drubk** _?” ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-sucks-to-be-a-moderate/549072/35 "2010-08-04T04:25:37Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > Just stick to what you believe. There’s no rule that says > > 1. if you ascribe to “this one thing” > that > 2. you have to go along with all the rest of the baggage too. > > No matter what side you take, someone will accuse you of not being “pure enough” - meaning not extreme or rabid enough. > > Aw hell, just go with good old Austin 3:16 Does holding views on both sides of the spectrum mean you are a moderate? Well the orthodoxy of the left and right does have some wierd results. On the right, you have: Single issue voters who suddenly have strong opinions on taxes, global warming, the regulation of businesses, and have developed a tolerance for racism from their peers; Libertarians who suddenly have a problem with gay marriage, abortion, vice and have developed a tolerance for racism from their peers; Racists who suddenly care about the constitution. On the left you don’t have the same melding of views but you do have some odd inconsistencies: Gays who think homosexuality is genetic and intelligence is not; Blacks who think gays are asking for too many rights and have a problem with brown people; Folks who read the second amendment out of the constitution and the right to abortion in. (its a bit harder to find the melding of ideas among the liberals, I don’t know if this is because they don’t have party discipline or if this is WHY they don’t have party discipline). ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-sucks-to-be-a-moderate/549072/36 "2010-08-04T04:37:25Z")
Speaking as a self-identified moderate, I think both the liberals and the conservatives have the wrong idea. Both sides feel that the answer to any problem is to go further in whichever direction they chosen. A moderate is more flexible - when things have gone too far to the left, we pull them back towards the right and when things have gone too far to the right, we pull them back towards the left. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-sucks-to-be-a-moderate/549072/37 "2010-08-04T04:56:03Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > (its a bit harder to find the melding of ideas among the liberals, I don’t know if this is because they don’t have party discipline or if this is WHY they don’t have party discipline). “I am not a member of any organized political party. I am a Democrat.” - Will Rogers ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-sucks-to-be-a-moderate/549072/38 "2010-08-04T04:57:10Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Speaking as a self-identified moderate, I think both the liberals and the conservatives have the wrong idea. Both sides feel that the answer to any problem is to go further in whichever direction they chosen. A moderate is more flexible - when things have gone too far to the left, we pull them back towards the right and when things have gone too far to the right, we pull them back towards the left. How exactly is that accomplished? Always voting for the party out of power? It can’t have anything to do with incumbency, given the rates. It sounds close to the “gridlock is good” theory. Maybe that is the path. The less these fuckers are allowed to legislate, the better. ---
**Author:** ![US\_Bureau\_of\_Labor\_Statistics](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/c2a13f/32.png) [@US\_Bureau\_of\_Labor\_Statistics](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/US_Bureau_of_Labor_Statistics)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-sucks-to-be-a-moderate/549072/39 "2010-08-04T05:53:26Z")
A staunch conservative and staunch liberal were in a lifeboat after their Bipartisan Cruise wrecked at sea. They’d been floating for three days, hadn’t been rescued yet, and just ran out of all the food and water they managed to bring on board. The conservative proposed a daring plan of action: drill a 4-inch hole in the boat. The liberal didn’t want to drill any hole, so for a while, there was gridlock between the two. However, eventually the liberal relented and said “here’s a compromise,” and agreed to drill only a 2-inch hole. ^^^ That’s how us extremists view your positions. Things should either have a Right or Wrong answer, and it’s riding the fence to say “well each side has some good things,” and you’re going to end up sinking the whole damn boat anyway if you don’t pick The Right Answer. P.S. Yes, the liberal in my hypothetical was a Democrat. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-sucks-to-be-a-moderate/549072/40 "2010-08-04T06:37:11Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Speaking as a self-identified moderate, I think both the liberals and the conservatives have the wrong idea. Both sides feel that the answer to any problem is to go further in whichever direction they chosen. A moderate is more flexible - when things have gone too far to the left, we pull them back towards the right and when things have gone too far to the right, we pull them back towards the left. My take on that is that in elections I root for the liberals in Alabama and the conservatives in San Francisco. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-sucks-to-be-a-moderate/549072.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-sucks-to-be-a-moderate/549072.md?page=3)