The Compass and its assumptions

[Monarchist]

Hi everybody,

Today I took the Political Compass for the first time in several years. Surprising results.

I'd like to have a discussion on the beliefs and presumptions behind this test. Is there a bias in any/all of the questions? If so, in which way? Do you agree or disagree with your own results?

[Monarchist]

To start the ball rolling, I'll give my own score, and examine the questions that bugged me the most:

Economic: -2.5
Social: -3.28

These stats put me in the "Left Libertarian" camp (the green area); so, I'm slightly more authoritarian than Nelson Mandela and a bit to the right of Gandhi. This seems to be wrong. Perhaps the test is correct, and my libertarian streak would bring me to think that my personal views about individual choice are integral to how I view politics, whereas other, less libertarian people, would be inclined to separate the two things.

Here are some of the questions that bug me in the test:

If economic globalisation is inevitable, it should primarily serve humanity rather than the interests of trans-national corporations.

I can't really agree or disagree with this. There are distinctions to be made that aren't made in the question. Why does globalisation have to serve either "humanity" or trans-national (multinational?) corporations? What's "humanity", here? Is there no way to find a middle-road where both may thrive -- perhaps even because of each other? It seems to be only the sort of question a Left-leaning person would ask. It's not very neutral.

No one chooses his or her country of birth, so it's foolish to be proud of it.

Is it asking whether it's foolish to be proud of the country of one's birth, or whether it's foolish to be proud of having been born in that country? I can be proud of Canada without having been born there, for example. Why is this worded so strangely?

People are ultimately divided more by class than by nationality.

I believe both are equally divisive, and needlessly so.No option for that?

Controlling inflation is more important than controlling unemployment.

Control exercised by who? What if I don't want any "control" exercised on either of those things? Again, no option?

Abortion, when the woman's life is not threatened, should always be illegal.

No option for 1st trimester, 2nd trimester, etc.? Or maybe that's just a reflection of how little nuance there is in today's debate?

A significant advantage of a one-party state is that it avoids all the arguments that delay progress in a democratic political system.

Is this a question of whether we agree with the morals behind that statement, or whether we believe that statement is simply, practically true?

The businessperson and the manufacturer are more important than the writer and the artist.

This one's particularly annoying to me. They are all equally vital to a healthy society. You can't compare apples to oranges.

No one can feel naturally homosexual.

I believe it's neither a choice nor "natural" -- just as heterosexuality is not a choice nor natural. Puberty strikes, and our friends, family, self-image, experiences, etc., combine to create our sexual identity during those times. Now, where's the option for that?
After re-examining these questions and answering differently, I find my position has changed since just a couple hours ago.

Economic: 0.13
Social: -2.92

Anyone else have thoughts about any of these?

[Prodromos]

Yes it is biased. Apparently it misunderstands what the Right's beliefs are, and also treats leftism as good and the rightwing as bad. been a long time since I did the test, but I still remember it listed a variety of tyrants as right wing. A lot of questions are also worded quite weasely.

[BatGoat]

Yes it is biased. Apparently it misunderstands what the Right's beliefs are, and also treats leftism as good and the rightwing as bad. been a long time since I did the test, but I still remember it listed a variety of tyrants as right wing. A lot of questions are also worded quite weasely.

I concur. I looked at this a few weeks ago, out of interest, and yes, some of the question are skewed towards a certain outcome.

[Diocle]

I concur. I looked at this a few weeks ago, out of interest, and yes, some of the question are skewed towards a certain outcome.

And you guys are surprised?

Being here from 2008 and having written more than 10.000 posts and having interacted with tens of TWC moderators, let me say that .. I'm not surprised by your absolutely correct conclusions.

[BatGoat]

And you guys are surprised?

Being here from 2008 and having written more than 10.000 posts and having interacted with tens of TWC moderators, let me say that .. I'm not surprised by your absolutely correct conclusions.

You needed to post 10,000 times to come to that conclusion?

[Cyclops]

Bizarre, in my country I am considered a benevolent conservative, this has me in the Libertarian Left, as libertarian and nearly as left as Gandhi. Wut?

[BatGoat]

Yeah, it tends to skew everything towards the left. Because you know, deep down we're all progressives and want our hand outs.

[O'Hea]

Well, for one thing it factors in your belief in astrology. For another, if you look at "the US primary candidates 2016" it rates everyone except for Sanders as a Right-Authoritarian.

I'm not a fan.

[sumskilz]

Well, for one thing it factors in your belief in astrology.

Not only that, but it links belief in astrology with authoritarianism. There are numerous other issues. It assumes Libertarians are people who dislike art and think it's cool for businesses to commit fraud.

[DaniCatBurger]

I have never cared much about the compass because when I observe my political thoughts I find in most cases good reasons to disagree with myself.

[fkizz]

I took the test a few years ago when I had different political views. Took it again, with some siginificant changes. I get practically same results. It's biased and skewed yes.

Also assumes right wing as neoliberal by default on economical part. No room for libertarian or neo classical.

[Sir Adrian]

I don't understand why Monarchist is surprised. It is impossible to come up with an objective and 100% valid political compass test simply because no human alive is capable of being perfectly objective when beliefs and opinions are discussed. Questions being biased towards the author's point of view, even involuntarily, is a given for any test of this type, even IQ tests are highly biased towards one aspect of intelligence/skill or the other and unlike political tests there is clear and well known quantification method.
For political tests you have to come up with the numbers by yourself, and how do you scale an anti-coporatist pro Bernie homophobe who doesn't really care about gays if they shut up and a pro-abortion activist who believes the state should pay for abortions only if the life is threatened or rape was involved and who support's trump's fiscal plan.

[justicar5]

Well, for one thing it factors in your belief in astrology. For another, if you look at "the US primary candidates 2016" it rates everyone except for Sanders as a Right-Authoritarian.

I'm not a fan.

It applies European standards to US politics (or maybe blends) and by that count...all the candidates are, Sanders is barely centerist.

[justicar5]

Bizarre, in my country I am considered a benevolent conservative, this has me in the Libertarian Left, as libertarian and nearly as left as Gandhi. Wut?

it does break left right into up down as well, so that may throw things.

[conon394]

@OP

Well I think the basic problem is the nature of any poll or any questioning. The choices if limited and written by an individual with a view point are always a constraint or open to manipulation.

Aside, I did the test 3 times and I ways come out in the low XY Green corner. But the problem is you can see the skew. I think the best one is the land use one (sorry cut and past failed me on a Firefox reboot). One question - not several to develop a refined answer. Land should never be a commodity or some such to be bought and sold. That's it. No way for you to say well I believe in Public lands and resources held in the public trust and also in private land use and ownership as well. Nor is there is any way to indicate you have no opinion. The survey drives the response it wants or presupposes - everything is not black and white.

Also terms can be loaded as in do you support welfare or such. I suspect many Republicans in red states in the US would cry welfare Queens etc. But they STFU when it comes to farm subsidies and tax breaks for their farmers. A definition of terms is important because me I see no difference between the two.