Apolitical Tropers, sound off.

A thread for those who either don't know their place among the political spectrum, or those who just feel that they're always forced to vote between a Giant Douche or a Turd sandwich.

Right here. I have my moral standards and principles that I'll always abide by, however, I simply cannot get my head around the ins and outs of advanced politics. I'm not qualified to have an opinion on it, so I stay out of it.

To me, I tend to keep myself away from politics to seek a higher ground, or to at least make myself feel happier. By the way, is there a term or trope for people who absolutely despise politics?

Well I'm just confused where the heck I stand because I'm LGBT and disabled friendly amongst other liberal things yet the political compass says I'm a democratic socialist but do they cancel each other out or what?

Sounds like you might be around centre-left going by that description. If you were pro-Gun or pro-Life along with being left-wing, it might cancel out.

I do want tougher regulation such as federally requiring drug tests, personality test and blood tests (because a increase of testosterone would cause a shift of flight or fight to fight mode amongst other stress hormones) Also certain myer Briggs respond differently.

Yeah, original post was ridiculously long and did make it seem like I was being political. Bottom line, I just don't like either "wing" or the two "main parties" of the US, more on a logical principle and annoyance at actions than a standpoint . I just want actual, sane, competent people in the government. It seems the few people that are in our history have been those that put their talents towards wars than politics. If politicians put half the energy towards thinking out and acting on bills that would help not just as power plays as they did with stopping people from opposing standpoints, we would likely be out of debt and the closest thing to a Utopia that is possible in this current world.

edited 25th Apr '17 2:56:59 PM by Schlck72

@Mhazard Yes, the trope is Only Sane Man

Well, I think it might be "Political Nihilism"

Is it an absolute to call out that both sides see in absolutes? Like how the Left is quick to call anyone that disagrees with them a Nazi while the Right would call you a Communist if you don't agree with them 100%?

edited 24th Apr '17 7:00:22 AM by TheFarmboy

Apoliticism implies not only apathy towards politics, but can also imply antipathy.

I'd rather steer clear of generalizations/absolutes of those political sides bases on the actions of a few/some political actors/participants (the types you mentioned who used political terms as insults exist, but they're not much better than commenters on YT or FB). That being said, the current poltical spectrum lends itself well to a form of competition-based democracy, which is not conducive to decent policy-making (particularly long-term policy, due to the way some (most?) elections are conducted nowadays). And, in a competition, you're gonna find dirty/rude/dishonest players.

edited 29th Apr '17 11:33:52 AM by Quag15

Honestly, although I have a lot of sympathy for left-wing ideals, I view all political conflict, like human nature in general, through very cynical and pessimistic lenses. Thus I can't be bothered to throw support behind any particular ideology, or commit to activism or voting or anything like that. I'm a misanthrope, and I believe everybody sucks in their own way.

Hey, a board made for my overall political viewpoint! Finally! Really getting tired of people looking down on me either for making jokes related to real life injustices happening around the workd or simply supporting that travel ban Trump implemented months ago.

I haven't really took that political compass test to know where I am at, but I think I lean more towards libertarian right mostly on the sole notion that its the side where I can get the guns and weed (gangsta side).

Other than that, I am pretty much indifferent when it comes to politics.

You know what's weird? I actually studied politics at university for three years... and by the end of it, I actually came out less political than I was before.

I think the issue with politics is that it's impossible for any one person to truly know everything that goes on in their domain. I remember thinking about this while I was waiting for the train to go to work one day, and I realised how difficult it is for me to grasp the amount of time, effort, money and resources that goes into making the trains run every hour of every day. And that's just one aspect of society. There's thousands more. Because of this, everyone has vastly different ideas on what's 'good' and what isn't.

Broadly speaking, I'd say I'm a Centrist with possibly a dash of Libertarian, if only because I agree with personal freedom on principle, but also think that there ought to be compromise and communication between feuding parties. I can sympathise with people who'd rather just cut the bullshit and get right to work, but I feel as though that attitude may lead to short-term gains but also increases the chance of long-term damage.

Even so, there's just so much arguing that sometimes seems quite pointless, too many people who can't be reasoned with, and people who prioritise taking sides over communication, I don't really want to get involved. I'd much rather set an example to others through simply being a good person, or failing that, at least adapt and aspire to personal happiness.

edited 23rd May '17 11:27:09 AM by PresidentStalkeyes

Bump.

So, it's nice to find a thread for people like me. I consider myself apolitical mostly because I feel that politics brings out the worst in people and makes them act like utter dumbasses. Instead of discussing things in a civil manner, people would rather try to shove their opinions down your throat and act like they're in the right. I also feel that some people here have this tendency as well. So, I basically prefer to keep as far away from politics as possible.

I find politics, and the mindsets of people who discuss them at length, both too exhausting and too toxic to really have any kind of sensible conversation about most of the time. There have been exceptions, mostly in the arena of discussing political theory, but any time someone brings up politics as a serious "who would you vote for" conversation, I just bow out, because I see the entire thing as pointless. While I hate to use such political buzz words, the term "echo chamber" comes to mind when getting stuck into a conversation with anyone who attempts to profess the merits of their political views and the demerits of those they disagree with. It either turns into a series of unanimous head nodding or a vicious argument.

I have a family member who since the last presidential election has become both increasingly political and increasingly radicalized. They're fond blasting political internet shows from their tablet at top volume, borderline demanding I try to watch said shows with them, and almost singularly talking about the evils and demerits of that side they hate, in the barest form of a black and white moral viewpoint and at the slightest hint of an opportunity, even if the subject matter has nothing at all to do with politics. Rather than talk to me and discuss the matter, they talk at me. It's like trying to have a sensible conversation with a loudspeaker blasting political propaganda, and that's annoying no matter where you fall on the political spectrum.

As an aside note, I consider myself center-left, but increasingly find both side's viewpoints and methods infuriating. And I realize there are people out there who one can have a reasonable conversation with out there, they're just increasingly hard for me to find.

I have ask you guys. Does being apolitical also influence what You Tube channels you guys watch?

Since I don't come onto Youtube to search out political stuff or anything of the sort, I'll have to say no.

Yeah, all the youtube channels I subscribe to are entertainment-based, so there's little to no mention of any politics there (you may get a joke about Trump or Hilary, but it's never the focal point of the video).

Depends. 90 percent of the time, doesn't affect a thing because I don't watch political things on Youtube.

There are a few things - I have Ad Block for Jon Tron, because I don't like his beliefs and don't want to fund them, but he's still moderately funny.

I stopped watching Nostalgia Critic because the politics started getting too overt in the videos and I didn't care for it. I felt like it was really taking the quality out of the videos. But most of the time, no problem.

I tend to think of myself as "mostly conservative"; I just don't like to talk *cough ramble cough* about the issues. I have enough family members to do that (even if other people aren't listening or interested).

Wooboo, I can sympathize with you.

edited 20th Jan '18 5:18:32 PM by Starbug

I know I'm not old enough to vote yet, but most people my age don't find politics confusing and stupid like I do.

Honestly, same. Was politics at some point in history not always constant mudslinging, or was it always like that?

I've seen some really old poltical cartoons, yeah, it was like that back in the day as well.

Edited by J79 on Mar 1st 2019 at 9:48:40 AM

Funny, I thought it was a lot of mind games and power plays. Guess it's only like that in books.

I don't care for politics save for when they directly affect me