Has The Backroom Increased Your Understanding of The World

**a completely inoffensive name** · 09-11-2009, 08:05

I learned almost nothing from this place. For the most part, I learned more about someones position from researching it myself and not from their self righteous explanation/elaboration.

One exception:
Around when I first entered, Crazed Rabbit was awesome enough (although a bit hostile in the beginning) to fully explain his pro gun stance which I thought was more sensible then the anti gun people in the thread mostly regurgitating the same appeal to emotions. I have been for the most part pro gun since.

**Fragony** · 09-11-2009, 08:11

My english has improved considerably, but did I learn anything, no not really. Entered at a different stage of my life I guess.

**tibilicus** · 09-11-2009, 09:05

Yes. Not only understanding but my opinions and personality. In short the backroom changed my life..

Forever.

**Evil_Maniac From Mars** · 09-13-2009, 04:11

Originally Posted by a completely inoffensive name

One exception:
Around when I first entered, Crazed Rabbit was awesome enough (although a bit hostile in the beginning) to fully explain his pro gun stance which I thought was more sensible then the anti gun people in the thread mostly regurgitating the same appeal to emotions. I have been for the most part pro gun since.

He [among others] got me too when I joined. I was a raging, isolationist left-winger when I signed up at the .Org (not communist exactly, but an authoritarian social democrat...a little bit between the SPD and the SED/Die Linke). Various events, not least those at the .Org, made me do almost a complete 180. I'd never bothered to research conservative theory before, and when I started, I loved it immediately. Never looked back.

**Aemilius Paulus** · 09-13-2009, 04:15

So I always wondered, EMFM, how is it that you are so authoritarian? Only KukriKhan and me are less libertarian in this whole Backroom. And I am not even completely certain if Kukri was serious...

**Evil_Maniac From Mars** · 09-13-2009, 04:28

Originally Posted by Aemilius Paulus

So I always wondered, EMFM, how is it that you are so authoritarian? Only KukriKhan and me are less libertarian in this whole Backroom. And I am not even completely certain if Kukri was serious...

I think it's the test. If you're on the right-wing of the spectrum, it appears to be easier to be more authoritarian. I came to the conclusion that it's because of issues like abortion (just an example). I see my stance on abortion as guaranteeing freedom for the child, whereas the test appears to see it as opposing freedom for the mother. I don't recall if it asks about gun control at all. Regardless of that, however, my stance has shifted even more to libertarianism in the past year. On more recent political compass tests I fit somewhere between 31, 24, and 47.

I certainly was an authoritarian conservative at one point. My stance shifted from authoritarian socialist/social democrat to authoritarian "conservative" to libertarian-leaning conservative. Interestingly enough, I have retained traits of nationalism/patriotism at all points in that movement. Right now I would describe myself as a national libertarian conservative.

**Beskar** · 09-13-2009, 07:13

I bet you didn't answer "We're citizens of the World" in the test, like I did. In that other thread rating about 'opinion'

**Furunculus** · 09-13-2009, 12:50

i know i certainly didn't ;)

**Ice** · 09-13-2009, 16:08

Yes/no. The old backroom did (the one that I joined back in May of 05) most likely because I was a noob and young the older/more senior members whipped me into place. That's not really occurring so much anymore because I'm now 22 and not 17 (I hope!!! I could still be a noob!)