Bright Minds and Dark Attitudes

[cardw]

Yet why the article's target group as "right-wing ideology"?

[doug yowell]

It is not to say that all conservatives have a low IQ. William F. Buckley would stand singularly as amply refutation of that.

So if the IQ of conservative leaders is equal to the IQ of liberal leaders how can one identify IQ as a cause of right wing ideology? And what difference does IQ make if equal IQ's can arrive at opposite poles? What explains Charles Krauthammer's opposition to gay marriage or liberal social policies?

[doug yowell]

I think you've got the two ideologies mixed up,Rich.

[doug yowell]

They only thing the extreme right has is inflammatory sound bytes. They are obstructionists and have little in original ideas. To me that is a sure sign of either lazy, dishonest thinking, or a decided lack of intelligence. None of those are very good options.

I'm not saying that liberals are perfect, but they aren't threatening to kill me if I disagree with them. They seem far safer to live with to me.

I think you've just made the case for the lack of objectivity in the article.

[cardw]

Originally Posted By: cardw

They only thing the extreme right has is inflammatory sound bytes. They are obstructionists and have little in original ideas. To me that is a sure sign of either lazy, dishonest thinking, or a decided lack of intelligence. None of those are very good options.

I'm not saying that liberals are perfect, but they aren't threatening to kill me if I disagree with them. They seem far safer to live with to me.

I think you've just made the case for the lack of objectivity in the article.

I can post hundreds of blogs by atheists that have multiple death threats. I can post hundreds of blogs by gays with multiple threats of death. I can even post liberal Christian blogs with death threats. Fear and violence seem to be the tactic of choice for the far right.

You won't find death threats at this level by liberals on conservative blogs.

To me it is quite clear that the far right operates on a need to control everybody else. That is based in fear. And when people operate out of fear they do stupid things.

Note you just state that I'm wrong. You don't outline a line of reasoning. You just do the equivalent of saying, "is not" which is pretty much what I've been describing as the tactics of the far right.

Tom does an excellent job of outlining his case, but the response against what he presents tends to be a bunch of snide remarks and tantrums. To me that is immaturity.

I find nothing attractive in the far right Christian agenda. They look like a bunch of bullies and spoiled brats to me. I'm sick of it.

[phkrause]

I can post hundreds of blogs by atheists that have multiple death threats. I can post hundreds of blogs by gays with multiple threats of death. I can even post liberal Christian blogs with death threats. Fear and violence seem to be the tactic of choice for the far right.

You won't find death threats at this level by liberals on conservative blogs.

To me it is quite clear that the far right operates on a need to control everybody else. That is based in fear. And when people operate out of fear they do stupid things.

Note you just state that I'm wrong. You don't outline a line of reasoning. You just do the equivalent of saying, "is not" which is pretty much what I've been describing as the tactics of the far right.

Tom does an excellent job of outlining his case, but the response against what he presents tends to be a bunch of snide remarks and tantrums. To me that is immaturity.

I find nothing attractive in the far right Christian agenda. They look like a bunch of bullies and spoiled brats to me. I'm sick of it.

[Tom Wetmore]

MODERATOR HAT ON NOW:

Some posts have been removed for taking this into partisan political territory. It is admittedly a fine distinction given the focus of the study under discussion, but when it goes from talking about politics to talking politics it quickly digresses into a political food fight.

It is like the legal prohibition for non-profit organizations, including churches. You can discuss issues and take positions on those issues, but not candidates for political office.

If you want to trash talk the candidate(s) you don't like and promote the one(s) you do like, go to the political forum to do so. Such partisanship is off topic in this topic and Townhall.

[phkrause]

[doug yowell]

They only thing the extreme right has is inflammatory sound bytes. They are obstructionists and have little in original ideas. To me that is a sure sign of either lazy, dishonest thinking, or a decided lack of intelligence. None of those are very good options.

.

I guess that Tom in his analysis of this thread didn't notice this particular ad hominem inflamatory sound byte. Instead of answering any of my several questions directly related to the issue of the study's objectivity and conclusions you quickly switch the rhetoric to extreme right "obstructionists".Obstructing what, the ideology that dominates so much of the American political,educational,legal, and media world? If your defense of the article's accuracy and objectivity equates right wing ideology with obstructionsim then my analysis of the built in prejudice of the study is also accurate. My questions were directed at the failure of the study to address why left wing ideology fosters fear (I agreed with Tom's addition of this factor) prejudice,ignorance, and social interaction. The failure to address my reasonable objections reflect to me no lack of IQ,but rather an unwillingness to put one's ideology to the same standard of judgment that it does every dissenting ideology.jasd's post seemed to be an attempt to balance the scales of judgment.

[Tom Wetmore]

Moderator Note:

It wasn't ad hominem unless anyone here considers themselves the embodiment and personification of the extreme right. It was not a personal attack against anyone identifiably a part of this discussion. That is why it stayed.

[Naomi]

Quote:

If you want to trash talk the candidate(s) you don't like and promote the one(s) you do like, go to the political forum to do so. Such partisanship is off topic in this topic and Townhall.

[doug yowell]

Moderator Note:

It wasn't ad hominem unless anyone here considers themselves the embodiment and personification of the extreme right. It was not a personal attack against anyone identifiably a part of this discussion. That is why it stayed.

Sorry Tom, the article doesn't target the extreme right wing it only mentions "right wing ideology". Right wing according to liberals includes everyone who is to their right. The examples noted by the article began with homophobic and racist ideology which the authors attempted to connect to right wing ideology. without differentiating between right wing and extreme right wing.I consider myself and millions of other conservatives to be right wing. Yet the ideology of the mainstream right (conservative) includes positions that are interpreteed by the article as homophobic and racist. Rich then deviated (by your standards of thread propriety)by attaching the thrust of the article to the Christian far right. so it by implication connects right wing CHRISTIANS (me)to the bigotry the study seeks to "understand". If either Rich or the authors of the article had noted the difference it could not have been understood as a corporate slam against all those on the right.My IQ may not be nearly the equivelent of Rich's but I think I got the drift of this one.

[Tom Wetmore]

I think you and others are taking this too personally. If you are not racist or homophobic than it doesn't apply to you. It is made abundantly clear that all, and for that matter a significant percentage, are not. That was not the point. But there is an unfortunate and undeniable tendency for those of lower IQ to be inclined toward prejudice and right wing ideologies. And unfortunately there is a tendency for them to be less filtered and more outspoken in those views. And sadly there are those that pander to that reality even if they may themselves not be that way.

This is a bit like learning you have a close friend or relative that is a bigot or has a bad character flaw. It is embarrassing, but it is a fact. But it does not and should not define you, no matter how much else you may have in common with that friend.

OK, back to the topic.

[phkrause]

Exactly what I mentioned a number of pages ago.

[Guest]

Originally Posted By: Tom Wetmore

Interesting Study - Lower Cognitive Ability Predicts Greater...ergroup Contact

Translation - Conservatives tend to have lower IQ.

Now I have an explanation for my deficiencies. Will my IQ improve if I became a liberal?

[Guest]

Originally Posted By: lazarus

That wouldn't have been funny for a liberal but a cause for serious concern.

What's cause for serious concern is the liberal belief that the cause of shallow thinking, bigotry, and ethical failure is lack of IQ! It's actually sad.Is that just another step towards the need for the rule of the elitist minds, and further proof that conservatives are genetically programmed to gravitate to being homophobic,racist,xenophobic,war mongering,bigoted,ad nauseum? Conservatives tend to be religious in their foundational beliefs,and a Christian conservative believes that the mind of God has a higher IQ than the highest liberal mind. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and therefore Christian conservatives tend to put their cognitive energies in submission to the revealed Biblical IQ of their Creator. This eliminates the necessity of having to be born with a higher IQ in order to be a 'deeper thinker'. But most conservatives are secure enough in their "lower IQ" to be able to laugh at liberal attempts to marginalize them.

I couldn't have said it that good.

[Tom Wetmore]

Moderator Note:

I have created a new topic in the US political forum called "Political Reactions to the Bright Minds and Dark Attitudes Article" and have moved a number of the politically oriented posts that have been removed from here to that topic so anyone can continue down that line if they choose.

[Woody]

I think you and others are taking this too personally. If you are not racist or homophobic than it doesn't apply to you. It is made abundantly clear that all, and for that matter a significant percentage, are not. That was not the point. But there is an unfortunate and undeniable tendency for those of lower IQ to be inclined toward prejudice and right wing ideologies. And unfortunately there is a tendency for them to be less filtered and more outspoken in those views. And sadly there are those that pander to that reality even if they may themselves not be that way.

This is a bit like learning you have a close friend or relative that is a bigot or has a bad character flaw. It is embarrassing, but it is a fact. But it does not and should not define you, no matter how much else you may have in common with that friend.

OK, back to the topic.

This is total trash. I've been on this forum a long time - and have not had to say that before - but this takes the cake. Oh course a moderator can set the tone of his little place on earth and that clearly has been done.

[Tom Wetmore]

OK... We get it that you don't like this and disagree with it. But please point out specifically what is wrong with it.

[Woody]

I don't have to because to the person who is open minded and not set in dogma - this is a clear cut case. If you are blind - you will not see and no explaining coming from my way would help.

Partisanism is a blinding disease. So what is wrong with it? It is simply ALL wrong. There is nothing there that is truth. It is simply hate, bias and slander.

[jasd]

>>Translation - Conservatives tend to have lower IQ.<<

The above is politic, egregiously so. It begs a directed response; however, the censor abides only the extreme which oils his own cognition.

Talking “about” politics, “to“ talking politics? That is indeed a crafted point and commendable were it not so much bulldust. It puts one to mind - a chintz cozy covering a cracked pot.

Not an ad hominem. My observaton.

[Woody]

[Woody]

All I can hope for is that this was a lame attempt at being

provocative. I surely hope no one actually believes such trash talk.

[CoAspen]

Why is it that some are trying to tie up words and attach them to certain topics, religion or polotics? There is a whole world out there of language and thoughts, not everything revolves around religion or politics!!

Maybe for this forum but not everyone else!

Are we seeing the need for a different life around here? Just asking!

[Woody]

Why is it that some are trying to tie up words and attach them to certain topics, religion or polotics? There is a whole world out there of language and thoughts, not everything revolves around religion or politics!!

Maybe for this forum but not everyone else!

Are we seeing the need for a different life around here? Just asking!

Right ON CoA. I agree with you.