tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31432976.post115706747070969268..comments2023-08-10T07:41:11.827-07:00Comments on Bajillion: What the hell is a moderate?Tommaso Sciortinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13682166317937996902noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31432976.post-1157146352776333762006-09-01T14:32:00.000-07:002006-09-01T14:32:00.000-07:00Thanks buddy.So... What's the difference between p...Thanks buddy.<BR/><BR/>So... What's the difference between positive and normative evaluation? I'm not asking to be coy. I really don't know how you're using those terms.Tommaso Sciortinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13682166317937996902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31432976.post-1157128467577972072006-09-01T09:34:00.000-07:002006-09-01T09:34:00.000-07:00Look, you can define a term however you want. Defi...Look, you can define a term however you want. Define moderate to mean "person who likes ice-cream" if you want. But given a specific criteria - say, definitions which will help me communicate my ideas better – it can be a bad definition.<BR/><BR/>My criteria are usually a balancing act between "what people understand when I say it" and "what helps us think more clearly". So for example, regardless of how I define communism, I’ll be misunderstood if I define it in a way that excludes Soviet Russia. That’s the “understanding” criteria. On the other hand, if I define communism as “an oppressive system run by leftists” that won’t help me think about the subject clearly.<BR/><BR/>Now, that being said, there’s nothing universal about my criteria. You once explained a criteria for the true definition of “tragedy” that seemed to draw on how ancient Greeks used the word. In context, that’s certainly a useful definition for understanding the Greek plays.<BR/><BR/>So in conclusion, I feel that “moderate = person who comes to his/her opinions out of solemn contemplation away from the maddening crowd of partisanship” fails my criteria. It’s not a definition that fits with how most people use moderate. It’s not a definition that helps me understand politics better.Tommaso Sciortinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13682166317937996902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31432976.post-1157087748053441402006-08-31T22:15:00.000-07:002006-08-31T22:15:00.000-07:00I once heard sommeone try to define moderate as in...I once heard sommeone try to define moderate as in "moderate tone". Meaning, I suppose, someone who comes to his positions via thought instead of just following partisan dogma. Or maybe he meant someone who keeps a moderate tone when discussing politics. Either way, trying to define the word that way puts you in a losing battles against the English lanauge.<BR/><BR/>I find it clearer to define moderate as "someone who advocates incremental change". In a way I suppose that's just "procedural conservatism".Tommaso Sciortinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13682166317937996902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31432976.post-1157087615465554112006-08-31T22:13:00.000-07:002006-08-31T22:13:00.000-07:00I think you're definitely right about many "modera...I think you're definitely right about many "moderates" claiming the title because they "enjoy moderation for moderation's sake"; I think it makes them feel fair-minded. Sort of a variant on the "Aren't I great for having a black/gay/poor/HIV-positive friend?" theme.<BR/><BR/>I also think people are often labeled as moderate in virtue of their lack of conviction, or at least the appearance of it. You're too ill-informed to know where to stand on an issue? You're a moderate! You don't care enough about your position to be energized or motivated by it? You're a moderate!<BR/><BR/>If politically passionate people make you uncomfortable, you might be a moderate.Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13510253316398518908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31432976.post-1157073371890955432006-08-31T18:16:00.000-07:002006-08-31T18:16:00.000-07:00As far as I can tell, those calling themselves mod...As far as I can tell, those calling themselves moderates are ones looking for a label that does well in focus groups.Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03750127998898485597noreply@blogger.com