Then you're not a tax-and-spend liberal, you're a tax-and-wastefully-spend individual - a truly unique political position if I've ever heard one.

At least you're honest about it

Politics and perceptions & impressions - Hah!! and Bah!!

 I was at a meeting earlier today of a convention comittee. (Sci-Fi convention , I'm on the organization's committee)

One of the other guys, Ramon heard I was having problems with my computer. He came over to my place ...did some diagnosis and troubleshooting - and now everything is fine again (a board had slipped out of its slidecradle)

 As he was leaving , I casually said something to the effect of  "..well that will put a dent in everyone's right-wing image of me" .

 He said : "what?' "I always thought you were mostly left , I could swear you were a democrat ?!"
We've been friends on this committe for years - but have never discussed politics. He had the impression, by things that I've said that I was a pretty liberal guy.

 This all struck me funny - because before I registered for this forum , Pundit made some reference to my politics being toward the "right" and someone on the big Purple referred to me as a known right-winger a couple of days ago.

 Its just funny  - people's perceptions.

 My friend Ramon ?   Never did tell him how I vote ...its just not that important amongst friends.

Am I for a strong national Defense?  Hell Yes.

 In favor of gay marriages ? Yes. - why not ? I've even been to one . Invited and everything. The reception was a damn  good party.

- Ed C.

I see a lot of assumptions that you're right-wing, Koltar. I mean, I think it's self-perpetuating, because I don't see a lot of bias here.

OTOH, IMO, you're too willing to let large issues go with a shrug. On the internet, that's probably a good thing, though. It's hard to get a real, earnest debate about issues going on IRL, much less in a place where nobody ever feels the need to back down on even the smallest thing.

EDIT: Where I live, I would be considered fanatically, rabidly leftist. Except for my actual, fairly easy-going desire to compromise and be practical, I might get my teeth knocked in more then I'd consider particualarly prudent. If my political and ideological biases where known, I'd be unhireable by any right-thinking manager in the area.

I tend to agree with Koltar's position that it is better to just be easy going and not let this stuff get to you.  I actually tried arguing a political/legal point at TBP once and while a couple of posters actually made decent arguments, the vast majority just wanted to jump in with stupid statements and accusations of trolling and sock-puppetry.

Since then, I've stayed out of Tangency on TBP since IMO most of the threads are started by people who either are looking for a fight or want to hear a hallelujah chorus of people agreeing with them.

Plus, in all honesty, I realize that nothing I say on a message board is going to convince someone else to change their political view.

I do have to say though that although some TBP posters make snarky comments about the environment here there are some very knowledgeable posters and the debates are actually more civil than their heavily modded discussions with everyone dancing around waiting for the other side to make a "personal attack".

Just as a note: We live in the same town and as far as I know I still haven't met Grimjack yet.

Grimjack, stop by the store sometime - okay?

- Ed C.

I'd just like to note, that although I've listed myself as centre-left, I would probably not be considered so in other places, cultures and times. I'm a socialist who believes taxes are a good thing and cultural selfishness is a sea anchor on society. While I get a smile here in Oz, I may probably be thought of differently in the USA or France. I'm still a believer in private property though.

Quote from: KoltarJust as a note: We live in the same town and as far as I know I still haven't met Grimjack yet.

Grimjack, stop by the store sometime - okay?

- Ed C.

We can't meet in person because I am your sock-puppet!!!! Bwuhaha.

Actually, I do plan to stop by with the Traveller material we discussed once the dang baseball/teeball season is over and I have a moment when I'm not running kids around town (oh why can't my progeny just stay home and play RPG's....).