The awful meme
Here's a meme that I'm meta-completing. It's written in a way to clearly show which answer is "right," and seems to be pretty popular. For any given question, I'll list why it's inane and full of weasel words in addition to answering it.
[01] Do you have the guts to answer these questions and re-post as The Controversial Survey?
Clearly not.
[02] Would you do meth if it was legalized?
This question mostly seems aimed at people who want drugs legalized. It's similar to the question "If gay marriage were legalized, don't you think people would start demanding human-animal marriage?" It's equating all drugs with one. Anyhow, no. Meth is yuck.
[03] Abortion: for or against it?
This question equates being pro choice with being "for" abortion. Clear "correct" answer to it. Pro-choice here, but everyone knows that.
[04] Do you think the world would fail with a female president?
Given the timing of this meme, the undertext of this question is that you can't both agree that a female president would be potentially successful and fail to support Palin. Obviously, I hae no problem with a boobular president.
[05] Do you believe in the death penalty?
This question seems to purposefully blur the line between an ontological query (i.e. "The death penalty exists.") and a moral judgment (i.e. "The death penalty is a moral imperitive."). In any event, sentencing someone costs more than keeping them in jail for life. Cutting the costs of sentencing people to death would inevitbly result in more false positives and more innocent people being executed. I'm ag'in it.
[06] Do you wish marijuana would be legalized already?
Eh, this one seems straightforward enough. Yeah, I think it should be legal.
[07] Are you for or against premarital sex?
This one is a bit bothersome because the implication is similar to the abortion question. I have no problem with sex outside of marriage, but I don't think that other people are obligated to take part in it. By answering "yes" to being "for premarital sex," you're implying that everyone should try it.
[08] Do you believe in God?
Technically I'm an agnostic, but I think that any god's existence is very unlikely.
[09] Do you think same sex marriage should be legalized?
I think the concept of marriage as a state recognized status is foolish in general, but short of removing it from legislature entirely, I think there should be same sex marriage.
[10] Do you think it's wrong that so many Hispanics are illegally moving to the USA?
Again, this question blurs ontological and moral judgments. It is factually correct that they are moving to the United States. As for morality? It seems ironic to maintain an economy supposedly based on capitalistic values (which is to say "every man for himself"), then judge others for trying to enter the country when it's to their personal benefit. In the same way, it's in the benefit of this country to limit their entrance to the country, so I don't see any kind of breach of ethics on either side.
[11] A twelve year old girl has a baby, should she keep it?
Is this a question of abortion or if she's already had it? I would recommend getting rid of it in either case. A twelve year old body isn't prepared to deliver a child. A twelve year old child isn't prepared to raise a child of her own.
[12] Should the alcohol age be lowered to eighteen?
No. Alcohol causes enough damage for the 21 and up crowd.
[13] Should the war in Iraq be called off?
Loaded and intentionally polarized question. There's no simple answer to this question, and it's too ill defined.
[14] Assisted suicide is illegal: do you agree?
Ontological vs. moral again. This question is set up to force you to agree, as assisted suicide is undeniably illegal in almost all parts of the United States. That being said, I don't have any problem with it.
[15] Do you believe in spanking your children?
When I see parents spanking kids, it seems like a mark of laziness to me. Other nonviolent punishments are more difficult to administer, but end up teaching kids that disputes and problems can be solved with words.
[16] Would you burn an American flag for a million dollars?
For a million dollars, I would do most stuff. Burn a flag? Not even a question.
[17] Who do you think would make a better president? McCain or Obama?
Obama.
[18] Are you afraid others will judge you from reading some of your answers?
That the writer of the quiz would think something this tame could embarrass shows that they're kind of a prude.
[01] Do you have the guts to answer these questions and re-post as The Controversial Survey?
Clearly not.
[02] Would you do meth if it was legalized?
This question mostly seems aimed at people who want drugs legalized. It's similar to the question "If gay marriage were legalized, don't you think people would start demanding human-animal marriage?" It's equating all drugs with one. Anyhow, no. Meth is yuck.
[03] Abortion: for or against it?
This question equates being pro choice with being "for" abortion. Clear "correct" answer to it. Pro-choice here, but everyone knows that.
[04] Do you think the world would fail with a female president?
Given the timing of this meme, the undertext of this question is that you can't both agree that a female president would be potentially successful and fail to support Palin. Obviously, I hae no problem with a boobular president.
[05] Do you believe in the death penalty?
This question seems to purposefully blur the line between an ontological query (i.e. "The death penalty exists.") and a moral judgment (i.e. "The death penalty is a moral imperitive."). In any event, sentencing someone costs more than keeping them in jail for life. Cutting the costs of sentencing people to death would inevitbly result in more false positives and more innocent people being executed. I'm ag'in it.
[06] Do you wish marijuana would be legalized already?
Eh, this one seems straightforward enough. Yeah, I think it should be legal.
[07] Are you for or against premarital sex?
This one is a bit bothersome because the implication is similar to the abortion question. I have no problem with sex outside of marriage, but I don't think that other people are obligated to take part in it. By answering "yes" to being "for premarital sex," you're implying that everyone should try it.
[08] Do you believe in God?
Technically I'm an agnostic, but I think that any god's existence is very unlikely.
[09] Do you think same sex marriage should be legalized?
I think the concept of marriage as a state recognized status is foolish in general, but short of removing it from legislature entirely, I think there should be same sex marriage.
[10] Do you think it's wrong that so many Hispanics are illegally moving to the USA?
Again, this question blurs ontological and moral judgments. It is factually correct that they are moving to the United States. As for morality? It seems ironic to maintain an economy supposedly based on capitalistic values (which is to say "every man for himself"), then judge others for trying to enter the country when it's to their personal benefit. In the same way, it's in the benefit of this country to limit their entrance to the country, so I don't see any kind of breach of ethics on either side.
[11] A twelve year old girl has a baby, should she keep it?
Is this a question of abortion or if she's already had it? I would recommend getting rid of it in either case. A twelve year old body isn't prepared to deliver a child. A twelve year old child isn't prepared to raise a child of her own.
[12] Should the alcohol age be lowered to eighteen?
No. Alcohol causes enough damage for the 21 and up crowd.
[13] Should the war in Iraq be called off?
Loaded and intentionally polarized question. There's no simple answer to this question, and it's too ill defined.
[14] Assisted suicide is illegal: do you agree?
Ontological vs. moral again. This question is set up to force you to agree, as assisted suicide is undeniably illegal in almost all parts of the United States. That being said, I don't have any problem with it.
[15] Do you believe in spanking your children?
When I see parents spanking kids, it seems like a mark of laziness to me. Other nonviolent punishments are more difficult to administer, but end up teaching kids that disputes and problems can be solved with words.
[16] Would you burn an American flag for a million dollars?
For a million dollars, I would do most stuff. Burn a flag? Not even a question.
[17] Who do you think would make a better president? McCain or Obama?
Obama.
[18] Are you afraid others will judge you from reading some of your answers?
That the writer of the quiz would think something this tame could embarrass shows that they're kind of a prude.