Maybe you only notice the more liberal stuff because it's what bothers you. I notice cockroaches way more often than I notice flowers. I'm with Hunter. It's fairly even.

Being 16, I'm not a political expert. I tend conservatively, probably because my parents do. I belong to a church, I believe in God, etc.

So it's always kind of a wake-up call (probably not a bad one) to slip over into the forum and look at what's going on with all the chat topics. They're almost ALL political or religious, and more than half are either very strongly liberal or very strongly anti-religion.

The latter seems to be much more common - or it was, a little while ago. Seemed like you couldn't poke the forum without turning up someone complaining about religion - either a specific one or about the whole idea in general.

So that brings me to the question - why? Why does this particular website attract that type of conversation? What makes it so popular? Why does it come back up again and again? And am I part of the whole affair now?

Thoughts?

Hmm. Apparently I'm movin' too slow, the follow-up reply missed being the first.

I'd like to emphasize that I'm not saying it's a bad thing, I'm just curious.

Wait, "more than half" makes this "the most freakin' liberal website on the planet?" What websites do you go to?

*Stukus

Not sure, but I was presuming when I first saw the thread name that he was being at least a might bit facetious.

@ Stukus- lol.
[Way off-topic, but curious. Do you keep your point total like that on purpose?]

I think the liberals are a bit louder or post more often, but It's pretty close to 50/50 (60/40?). Also, a lot of players are European so their views will obviously be different.

Stukus: Well, obviously I'm excluding Subnormality here...

Huh. I do wonder why I notice.

Conservatives (like myself) generally are more private and don't go preach to other people on the forum.

In short, extroversion is correlated with liberalism.

I would say that webDip has a surprisingly balanced political ideological average. Most community websites are considerably left leaning, so it is actually abnormal to have the political equilibrium that we see here... not sure where your seeing your 'most liberal website on the planet' type material. It should be noted that I am a staunch conservative as well, and do not see the apparent liberal bias you are observing.

I think this site and game attracts certain types of people with a worldly view, and thus, it generates discussions on politics, religion, and a whole host of other debates. I think the ideological split is quite even, although some people tend to make better arguments than others. I, probably like a lot of others, quite like going through the posts and seeing what I agree with versus what I don't. It can also inform your opinions about certain topics, and also question your beliefs about others.

I think it is quite unique and special that a community has been created here through a game, but it has also turned into a space where people can freely, and hopefully intelligently, discuss different issues with other people whom may not share the same views as you. For instance, in real life, you may not know so many liberal people with whom you can talk to about divisive issues, but here is a place where you can. So enjoy it!

:D He was obviously exaggerating to draw in more posters. Don't be too hard on him, lol.
The majority of internet users are somewhere around late teens to mid-twenties. And the majority of this demographic is also democratic/liberal, so it goes without saying that most public internet sites will be biased towards the left.

Well, I didn't do it on purpose, but now that you point it out, prominent declarations do attract more people...

@SirBayer - perhaps it shows that the website has a high proportion of intelligent free thinkers so that we see a good number of skeptics.

Perhaps us Europeans are more prepared to questions and not trust the status quo.

Strange too - when I was sixteen the last thing I wanted was to be like my parents :-)

I don't think I would go that far Hammac. :P

@hammac - your apparent notion that free thought concludes liberalism (not in the classic sense, more like leftism) is absurd.

personally, i think its sweet that this website is strongly liberal and anti-religion. but one thing i can think of as to why theres lots of liberals- maybe its already been mentioned here or maybe im just completely wrong, but liberals tend to be younger than conservatives, and younger people tend to be more inclined towards technology and using the internet, meaning theres a greater chance of liberals ending up playing diplomacy online then conservatives

ah, im just repeating what hunter said. sorry.

Why is it absurd to question religion? Or to have a different opinion from you?

Also there is a good number of Europeans on this website, who tend to be more liberal than Americans

"Why is it absurd to question religion? Or to have a different opinion from you?"

It isn't, everyone should seek knowledge for themselves. But it is absurd to say that all 'intelligent free thinkers' are liberals, or that Europeans are more likely to question then Americans.

Hammac: That's not the point he's making. He's saying that conservatism is not close-mindedness. I should be pretty damn aware of that myself.

There's no absurdity in asking questions; rather, there is absurdity in making assumptions.

That right, Kaptin Kool?

How about 'Europeans are more likely to question AND reject' religion than Americans.

Correct :-)

^@SirBayer

There just aren't any good, big pot games right now. I'm not intentionally at 666. : (

@ Dingle- I'm not sure about the stats regarding religious Americans versus religious Europeans, but it is possible. :)

Every poll ever taken shows Americans more religious than Europeans.

(I think this weeks Economist had a graph even, though it may have been an older issue. I am slow to read them)

:D ok then. Europeans are more likely to question/reject religion.

But his initial statement seemed to be about more then just God, "Perhaps us Europeans are more prepared to questions and not trust the status quo." I could easily make the argument that Americans are more likely to question their government. I think intelligent people (most Americans are of European decent, anyway :-]) as a whole are inquisitive.