# Part II of Does the board lean left? (This is not a pit thread!) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 25, 2008, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-ii-of-does-the-board-lean-left-this-is-not-a-pit-thread/465125 "2008-09-25T05:57:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-ii-of-does-the-board-lean-left-this-is-not-a-pit-thread/465125/1 "2008-09-25T05:57:50Z")
[Previous thread.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=483802) Thanks to an excellent suggestion by **Chronos** in the earlier thread I have randomly selected 50 posts from the past week based purely on selecting a random integer between two post numbers posted one week apart. As before, this is intended to give us a snapshot of the personality of the board. Since I didn’t feel like sending out fifty PMs, I read each post looking for political content and assigned a numerical value depending on what I read. Each post was given a value of 1, 2, or 3 coresponding to politically left, neutral or right. This is of course not ideal since it largely depends on my opinion, but I will post my data set so anyone who believes my views are skewed is free to see how far apart we really are. The results are as follows: Left - 10 Neutral - 38 Right - 2 Mean - 1.84 Median - 2 Mode - 2 Left:Right - 5:1 My conclusion is that the board content is overwhelmingly neutral but does lean slightly left. However, in politically charged threads there is a much stronger bias possibly an 80/20 left/right split. The data (post numbers only but I do have the poster names if anyone wants them and doesn’t feel like viewing 50 threads) is as follows: ```auto 10212496 10212568 10213151 10213403 10213629 10214566 10215188 10216034 10216662 10216871 10217017 10217164 10218117 10218481 10219073 10219108 10219383 10219386 10219440 10219468 10220532 10221592 10222539 10222722 10223222 10223785 10224066 10225138 10226331 10227138 10228388 10228667 10229923 10230366 10230680 10230691 10230789 10230981 10232428 10232449 10232589 10232597 10233788 10233954 10233986 10234094 10234603 10236070 10237142 10238644 ``` Since the results seem to match the opinions posted in the previous thread, I don’t expect there to be much to talk about here. However, I would love to discuss my methodology or entertain suggestions on other things to do with this data. (Please don’t tell me where to stick it. I already considered all the options and have ruled them out.) Finally, reading 50 posts out of context is pretty weird. I recommend it. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-ii-of-does-the-board-lean-left-this-is-not-a-pit-thread/465125/2 "2008-09-25T08:20:17Z")
Since most posts won’t be of a political nature, that seems to rather inflate the middle. You’re also adding a lot of personal bias into the mix. You’d do better to count how many people will vote for Obama vs. McCain vs. Don’t Care/Swing if you don’t want to PM people. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-ii-of-does-the-board-lean-left-this-is-not-a-pit-thread/465125/3 "2008-09-25T12:05:40Z")
> [@Sage Rat](#): > > You’d do better to count how many people will vote for Obama vs. McCain vs. Don’t Care/Swing if you don’t want to PM people. As of this morning, 5 for McCain; 71 for Obama. Do the math. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-ii-of-does-the-board-lean-left-this-is-not-a-pit-thread/465125/4 "2008-09-25T12:24:57Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > As of this morning, 5 for McCain; 71 for Obama. > > Do the math. > > Regards, > Shodan **Shodan** , I assume you are getting these numbers from the thread asking posters who they will vote for. The problem with that is that sample is self-selected and this might have an effect on the results. **Sage Rat** , I kind of don’t want to send 50 PMs (that doesn’t violate board rules does it?), but I will if I am convinced that anyone might find that useful. I still maintain that this shows that more than half of the content of boards is politically neutral. That is, of course, based on my opinion, but until someone else goes through those 50 posts and comes to a radically different conclusion my opinion is all we have. I don’t believe another view is forthcoming since it was pretty easy in most cases to assign neutral values to posts about cat pics and recipes. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-ii-of-does-the-board-lean-left-this-is-not-a-pit-thread/465125/5 "2008-09-25T12:48:54Z")
> [@Lance\_Turbo](#): > > **Sage Rat** , I kind of don’t want to send 50 PMs (that doesn’t violate board rules does it?), but I will if I am convinced that anyone might find that useful. This whole study isn’t _useful_. But the point of the board is in fighting ignorance, which includes fighting poor methodology. > [@](#): > > I still maintain that this shows that more than half of the content of boards is politically neutral. That is, of course, based on my opinion, but until someone else goes through those 50 posts and comes to a radically different conclusion my opinion is all we have. I don’t believe another view is forthcoming since it was pretty easy in most cases to assign neutral values to posts about cat pics and recipes. What about a post about a cat lead you to the assumption that the poster is apolitical? People with political beliefs can’t chat on other topics even the majority of the time? I’d be fairly willing to bet that if you recorded everything Senator Obama said in a day, a good 50% of the time he wouldn’t be mentioning politics at all. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Carter_of_Mars)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-ii-of-does-the-board-lean-left-this-is-not-a-pit-thread/465125/6 "2008-09-25T12:49:51Z")
> [@](#): > > I still maintain that this shows that more than half of the content of boards is politically neutral. I’m not surprised that more than half the _content_ is politically neutral. After all, most threads aren’t political. The 80/20 left/right positions of _posters_ here may, IMHO, be somewhat understating the left lean. **Shodan** ’s 71/5 left lean seems more in line with my guess after seven years of reading threads here. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-ii-of-does-the-board-lean-left-this-is-not-a-pit-thread/465125/7 "2008-09-25T13:44:49Z")
> [@Lance\_Turbo](#): > > **Shodan** , I assume you are getting these numbers from the thread asking posters who they will vote for. The problem with that is that sample is self-selected and this might have an effect on the results. Level of activity on the board in terms of number of posts is self-selected. > [@](#): > > I still maintain that this shows that more than half of the content of boards is politically neutral. That is, of course, based on my opinion, but until someone else goes through those 50 posts and comes to a radically different conclusion my opinion is all we have. I don’t believe another view is forthcoming since it was pretty easy in most cases to assign neutral values to posts about cat pics and recipes. That is sort of beside the point, don’t you think? Nobody is suggesting that fora like CS or ATMB are filled with posts excoriating Republicans. GD and the Pit, on the other hand, are overwhelmingly left of center by practically any measure you can name. I think that is what people mean when they say that the SDMB leans left. Several of the fora are places where political opinions are expressly forbidden. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-ii-of-does-the-board-lean-left-this-is-not-a-pit-thread/465125/8 "2008-09-25T13:50:40Z")
Allow me to clarify my points: 1. The content of the board is made up of posts not posters. 2. A large majority of those posts are politically neutral (~75%). 3. Political posts seem to be split about 5:1 left:right. Do you disagree with any of those statements? Would it be useful to try to determine the political leanings of the authors (essentially chosen at random weighted by posting frequency) of those posts? ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-ii-of-does-the-board-lean-left-this-is-not-a-pit-thread/465125/9 "2008-09-25T14:00:56Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Level of activity on the board in terms of number of posts is self-selected. Of course it is, but it is that particular self selection that I’m trying to measure. > [@Shodan](#): > > That is sort of beside the point, don’t you think? Nobody is suggesting that fora like CS or ATMB are filled with posts excoriating Republicans. GD and the Pit, on the other hand, are overwhelmingly left of center by practically any measure you can name. > > I think that is what people mean when they say that the SDMB leans left. Several of the fora are places where political opinions are expressly forbidden. This is my point. People say the board leans left when they mean political discourse on the board leans left and for some reason this annoys me. Furthermore, when people talk about how far left the board leans they generally exagerate it. I’ve seen claims of 49:1 and there’s at least one claim in this very thread of about 14:1. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-ii-of-does-the-board-lean-left-this-is-not-a-pit-thread/465125/10 "2008-09-25T14:27:11Z")
> [@Lance\_Turbo](#): > > This is my point. People say the board leans left when they mean political discourse on the board leans left and for some reason this annoys me. Then maybe we don’t disagree very much. Like you said, not many people believe cat pictures are political. But again, that is not much of a point. As **Sage Rat** mentions, no doubt most of Obama’s conversation over the course of a day is non-political. Does that tell you that overall, he doesn’t lean left? > [@](#): > > Furthermore, when people talk about how far left the board leans they generally exagerate it. I’ve seen claims of 49:1 and there’s at least one claim in this very thread of about 14:1. In political threads and on certain topics in particular, fourteen to one doesn’t sound too far off. Five McCain voters out of seventy six total? Like I said, do the math. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-ii-of-does-the-board-lean-left-this-is-not-a-pit-thread/465125/11 "2008-09-25T14:47:47Z")
Just an opinion: I think political discourse leans left because. . . well, there’s something about leftist brain wiring that makes them louder. Usually when you see protest groups, it’s a leftist type demonstration. Also, looking at various pit postings, you see lots of left-leaners that apparently post every time they see a news story mentioning a “rightist,” along with a cacophony of “Me, Too! I am outraged!” Again, a protest group gathers within the thread. If I see a news story about some leftist type saying or doing something dumb, I just note to myself, “Well, that was dumb.” I don’t feel a “need” to make it public, or to elicit chants of affirmation. So it follows that most of the political discourse has a leftist bent to it. That’s just the way it is. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-ii-of-does-the-board-lean-left-this-is-not-a-pit-thread/465125/12 "2008-09-25T18:13:07Z")
> [@Lance\_Turbo](#): > > This is my point. People say the board leans left when they mean political discourse on the board leans left and for some reason this annoys me. Well, then, you’re pretty easily annoyed. How can anything _except_ political discourse lean left? You’re right, raging moderation rules the threads about kittens. I’ll be sure to point that out the next time we discuss the political orientation of the Board. ---
**Author:** ![ArizonaTeach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@ArizonaTeach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArizonaTeach)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-ii-of-does-the-board-lean-left-this-is-not-a-pit-thread/465125/13 "2008-09-25T18:40:56Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Then maybe we don’t disagree very much. Like you said, not many people believe cat pictures are political. Well, cats are evil. So are liberals. (+1 right-leaning post!) ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-ii-of-does-the-board-lean-left-this-is-not-a-pit-thread/465125/14 "2008-09-25T19:57:13Z")
> [@ArizonaTeach](#): > > Well, cats are evil. > > So are liberals. > > (+1 right-leaning post!) You mean “liberals are pussies”, don’t you? 😃 Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-ii-of-does-the-board-lean-left-this-is-not-a-pit-thread/465125/15 "2008-09-25T23:17:06Z")
> [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](#): > > Just an opinion: > > I think political discourse leans left because. . . well, there’s something about leftist brain wiring that makes them louder. Usually when you see protest groups, it’s a leftist type demonstration. Also, looking at various pit postings, you see lots of left-leaners that apparently post every time they see a news story mentioning a “rightist,” along with a cacophony of “Me, Too! I am outraged!” Again, a protest group gathers within the thread. If I see a news story about some leftist type saying or doing something dumb, I just note to myself, “Well, that was dumb.” I don’t feel a “need” to make it public, or to elicit chants of affirmation. So it follows that most of the political discourse has a leftist bent to it. That’s just the way it is. Crikey, I’m really not sure about this (but I’m not outraged about it, in case you’re wondering). ‘Loud’ is rather a subjective judgement - and things you don’t like often appear louder and more irritating than things you like, played at the same volume. For example, the above quoted post measures quite loud on my meter. I’d honestly be interested in the results of a study into the relative proportion of _complaint_ about the opposite side. I see the term ‘leftist’ an awful lot, ‘rightist’, I’ve not noticed before. Liberals may outweigh conservatives on this board, in number and volume of posts, but not, I think, in volume of complaint and criticism against each other. ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-ii-of-does-the-board-lean-left-this-is-not-a-pit-thread/465125/16 "2008-09-25T23:22:16Z")
Most of y’all are right leaning. /Superfluous Parentheses, mostly social democrat, Europe. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-ii-of-does-the-board-lean-left-this-is-not-a-pit-thread/465125/17 "2008-09-25T23:41:22Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Then maybe we don’t disagree very much. Like you said, not many people believe cat pictures are political. [Oliver Cromwell](http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/Timur_photo/IMG_6007Large.jpg) sez “weeds and nettles, briars and thorns, have thriven under your shadow, dissettlement and division, discontentment and dissatisfaction, together with real dangers to the whole.” ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-ii-of-does-the-board-lean-left-this-is-not-a-pit-thread/465125/18 "2008-09-25T23:46:17Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > [Oliver Cromwell](http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/Timur_photo/IMG_6007Large.jpg) What a great name for a cat. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/part-ii-of-does-the-board-lean-left-this-is-not-a-pit-thread/465125/19 "2008-09-25T23:51:09Z")
> [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](#): > > What a great name for a cat. Thank you kindly. His adopted sibling, [Prince Rupert](http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff114/Timur_photo/IMG_2484Large.jpg) ;). Now I will quickly back out of this thread with my quasi-humorous cat hijackings ( as if we need yet another pet thread ), before people start hurling cabbages at me :D.