# We as Liberals.. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 13, 2007, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-as-liberals/411622 "2007-07-13T09:44:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-as-liberals/411622/21 "2007-07-13T13:41:52Z")
[QUOTE=Hentor the Barbarian] Yeah, and nowadays the people who love large nanny governments are called Republicans. [/QUOTE] In case you’re playing the “yeah, but your side \_\_\_\_” game that mindless rabid party-liners tend to play, I’m not a Republican. You can short circuit now - “but… he’s not on our side… so he must be on the other side.. but.. he’s not… so… how do I evaluate what he has to say? MUST.. SELF.. DESTRUCT” And Republicans aren’t really advocating a nanny-state. More of a jingostic, corporate wellfare, Orwellian-style police state. Part of the reason they’ve had more success lately in fucking us all over is that traditionally at least some Republicans actually opposed big government, and so Democrat attempts to expand government size and power were fought. But now the supposedly small government party is the one expanding stuff - and certainly the democrats are fighting them to some degree over the exact nature of the expansions, but don’t opposte them so much in principle. So we’re stuck with the choice of socialist nanny state and orwellian fascist state. Neither is anything but dispicable, so don’t start playing those party-line games as if you were superior, when it’s that type of thought that put us into this lose/lose situation in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-as-liberals/411622/22 "2007-07-13T13:42:19Z")
[QUOTE=Hentor the Barbarian] Yeah, and nowadays the people who love large nanny governments are called Republicans. [/QUOTE] Personally, I don’t think there’s all that much difference between the Democrats and Republicans. You may as well call them “Purple” and “Green” parties. Both parties are a bit too cozy with big business for my taste, and both parties are willing to erode individual freedoms when it suits their needs. It’s just a matter of which businesses and which freedoms that makes them a bit different from one another. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-as-liberals/411622/23 "2007-07-13T13:56:08Z")
[QUOTE=SenorBeef] So we’re stuck with the choice of socialist nanny state and orwellian fascist state. Neither is anything but dispicable, so don’t start playing those party-line games as if you were superior, when it’s that type of thought that put us into this lose/lose situation in the first place. [/QUOTE] So it’s the Nanny State or the Abusive Stepfather State? I’d like another option, please! (And, for the most part, I’m a liberal much like \*\*Liberal \*\*is a liberal, so I’m quite happy with his use of the name. Yes, I’d like universal health care, but I’d also like Daddy to butt the fuck out of the rest of my life.) ---
**Author:** ![Orual](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/779978/32.png) [@Orual](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orual)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-as-liberals/411622/24 "2007-07-13T14:03:36Z")
[QUOTE=if6was9] … personally, I am _offended_ that the poster named **Liberal** calls himself… “liberal”… That this person change his name NOW, to quit **offending** those of us who revel in the title of “liberal”. Or else I might have to quit these boards\* . That is all. [/QUOTE] If another poster’s username bothers you this much, I really don’t think this board is right place for you. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-as-liberals/411622/25 "2007-07-13T14:15:08Z")
I’m no fan of Liberal, but this pitting is pretty lame. He is somewhat ironically using a classic definition of “Liberal” on a liberal leaning message board. I can think of much to pit Lib for, but why this? I hope you do not really leave over such a minor occurrence; it is not hard to mostly ignore Liberal. I am quite good at it now. You know what he acts like, you know it annoys the living shit out of you, so don’t let it. He is not worth it. I think you are a more valuable poster than Liberal, so please do not let him drive you away **if6was9**. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-as-liberals/411622/26 "2007-07-13T14:45:03Z")
[QUOTE=pool] What happened to his spiffy little font, it is back to normal. [/QUOTE] I can only assume people stopped paying attention. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-as-liberals/411622/27 "2007-07-13T14:53:11Z")
[QUOTE=Sublight] I can only assume people stopped paying attention. [/QUOTE] See, not paying attention makes one ignorant. 😃 I gave a link above, showing where Dead Badger made it possible for those of us who prefer a more readable font to use it. He has also put his code in ATMB where anyone can access it with almost any browser. For me now, everybody’s font is Verdana. My old tired eyes can read so much better. Don’t get me wrong; I don’t mind your slamming me if that’s your bag. I just didn’t want you to look quite so stupid while you were doing it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-as-liberals/411622/28 "2007-07-13T14:59:25Z")
[QUOTE=if6was9] I say now. Period. That this person change his name NOW, to quit **offending** those of us who revel in the title of “liberal”. Or else I might have to quit these boards. [/QUOTE] Wow, I can’t imagine the situation in which I’d give someone that kind of power over me. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-as-liberals/411622/29 "2007-07-13T15:04:13Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] For me now, everybody’s font is Verdana. [/QUOTE] Oh God! Now I feel coerced. 😉 What does that code do to Special characters? Are all the Webdings stars and spiders now umlauted semicolons and ampersands for you? ---
**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:** [July 13, 2007, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-as-liberals/411622/30 "2007-07-13T15:06:32Z")
[QUOTE=if6was9] I say now. Period. That this person change his name NOW, to quit **offending** those of us who revel in the title of “liberal”. Or else I might have to quit these boards\* . That is all. [/QUOTE] His name bothers me too, because it’s inaccurate. He’s more a kind of libertarian, not a classical liberal. The classical liberals had a lot more tolerance for state coercion than he does, for one thing. It also bothers me, more generally that he’s slurring classical liberalism (which I like), by associating it with his unrealistic, ill-conceived, and frankly evil personal ideology. That being said, I don’t think there’s any way he’s going to change it, so you’re wasting your time. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-as-liberals/411622/31 "2007-07-13T15:18:41Z")
> [@Trunk](#): > > I can’t really take the OP as serious. > > But, there’s also nothing satirical or humorous about it. My guess is that it must be **Lib** ’s birthday or something, and **if6was9** decided to give him a present. A thread all about him! Happy birthday-or-something, **Lib**! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-as-liberals/411622/32 "2007-07-13T15:23:53Z")
[QUOTE=Squink] Oh God! Now I feel coerced. 😉 What does that code do to Special characters? Are all the Webdings stars and spiders now umlauted semicolons and ampersands for you? [/QUOTE] Nope. Everything comes out just perfect. What Dead Badger did was write a style sheet, and then showed us how to incorporate it into the browser. It only affects this board, which is nice. That was really nice of him to recognize my problem and help me with it. It was also nice of TubaDiva to set up the Verdana font to start with. I don’t know whether his solution would have worked without her effort. In any case, I’m very grateful to all involved. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-as-liberals/411622/33 "2007-07-13T15:34:24Z")
I think you are being wooshed. > [@Jodi](#): > > Wow, I can’t imagine the situation in which I’d give someone that kind of power over me. When someone puts a “like anyone would care” next to their threat to leave, it’s a good indication they are joking around. This is clearly meant as a pretty light hearted “pitting”. But I am curious what **Captain Amazing** finds “frankly evil” about Lib’s bizarre philosophies. Also, how **WhyNot** could think “I’m a liberal much like **Liberal** is a liberal,” and then say she wants universal health care. Come on people. No joke threads in the Pit, certainly not when Liberal is the focus. ---
**Author:** ![Bobotheoptimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-as-liberals/411622/34 "2007-07-13T15:35:07Z")
Wait a minute… If you were to find out that I’m actually a bit of a pessimist, would you demand I change my username as well? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-as-liberals/411622/35 "2007-07-13T15:37:01Z")
[QUOTE=Captain Amazing] The classical liberals had a lot more tolerance for state coercion than he does, for one thing. [/QUOTE] “Human society cannot do without the apparatus of the state, but the whole of mankind’s progress has had to be achieved against the resistance and opposition of the state and its power of coercion.” — Ludwig von Mises, _Liberalism in the Classical Tradition_ I completely agree with him! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-as-liberals/411622/36 "2007-07-13T15:37:21Z")
[QUOTE=Bobotheoptimist] Wait a minute… If you were to find out that I’m actually a bit of a pessimist, would you demand I change my username as well? [/QUOTE] Depends. Is pessimism the classical definition of optimism? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-as-liberals/411622/37 "2007-07-13T16:11:43Z")
[QUOTE=Bobotheoptimist] Wait a minute… If you were to find out that I’m actually a bit of a pessimist, would you demand I change my username as well? [/QUOTE] Oops. I’m in trouble now. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-as-liberals/411622/38 "2007-07-13T16:24:13Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] Oops. I’m in trouble now. [/QUOTE] You’re a teetotaller? ---
**Author:** ![recessiveMeme](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/46a35a/32.png) [@recessiveMeme](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/recessiveMeme)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-as-liberals/411622/39 "2007-07-13T17:00:44Z")
[QUOTE=Ponder Stibbons] Personally, I don’t think there’s all that much difference between the Democrats and Republicans. You may as well call them “Purple” and “Green” parties. [/quote] Rules of combat older than contact with other political ideologies. Did not mention Third Parties. Rules change caught up in committee. Not come through yet. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2007, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-as-liberals/411622/40 "2007-07-13T17:01:09Z")
Well, the oldest definition of liberal is simply generous. “He is liberal with his affections.” Maybe **Lib** is just a generous guy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-as-liberals/411622.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-as-liberals/411622.md?page=3)