As you describe it I’ve no problem. Only why not do it on a personal basis instead of it being an FR thing (at least that’s how I interpret your idea...I may be wrong).
***It’s too much work for one person, and such a project would need access to the ability to post Excel files on FR.
Set up your own matrix and see how people fall in place on it. I believe mnehrling had a matrix he posted during the primaries that showed where candidates fell on the political spectrum.
***That was Mnehrling’s matrix, his own interpretation, right? This would be the self-selecting matrix that FReeper answers himself. For instance, for Immigration we might have a question like: Amnesty for Illegal aliens.
1= I agree 2= I think we might have to bite the bullet on this 3= I’m in the middle or can’t make up my mind 4= I think we should find other answers, Amnesty will just encourage more illegal aliens in the future. 5= I disagree
If there were 50 questions and each FReeper could allocate 200 points (or whatever, it doesn’t really matter), then we could see that if they dedicate zero points of importance to this issue and they answer 1, that’s about all I would need to know in how to approach them. Zero points, and they’re logging onto a thread? Fishy. 10 points and they answer 1, it could be an interesting discussion.
Like you, I tend to stay away from those who’ve outed themselves; Paulettes especially.
***Then we need a tool where everyone outs themselves. It is the process of hiding that gives RINOs their power.
Not just because of their political stance but because they pontificate and patronize anyone not in lock step with them. THAT’S why I don’t want something like this to become overbearing. I’ve experienced it from the other end from those yokels.
***Once the yokel is outed, it makes the FReeping interaction with them much simpler and straightforward.
So, go for it. If Jim believes it’s something beneficial for FR, fine. But FR has existed for how many years without such a tool, is it really necessary now?
***Yes, it is necessary. Let’s find out if Jim believes it would be beneficial. From his initial response to it, it looks like a no, but look how you have turned around on this issue once you got past the dismissive stage.
I simply believe in our monitoring our interactions ourselves, calling on the Viking Kitties when necessary to deal with the obvious Troll. It works when needed and also provides an amount of good entertainment; especially when they let us play awhile. That’s something I look forward to...
***This isn’t a tool for dealing with trolls. It is a tool for dealing with people who claim to be conservative but when the rubber meets the road, they really aren’t. They’re CINOs coming alongside the leader of the parade, whispering directions to him and then scurrying back into the crowd when the time for straightforward openness is called for.
I think the matrix he was referring to was from On The Issues. http://www.ontheissues.org/default.htm
(click on a politician and scroll to the bottom of the page for their grid)
I just see something like that as a basic starting point to compare head to head, much better for candidates than other posters. As you pointed out, and I mentioned to bcsco in another comment, it doesn't weigh each individual's issue importance.
Maybe instead of considering it a 'necessity' why not have it as some sort of fun tool There is a group blog site (can't remember the name now) that puts a little political spectrum chart next to each article publisher so you know if they fall under Libertarian or Conservative. The challenge I see with a simple chart, however, is there is no explanation or caveats. For example, a Conservative may, in theory, be for gay marriage, not because he supports gay marriage, per say, but he actually believes in the privacy issue of not listing sex or sexual orientation on any government contract. (just made that up so not a good example but you get the point..)