Extremist political positions among Aspies

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First of all, I apologize if this topic comes across as trolling or inflamatory. I don't mean it to be so.

As people who hit this forum probably know, I'm a pro-war centrist. I consider myself very balanced politically, and my political compass test results (http://www.politicalcompass.org) support that (-2 capitalist/socialst, .05 libertarian/authoritarian).

Since coming to these forums, I've seen some extremely far out opinions expressed.

--9/11 was performed by a world-controlling Zionist cabal.

--People with IQs under 100 should be sterilized, and people with IQs under 120 should be slaves to the "smart people".

--The government should consist entirely of people with mental conditions such as Aspergers.

--All americans deserve to be killed because they elected a "terrorist" gov't. Even the ones that didn't vote Bush should be killed because they haven't overthrown him yet.

--Parents should be punished legally for passing on "bad genes" to their children.

--Republicans shouldn't be allowed to vote.

--Believing in God or any other diety is a form of mental illness

--Technology should be destroyed, and people should live a life more in harmony with the planet, without electricity or cars.

I'm not arguing against people being allowed to express their opinions - one of the great things about this forum is that people with beliefs and opinions that run against the grain are allowed to expound on them, and others are willing to debate them as rationally as possible.

My question to all of you is - why do you suppose it's a common trait among us Aspies to take extremist positions on political and social issues? And why, to a large extent, do these beliefs run towards leftism in general, both libertarianism/anarchism and extreme authoritarianism?

That's a good question, McJeff. I tend to think in black and white, not the gray areas inbetween. Something is either right or it's wrong. I can usually understand both sides of an issue, but will reject one (or both ) as being wrong, usually on moral grounds. And, since I know that I am right, I get very impatient with people who don't accept my point-of-view.

I think that the extremist viewpoints come about for multiple reasons: 1) Aspies are often very intelligent and can independently come up with odd thoughts 2) Aspies are social outcasts and do not really feel close to current establishments and Aspies are more likely to feel rejected which can lead to extremist viewpoints 3) Aspies have an odd view of the world as opposed to an average person(often greater tendency towards black and white thinking), they have less connection to the world as it is and a common trait is a feeling for social injustice as well as a greater tendency towards odd mental characteristics.

All of these combined create a tendency towards odd viewpoints; without 1) the aspies would be forced to conformist viewpoints due to lack of ability for the abstractions required for political philosophy, without 2) the aspies would be pushed into conformist viewpoints due to a closer bond to the world and more normalizing forces because of that, without 3) aspies would be more inclined towards more normalized thought and would not go towards the extremeness that black and white thinking tends to cause.

I have read thoughts similar to the ones you had described on other forums though. I don't think that odd politics is something that only aspies have but the craziest voices are often the loudest. It is hard to say how far away aspies are from the norm, forum posters tend to be the craziest because being on forums is a part of being "loud".

Anyway, I am conservative according to the political test.
Economic Left/Right: 3.75
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: 4.00
I used to favor leftist views on economics but after a while I started to accept the idea that the market was an effective way to deal with such things because of how it naturally rewards productivity and efficiency and satisfies with societal desires, not only that but I also started seeing the capitalist system as one I could possibly benefit from.

I have noticed that many aspies take extremist political views, but that kind of thinking isn't just restricted to those aspergers. I like to browse political forums and the majority of people on them, whether aspies or NT's are extremists. There are just as many NT extremists as aspies.
I also noticed that many people with AS tend to be a little more balanced and understanding on many issues than NT's. A lot of aspies usually understand both sides of the political spectrum and can see why other people feel the way they do, although there do tend to be a lot of black and white thinkers here, just like anywhere else.
I also think like that, although I try to be as open-minded and understand where other people are coming from, no matter how psychotic and wrong they're views are and how smart and unquestionably right mine are.

-D-BONEZ

Has anyone bothered to look up the poll that was put out awhile back on political parties? The vast majority of people here are very liberal and non-religious. Hence, most of these kinds of people would logically feel that the Republicans shouldn't vote and that any religious people are just whackos.

Someone was trying to bring the question up earlier about why there are so many people who are both leftist and on the spectrum. I don't think we ever really came to an answer on that. Personally (if you've read anything I've written in here, you should already know this), I'm conservative, religious and most of those ideas are complete crap.

Edited for language. Sorry guys.

I think were all looking into this abit too deeply. Lets have a breather go outside and realise the real word has this thing called fresh air to enter into your lungs. Ok it sometimes contains chemical pollutants but thats because the Elitist Illuminati don't want you to think too much for yourself.

I've taken the Political Compass test before. It does seem very biased - almost everyone I've read who has taken it seems to get called 'left-wing' - even most right-wingers. It claimed I was left-wing and libertarian, although I'd probably see myself as being centrist/centre-right and liberal.

Some of the things the OP listed seem scary, to say the least...

I don't vote so don't worry about my weird-ass psychotic views coming to fruitition. Also please know that while I personally would benefit from slavery being reinstated, i recognize that it just simply wouldn't be done right. I want white slaves dammit. And i want them to be the non-criminal types. If slaves were the non-citizens, the unreformable criminals, it would be difficult getting a white, non-criminal slave. The most effective method i think would be to clone a white human and adopt another perverted, evil policy dealing with the rights of cloned humans. What I hope to come to pass is using genetic manipulation it will be possible to make human shaped animals capable of the logical thought of humans, but they dont naturally have any desires but eat, sleep, and dispose of waste. Or they WANT to be slaves(it isnt that impossible, plenty of totally normal people enjoy being dominated.) Which to some is even MORE evil.

So even though i would really enjoy this(It is one of those things i'd establish if i was the absolutely powerful despot in a very corrupt world.) i can recognize how bad of an idea it would be to try and establish it in reality. And since i vote don't, and my views are socially shunned(and it isn't getting any less shunned) you can rest assured they shall never come to light.

With the interests of other people in mind, i am more of a democrat probably.

Every group has its share of extremist, childish nutcases, and obviously, that includes aspies.

If you've met one aspie then you've met one aspie. There are a lot of non-extreme aspies, just as there are a lot of extremists in the NT society. The extremists (in both groups) tend to seek publicity and often get it. You're seeing extremist aspies here because, well, this site is full of aspies. If you want to see extremist (and hypocritical) NTs all you have to do is tune in to any religious debate on CNN.

I'm personally a libertarian, which means in my view the world would be a much better (and happier) place if people would stop trying to force their beliefs onto others.

A lot of extremism is in the eye of the beholder, too. Right-wing zealots from the conservative Christian camp don't realize they are extremists. They've brainwashed themselves into believing that they represent the views of the average citizen in a western democracy, and therefore see anyone who disagrees with them as a radical leftist even if the opposing view is moderate and logical.

It can also go the other way around. And somehow, it always manages to be the moderates (especially those who are moderate on the conservative side) who always get flamed...

Personally, no one should force others to believe what they believe. That's your choice and not mine. However, I'm going to keep believing what I believe, whether you think that's right or wrong. That's my choice and not yours.

As Aspies, we tend to get very opinionated, especially with people who disagree with us. I am a minority on this board--a committed believer in Jesus Christ, and a political conservative. I feel very strongly about my opinions, but I believe that those who disagree with me also have a right to express their opinions as well. I have a right to my own opinions. I have trouble with those on this board who have to flame anybody whose opinions they disagree with--this is the epitome of intolerance. Let's be civil on this board.

Would any of you consider that part of the reason that extreme views in Aspies are more common compared to that of NTs is because a lot of us have trouble or an inability to look at multiple sides of an issue?

To use the example of the guy who wanted to de-technologize the world and prohibit people from breeding to reduce the population as an example. It seemed that he was unable to see the back side of his proposal - that doing so would create an elite ruling cabal and a citizenry with absolutely no way to stand up for their own rights, because the cabal would still have all the benefits of high technology and the citizens wouldn't even have weapons.

Or the guy who said all americans should die for having not overthrown Bush yet... how, exactly, are we supposed to overthrow the President? By storming the whitehouse when he's there and lynching him?

It's why I haven't joined a lot of my fellow foreign-policy conservatives in condemning all of Islam for the protests over the cartoon - because I draw a line between protesting and rioting that the media doesn't. And what was I doing as the only conservative in a field of liberals in whatever topic it was on this forum besides protesting? Rioting is different - and nowhere besides from that Vandike guy have I heard anyone express the opinion that people should be punished for the actions of others.

"...and nowhere besides from that Vandike guy have I heard anyone express the opinion that people should be punished for the actions of others."

Does anyone really take his posts seriously though?



As for hte topic at hand, as has been said, all groups in the world will have extremists. Aspies are not exempt from it.

And since others have done it, time for political compass!

Your political compass
Economic Left/Right: -8.25
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -5.49


100th post, hooray for me.

I think that there are actually more aspies/HFA's who lean to the right, but they are usually older, more experienced, and more reserved about their opinions.

I think that younger ones take a leftist view for the same reason that most younger NTs do. Much of their worldview is determined by what they most expose themselves to (i. e. the entertainment industry), and they haven't gotten to that plateau where they absolutely have to take a stand for something completely on their own.

I find myself shifting. My personal views remain the same (moderate/fiscal conservative), but my faith in the leadership gets challenged a lot, regardless of what label the predominate factor of an administration wears.