Would you slap your father? If so, you're a liberal

[SallyMander]

Really interesting Op-Ed in the NY Times! http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/28/opinion/28kristof.html

If you want to tell whether someone is conservative or liberal, what are a couple of completely nonpolitical questions that will give a good clue?

How’s this: Would you be willing to slap your father in the face, with his permission, as part of a comedy skit?

And, second: Does it disgust you to touch the faucet in a public restroom?

Studies suggest that conservatives are more often distressed by actions that seem disrespectful of authority, such as slapping Dad. Liberals don’t worry as long as Dad has given permission.

Likewise, conservatives are more likely than liberals to sense contamination or perceive disgust. People who would be disgusted to find that they had accidentally sipped from an acquaintance’s drink are more likely to identify as conservatives.

The upshot is that liberals and conservatives don’t just think differently, they also feel differently. This may even be a result, in part, of divergent neural responses.

[Echo In Light]

1. Since when does one 'need questions' in order to tell?

[scheming daemons]

2. The "disgust" factor is why conservatives are such lousy lays....

They only do it missionary style, with the lights off, and under the covers.

After all.. exchanging bodily fluids is "icky" to them.


If they would be grossed out by accidentally drinking someone else's drink... how could you expect them to ever go down on someone?

[Echo In Light]

4. Bingo

[SallyMander]

5. LOL!

:spray:

[Echo In Light]

9. Brings to mind the bumper sticker: Mean People Suck, Nice People Swallow

[imdjh]

11. I've always thought that sticker was disgusting.

Some things just don't play well on the ear, even if they don't have the same effect in practice.

[Echo In Light]

13. What's implied is in stark contrast to prevailing sexual/gender propaganda

That likely plays a part in people's reactions.

[comtec]

60. I guess that'd make me both

mean AND nice ;)

[demwing]

26. Hmmm...would it surprise you to know

that the former grosses me out, but the latter is very enjoyabale? It aint all cut and dried :)

[lumberjack_jeff]

3. Interesting.

The most radically conservative freakshow I ever knew could be rendered completely incoherent with four simple words:

"I touched your food"

FWIW, I never touched his food, I just find apoplexy entertaining.

[SallyMander]

6. Hahahaha -- awesome

:rofl:

[La Lioness Priyanka]

7. um yeah. i have major problems with the first scenario. as i bet do most non westerners

[scheming daemons]

8. If you'd slap a conservative, with or without their permission, THEN you're a true liberal...

;-)

[smirkymonkey]

48. However if you punch them really hard, you are a progressive.

:evilgrin:

[joshcryer]

65. And if you shoot them dead? You're a revolutionary.

:D

[imdjh]

10. Don't take the test unless you want to register - it's required to see your results nt

[imdjh]

22. I take that back- take the test to see the questions

It makes it seem like you have to register to take the test- you don't. You can take the test without registering, but at the end when you click for results it asks you to register.

[imdjh]

23. Here are the questions

You may view this survey, but only registered users can receive results.
Please register or login before completing our surveys.

Click here to register. or click here to login

Please indicate how much you agree with each of the following statements, or how true it is about you.

Please choose a number (0-4) to indicate your answer:

0 = Strongly disagree (very untrue about me)
1 = Mildly disagree (somewhat untrue about me)
2 = Neither agree nor disagree
3 = Mildly agree (somewhat true about me)
4 = Strongly agree (very true about me)

I might be willing to try eating monkey meat, under some circumstances.
Strongly disagree 0 1 2 3 4Strongly agree


It would bother me to be in a science class, and to see a human hand preserved in a jar.
Strongly disagree 0 1 2 3 4Strongly agree


It bothers me to hear someone clear a throat full of mucous.
Strongly disagree 0 1 2 3 4Strongly agree


I never let any part of my body touch the toilet seat in public restrooms.
Strongly disagree 0 1 2 3 4Strongly agree


I would go out of my way to avoid walking through a graveyard.
Strongly disagree 0 1 2 3 4Strongly agree


Seeing a cockroach in someone else's house doesn't bother me.
Strongly disagree 0 1 2 3 4Strongly agree


It would bother me tremendously to touch a dead body.
Strongly disagree 0 1 2 3 4Strongly agree


If I see someone vomit, it makes me sick to my stomach.
Strongly disagree 0 1 2 3 4Strongly agree


I probably would not go to my favorite restaurant if I found out that the cook had a cold.
Strongly disagree 0 1 2 3 4Strongly agree


It would not upset me at all to watch a person with a glass eye take the eye out of the socket.
Strongly disagree 0 1 2 3 4Strongly agree


It would bother me to see a rat run across my path in a park.
Strongly disagree 0 1 2 3 4Strongly agree


I would rather eat a piece of fruit than a piece of paper
Strongly disagree 0 1 2 3 4Strongly agree


Even if I was hungry, I would not drink a bowl of my favorite soup if it had been stirred by a used but thoroughly washed flyswatter.
Strongly disagree 0 1 2 3 4Strongly agree


It would bother me to sleep in a nice hotel room if I knew that a man had died of a heart attack in that room the night before.
Strongly disagree 0 1 2 3 4Strongly agree



How disgusting would you find each of the following experiences?

Please choose a number (0-4) to indicate your answer:

0 = Not disgusting at all
1 = Slightly disgusting
2 = Moderately disgusting
3 = Very disgusting
4 = extremely disgusting

You see maggots on a piece of meat in an outdoor garbage pail.
Not disgusting at all 0 1 2 3 4Extremely disgusting


You see a person eating an apple with a knife and fork
Not disgusting at all 0 1 2 3 4Extremely disgusting


While you are walking through a tunnel under a railroad track, you smell urine.
Not disgusting at all 0 1 2 3 4Extremely disgusting


You take a sip of soda, and then realize that you drank from the glass that an acquaintance of yours had been drinking from.
Not disgusting at all 0 1 2 3 4Extremely disgusting


Your friend's pet cat dies, and you have to pick up the dead body with your bare hands.
Not disgusting at all 0 1 2 3 4Extremely disgusting


You see someone put ketchup on vanilla ice cream, and eat it.
Not disgusting at all 0 1 2 3 4Extremely disgusting


You see a man with his intestines exposed after an accident.
Not disgusting at all 0 1 2 3 4Extremely disgusting


You discover that a friend of yours changes underwear only once a week.
Not disgusting at all 0 1 2 3 4Extremely disgusting


A friend offers you a piece of chocolate shaped like dog-doo.
Not disgusting at all 0 1 2 3 4Extremely disgusting


You accidentally touch the ashes of a person who has been cremated.
Not disgusting at all 0 1 2 3 4Extremely disgusting


You are about to drink a glass of milk when you smell that it is spoiled.
Not disgusting at all 0 1 2 3 4Extremely disgusting


As part of a sex education class, you are required to inflate a new unlubricated condom, using your mouth.
Not disgusting at all 0 1 2 3 4Extremely disgusting


You are walking barefoot on concrete, and you step on an earthworm.
Not disgusting at all 0 1 2 3 4Extremely disgusting



When was last time you ate a meal or substantial snack?
Within the last hour
1-3 hours ago
3-6 hours ago
More than 6 hours ago










| Contact us at webmaster at yourmorals dot org | Thank you for your interest.

[WI_DEM]

12. sorry, but I would feel uncomfortable slapping my dad or mom in the face even with there permission

this is typical bullshit.

[SallyMander]

14. It's not bullshit -- it's a study

that showed an interesting trend. Nowhere does it say "ALL conservatives will do A, and ALL liberals will do B."

A significant trend in statistics just means that the results happened more frequently than one would predict based on chance.

:hi:


ETA I have not seen the original study, but would like to try to dig it up!

[imdjh]

20. I took the test.

I couldn't get the results because I don't want to register. Like most studies, we're given to believe that the researchers can glean knowledge through the mystery of seemingly unrelated or oddly worded questions. In other words- I saw holes in it, like I always do.

[no_hypocrisy]

15. I wouldn't slap my father if I were intoxicated or otherwise.

What a stupid premise.

[scheming daemons]

17. As part of a comedy skit, with his permission.... that's the premise...

....

[no_hypocrisy]

24. I'd still have to be drunk to even consider it.

You don't know my father . . . .

[Seldona]

66. If it were part of a comedy skit, it wouldn't be 'slapping' him.

It would be acting like your character was 'slapping' his character, even though I doubt they do the real thing in acting. Perhaps some do, but I sure wouldn't slap anyone as part of a play for real, nor expect a real slap from any other actor. I would act like I did, however.

[teenagebambam]

16. Interesting that the common thread is FEAR

[La Lioness Priyanka]

18. no its not. its respect for the elderly in the first instance. nt

[EOTE]

46. My folks might slap ME if I ever called them elderly. NT

[La Lioness Priyanka]

49. elder than me, in this context is elderly. i wouldnt slap my parental generation

neither would 95% of people in my culture. the other 5% are abusive/assholes.

[teenagebambam]

51. Re-read the context

re: "comedy skit". I come from a family of actors, we would visit any abuse upon each other, ON STAGE, to get a laugh or applause.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

53. i did. again, this is clearly only applicable to western cultures

and isnt so much a conservative issue

[mitchum]

19. I'd slap my father with a public restroom faucet

Dad, I'm just kidding!

[scheming daemons]

27. ... and then drink his milkshake

[Bunny]

21. I would have never slapped my dad, no matter what the circumstances.

And I will not touch the faucet after I just washed my hands, that's why you use the paper towel to turn it off.

Send me my Conservative membership card.

[nolabels]

29. As a mechanic i only wash my hands before doing my bussiness

Can urine be used to treat an ear infection?
ttp://www.home-remedies-for-you.com/askquestion/7583/question-on-ear-infection-can-urine-be-used-to-tre.html

[OhioChick]

32. I agree with you...

So, apparently I should be getting my Conservative membership card soon.

[SallyMander]

33. See post 14!

:hi:

[OhioChick]

35. I understand it's a study....

I just don't buy it!

:hi:

[SallyMander]

37. Cool -- I am a nerdy biologist

and i see many of my students who don't know how to interpret results, so i am always trying to explain this! Certainly there can be disagreements with methodology, if you have sufficient background in the field (which i don't, in this case!). But this attitude of "well it doesn't apply to me so it must be bullshit" is just incorrect and shows a misunderstanding of statistical analysis.

/nerd

[OhioChick]

40. Biologists aren't nerdy!

:)

[Richardo]

41. You don't mind bein' a wee bit Scottish, do ya?

[Bunny]

42. That might get my Irish up.

But what the hell! :pals:

[Bucky]

25. Question: Is Sean Hannity willing to adopt me?

[RaleighNCDUer]

28. I have slapped my father, not only with his permission but at his insistance.

He was my drama teacher in HS, and he used me to help him demonstrate a stage slap, the difference between kinds of stage slap, when you can fake it and when you have to actually do it, how to cup the hand to make a 'pop' that will carry to the back of the theater...

It never even occurred to me that it was in any way disrespectful - just two actors practicing their craft.

[NC_Nurse]

30. Well, that's bullshit. I would never slap anyone. Period. I'm not into hitting

people, no matter what the circumstance.

[jesus_of_suburbia]

43. same here. I never have and never would hit another person for any reason.

[jesus_of_suburbia]

45. oops.. actually I would if someone was hurting me and I couldn't escape otherwise.

or if someone was hurting someone else and it was the only way I could help (but I really can't imagine that scenario because I could just wrestle them to the ground and try to hold them.

[canetoad]

31. OK, here's another one

BBC science and nature website - Disgust. http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/mind/surveys/disgust/index.shtml

Not aimed at uncovering political persuasion but very interesting.

[TexasObserver]

34. I wouldn't slap anyone's father or mother.

Anyone who slaps another person should have to wear a sign that says "I am unable to control myself!"

Goes double for anyone who would slap their child.

But as part of a comedy skit, with permission? That would depend on the nature of the skit.

[Stevenmarc]

36. No but I would tip the restroom attendant to slap him.

[QueenOfCalifornia]

38. I guess I am

a closet freeper because I never, ever touch the public bathroom anything unless I use a paper towel and if my Dad were alive, I would never dream of slapping him. I just could not.

Now if it was my mother I would be willing to slap her into the canyon behind my house.

[pipi_k]

52. Can I join the club?

I guess I'm another closet Freeper as well.

I would NEVER dream of slapping my father (if he were still alive) even if he gave permission.

I did, however, give my mother a good kick once but only because she was slapping me and pulling my hair and I figured it was self defense.

As far as touching anything in the public restroom goes...I don't mind touching stuff in there as long as there's plenty of soap and water for washing my hands afterward. And when I'm done I use a paper towel to turn off the faucet and open the door. So once I'm done washing, yes...I have a particular disgust toward touching anything in the restroom that someone else with pee or poo on their fingers might have touched and never washed their hands.

I'll tell you what really disgusts me, though..

Some bathrooms that service staff use in restaurants. The signs are there..."Employees must wash hands before leaving the restroom".

BUT....no soap. Or no paper towels. And even if they do use these things, they go and open the door with clean hands and touch filthy doorknobs then go out and put cheeseburgers together. Yum yum.

:puke:

[RaleighNCDUer]

54. A little slip in the logic there -

"...touching anything in the restroom that someone else with pee or poo on their fingers might have touched and never washed their hands"

If they didn't wash their hands, how did their pee or poo get on the faucet?

[ecstatic]

64. lol. yuck! And not very comforting! nt

[QueenOfCalifornia]

61. Your membership card

is in the mail. :)

[NorthernSpy]

39. I would not have slapped my father, skit or no.

How’s this: Would you be willing to slap your father in the face, with his permission, as part of a comedy skit? (...) Studies suggest that conservatives are more often distressed by actions that seem disrespectful of authority, such as slapping Dad. Liberals don’t worry as long as Dad has given permission.

If that's liberalism, someone else can have my share.

[seabeyond]

44. no, i couldnt/wouldnt slap father. not about authority, about hurting another

not into hurting another at all, and wouldnt do it.

[scheming daemons]

47. If part of a comedy skit and with his permission, then it isn't "hurting" another...

...

[rucky]

50. What about all the uptight liberal germaphobes I know?

[Chemical Bill]

55. If you slap your kids, you're conservative.

At least my old man was.

Bill

[scheming daemons]

56. +10

[cbc5g]

57. That may have to do more with how people were raised than what ideology they have now

[Solly Mack]

58. Cool! Thanks for posting!!!

[a la izquierda]

59. I'm blessed with a dad who has...

a phenomenal sense of humor, particularly with me (I'm his oldest, and the only child he has contact with from my folks' marriage). We're more like buddies now, than father and daughter-that doesn't mean I don't respect him. We just have a great relationship, after years of not having one at all. If it were a skit, and I had his permission, I'd give him a slap. He'd probably laugh too hard, though, as I think I'd have to stand on a chair to reach his face.

[ecstatic]

62. I guess I'm a freeper then

I hate germs and I wouldn't feel comfortable slapping my dad. :crazy:

[aikoaiko]

63. Slapping your father in a skit is acting, but faucet germs are fuckin real.