# What is soooo evil about being a liberal? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 11, 2003, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-soooo-evil-about-being-a-liberal/154304 "2003-02-11T05:58:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_can_t_believe_that_s_butter)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-soooo-evil-about-being-a-liberal/154304/21 "2003-02-11T07:05:29Z")
Admiring from afar, I’d say. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-soooo-evil-about-being-a-liberal/154304/22 "2003-02-11T07:07:41Z")
Boy, I’m glad the OP was put here, considering what it’s devolved into. I think it’s rather pointless to be beating up on **Brutus**. I mean, I could make just as loaded and specious a list against conservatives (they want to convert the world to Christianity, outlaw homosexuality, knowingly or not support a creep towards facism), but what’s the point? All that’s gonna happen is something that’s been done ten million times before: the conservatives will beat up on the liberals and vice versa, and nothing else happens. 'Course, this IS the Pit, so I suppose if it makes ya feel good, knock yourself out. It’s just a shame that folks on both sides of the aisle reduce anyone they dislike to these little subhuman figures with pointy horns and a pitchfork (which leads to stuff like anti-sodomy laws and PETA). I like to believe there aren’t REALLY all that many living stereotypes around. Perhaps I’m as naive as **Brutus** thinks. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Ace\_of\_Swords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@The\_Ace\_of\_Swords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Ace_of_Swords)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-soooo-evil-about-being-a-liberal/154304/23 "2003-02-11T07:13:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Brutus \* > \*\*Plenty, but wouldn’t it just be easier to grab a copy of the NYT? > 7) They support infanticide. > \*\* So you think all “Modern Liberals” are baby killers – do they support killing babies in a stupid manner, or is it more in the naive and thoughtless category? Your post was incredibly incompetent and irrational support for your class slur. Irrational class bias has another name – bigotry, therefore you, sir, are a bigot. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-soooo-evil-about-being-a-liberal/154304/24 "2003-02-11T07:15:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Brutus \* > \*\*Modern liberals are not ‘evil’ per se; Just stupid and naive. \*\* Brutus has a point here, at least from a historical board perspective. Liberals are stupid and Republicans are evil. There are lengthy threads here about which insult is more commonly attached to which party, and thus far it’s more common for a thread to be called “why are republicans evil/ why are liberals stupid” than the other way(s) around. IICR from those threads goggle also favors dumb liberals over evil ones. Me, I’m happy enough to be evil 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-soooo-evil-about-being-a-liberal/154304/25 "2003-02-11T07:15:31Z")
I don’t see how it’s anymore stupid and naive to slap a label of ‘liberal’ on yourself than it is to slap a label of ‘conservative’ on yourself. I mean, what do these pseudonyms even mean anymore? I’m pro-choice, so I can’t possibly be a conservative, but I’m also against gun control (even though I don’t own a gun or even like them) so I can’t possibly be a liberal. I wish we could just dispose of these terms and the entire two party system altogether so that people will vote for the _candidate_ and not the meaningless label he or she has slapped upon themself. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-soooo-evil-about-being-a-liberal/154304/26 "2003-02-11T07:16:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Leaper \* > **I like to believe there aren’t REALLY all that many living stereotypes around.** I agree. Now excuse me while I put my kilt on, have some haggis and whisky for breakfast, and walk down the road playing the bagpipes. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-soooo-evil-about-being-a-liberal/154304/27 "2003-02-11T07:33:50Z")
How about a real answer to the question? One difference between conservatives and liberals is that conservatives tend to see things in black and white terms, while liberals recognize more shades of gray. (I think conservatives would refer to this tendency among liberals as being “wishy-washy”.) The recent rumblings about Iraq have been a good example of this; Bush has been praised by his party for his willingness to “call evil evil”. Given this tendency to divide the world so cleanly, it only makes sense that liberals would fall into the evil group. Someone argued recently in another thread that this could explain the irrational hatred of Bill Clinton by the right, but the left’s similar hatred of Bush clouds the issue. (One could argue about which side is being more rational, but I won’t.) I would say that it’s the reason for the right’s labeling and decrying of Clinton as a liberal, as he is about as much of a centrist as you’re going to find and he did about as much for conservatives during his term as he did for “real” liberals. For an example in this very thread… > [@](#): > > 1. Bill Clinton is their hero. I know a lot of liberals, and I don’t know a single one who would consider Bill Clinton to be a hero, much less “their hero”. At best, they consider him a flawed man whose good intentions and actions were overshadowed by his mistakes. However, since we all don’t hate Clinton with a blinding passion, in the conservative mindset, he is “our hero”. That’s my answer, anyway. Dr. J ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-soooo-evil-about-being-a-liberal/154304/28 "2003-02-11T07:37:21Z")
I’m a liberal > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Brutus \* > \*\*Fine…Here are some of the reasons that I find modern liberals to be stupid and naive: > > 1. They cry about the (false) lack of international support for invading Iraq. We don’t need, can’t really use it, can’t get it even if offered, and already have what little is actually of use to us (in terms of bases in the region.)\*\* So it is stupid to think that your country is above the law. Check. > [@](#): > > 1. They support gun control. Odd, i DON’T! > [@](#): > > 1. They want stupid and ineffective social programs. Examples, cheif. Or are all social programs stupid and ineffective? Blanket opinion statements prove nothing > [@](#): > > 1. They buy into psuedo-science regarding the environment, and get their panties in a bunch when the rest of don’t do the same. As a scientist, i am aware that many studies can have different interpetations. But your reason given here doesn’t suddenly prove you are right. in fact, without specific examples, it proves nothing. > [@](#): > > 1. ‘Roll over and die’ is their MO when it comes to dealing with international crisis. Vs. Bomb all brown people? > [@](#): > > 1. They support infanticide. No, sorry. I support ABORTION, which is the killing of a CELL MASS, not a person. > [@](#): > > 1. They, knowingly or not, are supporting a fabianesque creep towards socialism. I support Socialized medicine. If you live in some magic world where you don’t catch communicable diseases, then you should be against it. Otherwise, you are an idiot begging to catch super-TB > [@](#): > > 1. When in doubt, they cry ‘Racism!’ first, and ask questions later, if at all. Shut up, racist! 😉 > [@](#): > > 1. Bill Clinton is their hero. \*\* damn right, two termer, got to bang all sorts of chicks, didn’t have to go to court to win, or use his daddy’s name. But actually my hero is Ben Sisko, so wrong again. And you forgot to blaim us for taxing the rich 99%, and letting criminals free to run in the streets. But i forgive you because i am a liberal (and pro death penalty, also!) ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-soooo-evil-about-being-a-liberal/154304/29 "2003-02-11T07:38:55Z")
> [@](#): > > I hear people use the word “liberal” as if it is the worst on thing on earth. Why? Those people are rabid foaming-at-the-mouth lunatic extreme nutcase Conservatives… “conservative” being a word used as if it were the worst thing on Earth by rabid foaming-at-the-mouth lunatic extreme nutcase Liberals. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-soooo-evil-about-being-a-liberal/154304/30 "2003-02-11T07:44:19Z")
You may be a ‘Classic Liberal’ as opposed to a ‘Modern Liberal’. I will have to come up with some sort of scoring system/check-list so that the truth can be known. ---
**Author:** ![Alma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@Alma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alma)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-soooo-evil-about-being-a-liberal/154304/31 "2003-02-11T07:49:15Z")
Really? Sign me up. ---
**Author:** ![Alma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@Alma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alma)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-soooo-evil-about-being-a-liberal/154304/32 "2003-02-11T07:50:55Z")
Please ignore my comment. I left out the whole quote thing, and now it makes no sense. ---
**Author:** ![I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_can_t_believe_that_s_butter)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-soooo-evil-about-being-a-liberal/154304/33 "2003-02-11T08:05:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Brutus \* > \*\*You may be a ‘Classic Liberal’ as opposed to a ‘Modern Liberal’. I will have to come up with some sort of scoring system/check-list so that the truth can be known. \*\* If for nothing more than to interpret what you are saying, please do. ---
**Author:** ![FisherQueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@FisherQueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FisherQueen)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-soooo-evil-about-being-a-liberal/154304/34 "2003-02-11T12:05:16Z")
When I was teaching English at a tiny private fundamentalist Christian story (and there lies a tale, let me tell you), the words ‘liberal’ and ‘conservative’ appeared on our spelling list one week. The textbook defined ‘conservative’ as ‘someone who believes in morals and values’ and ‘liberal’ as ‘someone who does not believe in morals and values.’ I, of course, gave the students a more reasonable definition before we took the test. Actually, it’s kind of hard to define those words for fifth graders. I went with ‘a conservative is someone who prefers to solve problems using the traditions of the past, and a liberal is someone who prefers to solve problems by trying new ideas,’ but I’m not sure how well I did. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-soooo-evil-about-being-a-liberal/154304/35 "2003-02-11T12:34:21Z")
What’s wrong with US Liberals? They’re right wing bastards, that’s what 😛 ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-soooo-evil-about-being-a-liberal/154304/36 "2003-02-11T13:34:21Z")
I’m especially fond of the “stupid and naive” part. On the other hand, I have yet to meet a cynic who didn’t think of himself as being hard-headed and realistic. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-soooo-evil-about-being-a-liberal/154304/37 "2003-02-11T13:49:38Z")
**Brutus** forgetting about political points scoring has there been any “Liberal” policies that you’ve disagreed with due to their Liberalness and have actually worked out IYO? Or when the Liberals are in do you just cry for a few years? ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-soooo-evil-about-being-a-liberal/154304/38 "2003-02-11T13:59:13Z")
This is entirely my own theory, and I’ll probably get flamed for this, but I think on a very, very trite and simplistic basis, I think it all comes down to **empathy**. Liberals possess much empathy (often too much to make them useful); conservatives possess less empathy (often so little they can be dangerous). I reckon a democratic society needs both: one half to temper the other: conservatives to take tough decisions without their hearts bleeding; liberals to temper the conservatives’ decisions down; liberals to redistribute wealth; conservatives to claw some of it back. Etc. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-soooo-evil-about-being-a-liberal/154304/39 "2003-02-11T14:00:42Z")
> [@](#): > > On the other hand, I have yet to meet a cynic who didn’t think of himself as being hard-headed and realistic. Amusingly, cynicism is as idealistic, in the opposite direction, as idealism. ---
**Author:** ![Trion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Trion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trion)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-soooo-evil-about-being-a-liberal/154304/40 "2003-02-11T14:02:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Brutus \* > \*\*You may be a ‘Classic Liberal’ as opposed to a ‘Modern Liberal’. \*\* Yes, but is he a True Scotsman? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-soooo-evil-about-being-a-liberal/154304.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-soooo-evil-about-being-a-liberal/154304.md?page=3)