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'Fess Up, You're An Extremist


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I thought the You might be an extremist... thread was clever, but whats even more fun is to admit that on the inside almost all of us hold an extreme view on one thing or another.

 

Please note: this is a place to confess your own extreme views, not to post other peoples views.

 

And if you try to say that you dont hold some kind of weird view or support something that may be just out of the mainstream of your party, or even worse try to pass yourself off as an "independent", you will be forced to wear a dunce hat for the rest of the day :P

 

If you want to criticize someone for their extremist views, be nice about it :)

 

 

 

I'll go first: I'm generally a reasonable person, and although I'm probably not as aware of politicians names and the things they do as much as I ought to be, I hold several extreme political views:

 

- In conversation I happened to mention that am a supporter of the animal rights community, and that I consider the killing of sentient animal to be no different than the killing of a human being. Apparently, that and PETA donations make me an extremist. And maybe once or twice I might have said "fur is murder".

 

The animal rights one is always a conversation starter - I try not to be indignant, but I almost always find someone joking about wanting to kill things makes me very upset. And even more, people ask really strange questions about it, like "do you think plants suffer" or "how do we know that animals can really feel pain" - never once have I heard seriously anyone ask these questions outside of the context of animal rights or veganism, but they always come up as soon as I say "I dont use animal products, I dont like to kill things". Look at me, I'm already starting to become indignant :embarass:

 

- As a humanitarian, I do not under any circumstances buy things made in countries like China, Portugal, Taiwan, Korea, or Japan because they have a miserable record of human rights abuses. And I will not accept gifts from those places. I just cant bring myself to support directly or indirectly places that work frequently underage employees in miserable conditions for low pay. This is one of the major reasons I will not shop at Walmarts or similar places, and instead choose to buy everything from local providers.

 

- And finally, one of my other extremist views is that I just cant stand religious conservatives. I get along with religious people perfectly fine, but it makes me die a little inside everytime I hear 8 out of 10 Christian conservatives oppose gay rights (including marriage and adoption), try to endorse force governments to recognize the 10 commands as the inspiration for our laws, or try to transform our country into the United States of Jesusland. Separation of church and state is a very important issue to me. If it werent for the Christian right, I might vote for a Republican every now and then.

 

 

Your turn :)

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/me doesn't know what would be considered extremist about him

Hmmm, lets see if I can bring out the extremist in you? Choose any of the following strongly agree with or strongly oppose (divided by color as loonie lefty, radical right, and neither):

 

- All guns ought to be elimated from the planet!

 

- Homosexuality should be a federal crime!

 

- All drug users should be mandatorily sterilized!

 

- Death penalty should be option for all crimes!

 

- The ACLU is a terrorist organization!

 

- Everything IMM says is the gospel truth!

 

- Woman shouldnt work in the military or office!

 

- Hospitals shouldnt be treat the poor!

 

- People who develop cancers from smoking should not be treated!

 

- HIV/AIDS is God's punishment against the homosexuals!

 

- Immigrants should be deported or thrown in prison!

 

- Abortion doctors should be put to death!

 

- Government is an unnecessary evil!

 

- Taxes are a form of theft!

 

- Michael Moore for president!

 

- Voluntarily childless couples are evil and selfish!

 

- Legal drugs! All of them!

 

- Socialize medicine!

 

- Israel, as we know it, should have never been created and ought to disappear!

 

- Nuke the Middle East!

 

- Yay monarchy!

 

- Laws against child pornography are mind-control!

 

- Censor obscene material on TV, radio, and Internet!

 

- Free public education for everyone!

 

- I see nothing on this list to disagree with!

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I believe people should be free to engage in all forms of consensual, adult sexual relations. Aside from hetero- and homosexuality, this includes, but is not limited to, polygyny, polyandry and incest. Note that this does not include beastiality (unless you can really prove the animal consented -- doubtful), and does not include sex with minors. Although a minor can technically "consent," I regard their "consent" to be as meaningless as their signature on most contractual agreements. Note furthermore, that this does not mean I approve or endorse any of the above sexual activities. I believe people should be free to do it and not be thrown in jail or harassed or ridiculed for it; doesn't mean I believe they should do it.

 

How's that for extreme?

 

Oh, and I can't stand fire-and-brimstone religious types either (Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, Jesse Helms, Jimmy "I would know the prophet Mohammed was a pervert because I'm one and it takes one to know one" Swaggart). I don't really consider that extreme though, because just about all moderate religious people I know can't stand them either.

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- All guns ought to be elimated from the planet!

disagree

 

- Homosexuality should be a federal crime!
disagree. it's okay to be gay as long as you don't hit on me.

 

- All drug users should be mandatorily sterilized!
disagree

 

- Death penalty should be option for all crimes!
disagree

 

- The ACLU is a terrorist organization!
disagree

 

- Everything IMM says is the gospel truth!
AGREE!!!!!!!!!!!

 

- Woman shouldnt work in the military or office!
disagree

 

- Hospitals shouldnt be treat the poor!
disagree

 

- People who develop cancers from smoking should not be treated!
disagree' date=' although i do think that people shouldn't smoke around people that don't want to get cancer.

 

- HIV/AIDS is God's punishment against the homosexuals!
disagree

 

- Immigrants should be deported or thrown in prison!
agree, if they don't even attempt to learn the language of their new country

 

- Abortion doctors should be put to death!
disagree although i do consider abortion to be immoral

 

- Government is an unnecessary evil!
disagree

 

- Taxes are a form of theft!
disagree

 

- Michael Moore for president!
disagree

 

- I see nothing on this list to disagree with!
disagree
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- All guns ought to be elimated from the planet!

Disagree

 

- Homosexuality should be a federal crime!

Disagree

- All drug users should be mandatorily sterilized!

Agree :P

- Death penalty should be option for all crimes!

Disagree

- The ACLU is a terrorist organization!

Disagree

- Everything IMM says is the gospel truth!

Agree

- Woman shouldnt work in the military or office!

Disagree

- Hospitals shouldnt be treat the poor!

Disagree

- People who develop cancers from smoking should not be treated!

Undecided

- HIV/AIDS is God's punishment against the homosexuals!

Disagree

- Immigrants should be deported or thrown in prison!

Disagree

- Abortion doctors should be put to death!

Disagree

- Government is an unnecessary evil!

Disagee

- Taxes are a form of theft!

Agree

- Michael Moore for president!

Umm disagree

- Voluntarily childless couples are evil and selfish!

Disagree

- Legal drugs! All of them!

Disagree

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if they don't even attempt to learn the language of their new country
How do you propose it should be decided wether they made a reasonable effort or not?

 

I dissagree with all of IMMs list, some things more strongly than others.

 

I can't think of any fantastically extreem view that I hold

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I don`t think I hold any what can be considered "Extremist" Views, as long as it doesn`t effect Me, My family or my Friends, the rest can do whatever they like, I`m not bothered, that might sound "selfish" but I`m very protective of me and mine. everything else comes second place to that.

as for all your points that you litsed, I hold no real opinion about, I mostly disagree with alot of them, but they`re kinda neither here nor there for me.

 

yourdad will "Agree!!!!!" with the IMM says is gospel for the same reason he has with every other post you`ve made (no prizes for guessing why).

 

I get motivated (not always extreme) when it comes to helping someone or something that can`t defend or help itself, I don`t like to see that, and I don`t like mindless violence or stupidity either.

I admire good old Mother Common Sense! :)

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How do you propose it should be decided wether they made a reasonable effort or not?

 

I dissagree with all of IMMs list' date=' some things more strongly than others.

 

I can't think of any fantastically extreem view that I hold[/quote']like i only know of 5 or 5 mexicans in my town that know english. most of them don't even try to learn english. most mexicans in my school speak spanish all day long and look at you like you're stupid when you talk to them in english. they even take Spanish 1(not fair at all. we should be allowed to take first grade english). the adults even teach their children spanish before they teach them english.

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YT,

 

I don`t think I hold any what can be considered "Extremist" Views, as long as it doesn`t effect Me, My family or my Friends, the rest can do whatever they like, I`m not bothered, that might sound "selfish" but I`m very protective of me and mine. everything else comes second place to that.

You know, I dont think you actually have to hold beliefs that are out of the mainstream to really be an extremist. I think in some since, even for reasonable ideas, if you cannot speak rationally about it then that makes you an extremist.

 

For instance, I know people who cannot speak rationally about pedophiles or child abuse - it becomes emotionally overwhelming for them, and they become violent or irrational when trying to talk about the topic. Its not necessarily a bad thing, but if you cant speak rationally about something, that makes you an extremist.

 

Perhaps, YT, there is a hotbutton issue that exists for you that makes you incapable of speaking rationally about? :)

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the adults even teach their children spanish before they teach them english.

A lot of the problem with children in non-english speaking familes are taught english and only allowed to speak english at home, and not allowed to speak their native language. Most children won't ever get either language becuase their family speaks one language better but only allows the children to speak english. So you have children with no mastered language rather than a non-english language and being bad at english.

they even take Spanish 1(not fair at all. we should be allowed to take first grade english).

That's funny :D

I consider the killing of sentient animal to be no different than the killing of a human being

Yeah, what's a "sentient animal". I don't know many animals that exibit any kind of behavior that would suggest any kind of intelligence anywhere near a human being. When people say that they don't think that animals should be harmed because they are "smart" or "sentient" some times (I don't think you of course IMM, I'm just rambling now) it's because they are cute, furry and warm-blooded. No one cares about fish, insects, or "ugly" (and therefore stupid and not worthy).

 

Are you extremist if you hold the value of endangered species above that of individual human life? (By "you" I obviously mean "I")

So you would die to save an endangered species, or you would allow someone else to die to save an endangered species?

 

I'm all for not killing animals and whatever, just let me eat my chicken.

 

 

Me? I'm your average Utah conservative. A tiny bit moderate than most conservatives, except when it comes to government control, and UN control. It might have something to do with mormon history of being betrayed be the fedural government, and multiple state governments (EX: extermination law in Missouri in 1800's), but maybe not. I think we are slightly more environmental, but only a little :D We have a lot in common with other inter-mountain west states.

That's pretty much me, except the death penalty, which I don't can't stomach.

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I'm all for not killing animals and whatever, just let me eat my chicken.
Trust me, I'm a die-hard carnivore. But let's say you wanted to eat a California Condor or a cuddly wittle baby panda; both are endangered species that have been put in their precarious situations by humanity, and there are far fewer of them than there are people (which are clearly NOT endangered). Anyone who willingly threatens them should burn. Anyone who accidently threatens them shouldn't die or have freedoms taken away, but they most certainly should be heavily fined. This includes endangered shrubs, slugs and slime-molds in addition to more conventional species. For these species, every individualis needed for the surivival of the species, and livelyhood of an entire species is worth far more than that of an individual of a safe or over-populated species.

 

IMM, you have my full backing

Like IMM, I liken the killing of clearly intelligent animals to be as bad as murdering a person, more so if it's endangered. Included would be parrots, any primate, elephants, dolphins, ravens and crows, pigs, possibly even octopus. *and it sickens me, but yes, I eat bacon and ham, so I admit that I am an abominable hypocrite, but I should also point out that I would have no qualms with resorting to cannibalism if necessary*

 

Also, killing an animal for any solely non-essential reason is equally profane. As long as you ate it, and needed to eat it, sure, go ahead and make boots or a coat form it's hide. But if all you wanted was the hide, then it's dispicable. There are exceptions, such as necessary regulated hunting, actual self-defense, and the house-by-house battle against unsanitary or threatening infestation.

 

*Getting Back on Track*

 

I feel whoever invented circus-peanuts, black licorice, candy-corn, and cottage cheese should die horribe deaths, if they weren't already dead.

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- All guns ought to be elimated from the planet!

Disagree

- Homosexuality should be a federal crime!

Strongly Disagree

- All drug users should be mandatorily sterilized!

Disagree

- Death penalty should be option for all crimes!

Disagree

- The ACLU is a terrorist organization!

Disagree

- Everything IMM says is the gospel truth!

Not everything ;)

- Woman shouldnt work in the military or office!

Disagree

- Hospitals shouldnt be treat the poor!

DIsagree

- People who develop cancers from smoking should not be treated!

Disagree (as long as they have money/insurance)

- HIV/AIDS is God's punishment against the homosexuals!

Disagree

- Immigrants should be deported or thrown in prison!

Disagree

- Abortion doctors should be put to death!

Disagree

- Government is an unnecessary evil!

Disagree

- Taxes are a form of theft!

Disagree

- Michael Moore for president!

Who's Michael Moore?

- Voluntarily childless couples are evil and selfish!

DIsagree

- Legal drugs! All of them!

Disagree

- Socialize medicine!

Agree

- Israel, as we know it, should have never been created and ought to disappear!

WTF? Disagree

- Nuke the Middle East!

STRONGLY Disagree

- Yay monarchy!

Strognly Disagree

- Laws against child pornography are mind-control!

Disagree

- Censor obscene material on TV, radio, and Internet!

Disagree (depending on the degree... Censor as in make the rating system a little tighter, yes. Censor so that it disapears, no)

- Free public education for everyone!

Agree

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On a more serious note, I wonder sometimes if I am too adamant on the need to avoid partisanship and ideologies in order to further humanity. I think there is a point to be made that having people take opposite sides on an issue can aid in ensuring that all aspects of an issue are fully considered.

 

The trick, of course, being to know when to stop being a partisan and meet on that middle ground. But when I say I wonder if I'm an "extremist" about this issue, what I mean is that sometimes I'm less tolerant than I could be about listening to points of view that are a bit farther out from the center than normal. It may be that good ideas can still come from farther-out positions.

 

So there's my mea culpa for the day.

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Yourdad,

 

combo of her and i having similar beliefs in a lot of areas and her attractiveness

:embarass:

 

The trick is to eat right, exercise daily.

 

 

Pangloss,

 

On a more serious note' date=' I wonder sometimes if I am too adamant on the need to avoid partisanship and ideologies in order to further humanity. I think there is a point to be made that having people take opposite sides on an issue can aid in ensuring that all aspects of an issue are fully considered.

 

The trick, of course, being to know when to stop being a partisan and meet on that middle ground. But when I say I wonder if I'm an "extremist" about this issue, what I mean is that sometimes I'm less tolerant than I could be about listening to points of view that are a bit farther out from the center than normal. It may be that good ideas can still come from farther-out positions.[/quote']

Congrats! You are the first hardcore, extreme moderate I've ever met :P

 

 

AzurePhoenix,

 

IMM' date=' you have my full backing

 

Like IMM, I liken the killing of clearly intelligent animals to be as bad as murdering a person, more so if it's endangered. Included would be parrots, any primate, elephants, dolphins, ravens and crows, pigs, possibly even octopus. *and it sickens me, but yes, I eat bacon and ham, so I admit that I am an abominable hypocrite, but I should also point out that I would have no qualms with resorting to cannibalism if necessary*[/quote']

Oh! Azure, dearest, I will get you a veggie cookbook this Christmas! :)

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Back on topic:

 

I used to be irrationally frightened of "socialists" (I blame my conservative parents and Ronald Reagon), but now I've actually flipped. My new extreme view is that I fully endorse socialized medicine with one objection - that the US already pays twice as much than the UK and Canada for the same health care, so the US is as socialized as it will possibly become. I've considered that one way to reduce the cost of American healthcare is to reduce the malpractice insurance for doctors, but I've been told that is an outrageous idea.

 

Another extreme idea is that I dont really feel that its a bad idea to give people a kind of test before they vote. It just seems to me that if you arent informed enough to be able to name the 5 rights granted in the first amendment, or understand the basic differences between local / state / federal government or between a mayor / governor / senator / representative, then you shouldnt vote because it would be harmful to the legislative process. Some people feel that the right to vote is intrinsic, but we might have a better government if the right to vote were earned (in the same way the drivers license is something you have to earn).

 

More on animal rights: according to many people in animal rights movement, I have "extreme" views by their standards:

- I would fully endorse making it illegal to hunt animals, experiment on them, or breed them for food. I do not endorse, however, the current efforts by many animal rights groups to encourage "cruelty-free killing", because those movements only undermine the animal rights movement because it leads people to say "I dont feel guilty eating an animal that didnt suffer".

 

- I think vegetarians who drink milk or eat eggs produced commerically are hypocrites, because the cows and chickens are treated horribly.

 

- I'm skeptical of people eating eggs or drinking milk that come from freerange farms. Because initially, to get a cow to produce milk, it has to become pregnant - meaning the calf has to be removed, which is emotionally traumatic for the cow mother, and I suspect that many of the excess calfs (especially if they are male) are sold to veal producers. And I'm not sure what happens to freerange chickens when they are no longer able to produce eggs anymore, I suspect they are sold off to be chopped up and sold to delis. So, unless you dont milk your own cows or raise your own chickens, I would suggest if you are going to have an ethical diet, then become wholly vegan without exceptions. Besides, soy milk is very good (it comes in many flavors too), so soy milk is the ethical (and very healthy) alternative to milk; and just dont eat eggs.

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*Oh, sorry, you meant IMM, sorry, ignore me, but I'll leave my post anyway. Again, sincere apologies*

 

This includes endangered shrubs[/b'], slugs and slime-molds in addition to more conventional species.
Plants deserve respect too. No pointless distruction of plants, we should not chop without good reason, and endangered species should be zealously guarded.
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Pangloss,

 

But what about plants, IMM? Don't they deserve our sympathy and care? Why do animals rate special treatment, and who are you to say they deserve care, and plants do not?

Because I really really hate shrubbery. There, I said it.

 

 

(And because animals have the capacity to suffer and value their continued existence :) )

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