# Political Poll: Rather Be Considered Weak or Mean?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/political-poll-rather-be-considered-weak-or-mean/251318>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [June 20, 2004, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/political-poll-rather-be-considered-weak-or-mean/251318 "2004-06-20T17:45:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2004, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/political-poll-rather-be-considered-weak-or-mean/251318/41 "2004-06-27T22:39:44Z")

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Argggh!

My second paragraph in the above post should read:

“Some posters here seem to be assuming that one cannot be strong without being mean. I disagree with this. A person can be consummately strong without being the least bit **mean**. (Conversely, a person can be very weak and very mean).”

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**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2004, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/political-poll-rather-be-considered-weak-or-mean/251318/42 "2004-06-27T22:44:07Z")

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This assumes that the _sole_ reason one would be willing to appear weak at the expense of appearing stronger is ‘social acceptance’: it may be more altruistic than that.

E.g., I’m an atheist, but I think the Christ’s advice to forgive the trespasses of others is often good for a social system as a whole.

And FTR, I have seen bumper stickers saying “Mean people rule”. (Is this was you’re referring to, **Liberal**?)

> [@elfkin477](#):
>
> I think it’s the opposite. People who would rather be perceived as " weak but…" are choosing the more socially acceptable image (you don’t see “weak people suck” as an slogan), so doesn’t that mean they’re _more_ conscious of outside perception, and more hopeful-willing to pander to it despite whether the label truly fits them or not? If you’re explaining it away as " I’d rather they think of me as \_\_ but I’m really \_\_" you’re being less truthful, anyway. To thy own self be true, as long as people don’t get mad about it.

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**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/political-poll-rather-be-considered-weak-or-mean/251318/43 "2004-06-28T00:43:52Z")

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Kind (oh, okay…Weak) / Libertarian

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**Author:** ![supervenusfreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@supervenusfreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/supervenusfreak)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/political-poll-rather-be-considered-weak-or-mean/251318/44 "2004-06-28T01:47:29Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> Would you rather be thought of as weak/cowardly, or mean/uncivilized?

I would definitely want to be thought of as mean/uncivilized . To me it all comes down to appearances. I know that I am kind, generous, and thoughtful. I do not need society in general to validate that.

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**Author:** ![lachesis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@lachesis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lachesis)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/political-poll-rather-be-considered-weak-or-mean/251318/45 "2004-06-28T15:33:18Z")

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heh. i’d rather be mean.

of course, what do you make of an alleged liberal who supports the death penalty?

bet that screws up the balance.

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**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/political-poll-rather-be-considered-weak-or-mean/251318/46 "2004-06-28T15:51:47Z")

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Mean/Libertarian

Mean over weak any day.

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**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\
**Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/political-poll-rather-be-considered-weak-or-mean/251318/47 "2004-06-28T16:10:22Z")

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Mean/Conservative

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