Remember "that" kid in your school? The one the other kids couldn't stand?

[tjwash]

You know, the one that would say stuff like "excuse me Miss Jones, you can't dismiss us, you haven't assigned us homework yet!"

According to a 20 year study done at Berkeley, they usually grow up to be Conservatives. I know, big suprise, right?

Remember the whiny, insecure kid in nursery school, the one who always thought everyone was out to get him, and was always running to the teacher with complaints? Chances are he grew up to be a conservative.

At least, he did if he was one of 95 kids from the Berkeley area that social scientists have been tracking for the last 20 years. The confident, resilient, self-reliant kids mostly grew up to be liberals.

The study from the Journal of Research Into Personality isn't going to make the UC Berkeley professor who published it any friends on the right. Similar conclusions a few years ago from another academic saw him excoriated on right-wing blogs, and even led to a Congressional investigation into his research funding.

[NicoleM]

1. I did that once (the homework thing).

In high school. I felt really stupid as soon as I said it, probably because the entire class groaned.

I didn't whine to the teacher all the time, though.

[NNN0LHI]

2. Where did the class clowns end up in that survey I wonder? n/t

[tjwash]

3. In the DU lounge probably. nt

[jojo54]

4. This study really isn't any surprise.

Think about it, the whiners in school looked to the teacher for help and to do their dirty work, instead of facing and solving the problem themselves.

Sound familiar?

[DrGonzoLives]

5. I'd like to believe this is true

Thing is, the only reference I can find to this journal are mentions on various blogs about this study. The APA doesn't mention it, nor, it seems, anyone but the Toronto Star.

I think this was humor that got picked up as news, frankly.

[yellowcanine]

6. It would be fun to believe this but color me skeptical. Who is making

the judgement on what constitutes a "whiny kid" or what constitutes a "conservative", for that matter. I suspect a lot of "self-selection" is going on, which pretty much sinks any social science study as far as its scientific value.

[leesa]

7. Well, they haven't changed. I think their predominate trait is always

casting blame somewhere else for their own behavior. I think it's why they behave badly...because they believe they can always blame someone else. I see it in my own family and aquaintances who are conservative.

[joefree1]

8. I think this is a big generalization

I would break it down to include the following ...

The kid who got beat up a lot because he was such a (unfunny) wise ass.

The kid who was so insecure he sucked up to all the jocks, but never participated in sports.

The kid who was a pet to the campus security cop (aka the campus snitch).

The kid who parroted his parent's warped racisms, sexism, homophobia, etc.

Not all kids from the above groups went on to become repukes. Some were able to change and become great comedians, i.e., "my family was so f**ked up ...

[tjwash]

9. I wonder if "Larry the Cable Guy" was one of those?

nt

[stanwyck]

10. Columnist Bob Greene wrote about this

years ago. He contended that Republicans were the kids who weren't popular in school. Or, at least, not with other students. More often with the teachers.
I think he's also the guy who said that "politics is show business for ugly people."
And, it is.
I'd like to think the majority of our elected officials really want to make positive changes for our country.
But, then there's the Tom DeLay, Bill Frist, Katherine Harris, and Rick Santorum breed who are mainly interested in self promotion and soaking up the spotlight. American people be damned.
And now we have the whole horde of rightwing hate-talker/"celebs". Who knows what these people actually believe. They don't walk it in real life like they talk it. Coulter isn't a happy homemaker taking care of her man. Rush is a drug-abusing, multiple divorced guy who used to be on unemployment. And Newt "family values" Gingrich is now on his third marriage, failed to pay child support, and has had numerous ethical violations.
They're celeb animals. Whatever it takes to get in the glare of the cameras.
They don't believe what they're saying. Like Jessica Simpson, they don't wear the jeans they're shilling for...it's just money. They're hucksters.