Sunday, September 1, 2013

There's More to Living Than Kelly Green

KELLY GREEN.
I recently spotted an online "Social Attitudes Test" (click here to link to the test) posted on facebook by an acquaintaince. It purported to measure one's radicalism, socialism, and tenderness based on 30-or-so questions. A few people I know had already taken the test and felt it summed them up fairly well.

I've always thought of myself as considerably left of center in my social and political opinions. Out of curiosity, I took the test. Here are the results:

Political Values

Radicalism 99.5
Socialism 87.5
Tenderness 56.25

"These scores indicate that you are a progressive; this is the political profile one might associate with a university professor. It appears that you are skeptical towards religion, and have a pragmatic attitude towards humanity in general.


"Your attitudes towards economics appear communist, and combined with your social attitudes this creates the picture of someone who would generally be described as left-wing.

"To round out the picture you appear to be, political preference aside, an egalitarian with primarily strong opinions."



Well! I was shocked by the radicalism score of 99.5. When we lived in San Francisco and worked across the bay at UC Berkeley, the City of Berkeley installed parking meters along a busy commercial street. A group of activist citizens went through with a chain saw, cut the tops off the parking meters and planted flowers in the hollows. Although I found their action artful, I also found it highly inappropriate, expensive, and infuriating. I would think that drops me much more than half a percentage point from the pinnacle of radicalism. In Berkeley, I often felt like a conservative. (Gasp!)

Socialism at 87.5? Well, my capitalist friends (and my socialist friends, too), that's probably not far off.

Tenderness, 56.25? That disappointed me. I think sometimes I might be at 99 or even 100. But, admittedly, at other times I could likely be as low as 30... So, maybe true. Still, I don't know how I feel about that. Perhaps it means that, although I'm tender (more than half way to the top, after all), my rational mind is in charge. Maybe I'm giving myself too much credit.

I'D LIKE TO SEE HER ALONGSIDE KELLY GREEN.

THE BEST KIND OF CLOTHES FOR A PROTEST POSE?

Communist? Well, the results simply say that my "atttitudes towards economics appear communist" — only my economics. And "appear" being the operative word. But that's as political as I'm going to get because, believe it or not, that isn't even the point of this post.

A FASHION MANIFESTO.

Win the Revolution with Style
Oddly, what made me think of this was the man I saw on the street the other morning wearing kelly green. That made me think of a song in the musical "Grey Gardens" in which the words "There's more to living than kelly green" are sung. And, since that song is called "The Revolutionary Costume for Today," that made me think of my own supposed radicalism and how, while living in Boston, I gave the preppy look a shot (L.L.Bean, but never kelly green) and I was like a fish out of water. I could never pass for a preppy. I then took a walk over to the Saturday flea market at the Fair Grounds, where I was pleased to see strolling and for sale a lot more than kelly green. And that left me singing the song for the rest of the day. If you watch the video, this post and the photos will all make sense... I hope.

Da da da da dum...


36 comments:

  1. I had almost the exact scores that you had and was equally surprised. I've never seen myself as having communist tendencies and I'm not really an activist, although I do tend to say my opinions out loud and often in inappropriate situations....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maria:
      Some of the questions might have been a little unclear, but it was still an interesting test.

      I TRY to avoid confrontations due to my political/social opinions, but there's a song called "Be Political/Not Polite" by Romanovsky & Phillips that reminds me sometimes it's important to say those things aloud.

      Delete
  2. Okay, you made me curious, so I took the test:
    Radicalism: 85.75
    Socialism: 31.25
    Tenderness: 62.5
    It suggested that I would lean toward libertarianism (nope) but think like an idealist capitalist, with few strong opinions (Ha! That's a hoot! Just ask my friends and family if they think that I DO NOT have strong opinions*LOL*!!!). I seem to have a balanced attitude toward humanity, in general. Hmm.

    Have a lovely day/evening down there in sunny Espagne! It's probably hotter here today than there!
    Judy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Judeet:
      Fascinating... I'm glad I didn't get that "lean toward libertarianism" comment. That would not have sat well with me either. I'll bet your friends and family are having a good laugh. As for me, I trust the results. You are and easy-going pushover with no strong opinions and you are extremely well-balanced (wait, don't think that's what they really meant)...

      We have had a beautiful summer here with few days above 90, most in the low- to mid-80s. Ideal weather for me. Still too hot to go out in the mid-day sun for San Geraldo.

      Delete
  3. Me - Rad. 80.25. Soc. 43.75. Tenderness 50.

    First paragraph comments were the same as yours.....But I notice your ahead of me in all categories, whatever that means...

    ReplyDelete
  4. And my grammar is deficient, too. Or my spelling.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kristi:
      Don't worry, no one was testing English-language skills. (Then again, if you were a stronger socialist, "you're" spelling skills might improve!)

      I find that "Tenderness" category interesting. Wonder what specifically is meant by that.

      Delete
  5. OK! Guess I'll take the test too! Be right back....

    ReplyDelete
  6. Results:
    Radicalism 85.75

    Socialism 100

    Tenderness 53.125

    No big surprises here for me I guess. Guess we better move to Sweden!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jim:
      I was going to say Sweden gets kind of cold, but then I remembered where you currently live.

      Delete
  7. Love the pretty dresses!!
    Sophie made me say it!

    ReplyDelete
  8. If you are disappointed in the amount of tenderness, try a good marinade.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Spo:
      Marinade?!? You mean COOK?!? I guess I'll just have to accept that I'm tough.

      Delete
    2. Or a good pounding; that sometimes makes the meat more tender.

      Delete
  9. I scored exactly as you did with one exception: my tenderness was a few points lower. I'm tough in my radicalism.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Walt the Fourth:
      I am so curious to understand what they're truly measuring for "Tenderness." I'm tough, too, but I still thought we were a couple of sweethearts.

      Delete
  10. Interesting. Got to try this, BRB.

    OK, that was fun:
    Radicalism 99.5
    Socialism 56.25
    Tenderness 56.25

    Well, it seems I'm radical but not as socialist or as left-wing as I thought I was. It goes on to say:

    "Your attitudes towards economics appear neither committedly capitalist nor socialist, and combined with your social attitudes this creates the picture of someone who would generally be described as a political centrist.

    To round out the picture you appear to be, political preference aside, an egalitarian with several strong opinions."

    I thin Mr K. Green looks rather dapper. I like green!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Judith:
      Ooh, I like green too, but those pants and that combo were a bit much for me.

      So glad to know I'm not the only extreme radical in the bunch.

      Delete
  11. Had to try this...I am so self-absorbed...I thought I was more radical than an 85.75 but, alas I have a conservative streak!
    Radicalism 85.75
    Socialism 87.5
    Tenderness 59.375
    These scores indicate that you are a progressive; this is the political profile one might associate with an animal rights activist. It appears that you are skeptical towards religion, and have a pragmatic attitude towards humanity in general.

    Your attitudes towards economics appear communist, and combined with your social attitudes this creates the picture of someone who would generally be described as left-wing.

    To round out the picture you appear to be, political preference aside, an idealist with several strong opinions.

    Seems we have a lot in common, but I'm not sure what "tenderness" really measures in this survey. I've hardened over the years, but a good story can still make me cry.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Frank:
      Wow. Given your writings, I also would have expected your radical score to be higher! I'm going to see go in search of the meaning of "tenderness" in this survey. Very curious.

      Delete
  12. My scores for 'Socialism' and 'Tenderness' correspond with Frank's, above, EXACTLY.
    Only 'Radicalism' scores fairly significantly higher @ 94.
    To all of which I can't decide whether to say "Well, there you are!" or "Phooey!"

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Raybeard:
      Can't believe I could be more radical than you! So, well there you are AND phooey!

      Delete
  13. That "tenderness" score can't be right, not for someone as devoted to people as you are. I see much tenderness in the way you refer to your brother, the DD and Jerry. Take care and have a great week.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Stephen:
      Thanks. I tried to find an explanation of the term as used in that test, but I couldn't. I hope you're right! Hope you're off to a great week yourself!

      Delete
  14. Mitch: Re your comment that you can't believe that you could be more radical than me. Oh, I can. I'll have you know that up to my mid-20s (precisely for the time I was, coincidentally, a die-hard, devoutly practising R.C.) I was also a rabid political reactionary, hurling insults at anyone who I perceived to be to the left of Joseph Goebells. That's bound to have left some deep scars which, try as I might, just refuse to be washed away.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Raybeard:
      I understand. I had a friend who in the 60s was a rabid radical, atheistic, left-wing hippie. BA few years later, he had a bought a farm in upstate NY, was married, and had 2 children. By the 80s, he was a rabid conservative, ultra-orthodox Jewish, right-wing moralist.

      So glad you went in the other direction!

      Delete
  15. Mitch: Yes, me too. Question is - why did it take so long to see the light? - and for your former friend to 'enter the darkness'!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Raybeard:
      It doesn't matter how long it took. You SAW the light. As for that other one, maybe he's come around again.

      Delete
  16. thanks for the link to the test. Interesting

    Radicalism 83
    Socialism 75
    Tenderness 62.5

    These scores indicate that you are a tender-minded progressive; this is the political profile one might associate with an animal rights activist. It appears that you are moderate towards religion, and have a balanced attitude towards humanity in general.

    Your attitudes towards economics appear socialist, and combined with your social attitudes this creates the picture of someone who would generally be described as left-wing.

    To round out the picture you appear to be, political preference aside, a devoted egalitarian with several strong opinions.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HK:
      So nice to be in the company of other radical socialists who are more than half tender.

      Delete
  17. Political Values

    Radicalism 63.75
    Socialism 56.25
    Tenderness 53.125

    These scores indicate that you are a moderate progressive; this is the political profile one might associate with a university professor. It appears that you are skeptical towards religion, and have a pragmatic attitude towards humanity in general.

    Your attitudes towards economics appear neither committedly capitalist nor socialist, and combined with your social attitudes this creates the picture of someone who would generally be described as a political centrist.

    To round out the picture you appear to be, political preference aside, a devoted egalitarian with several strong opinions.

    Oddly, yes, I would agree with their conclusions,
    but I'm definitely NOT a university professor...
    :D~
    HUGZ

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, Ticklebear, you appear to be much more balanced than some of us! But, don't worry, there appear to be a lot of potential university professors in the crowd.

      Delete

Please visit www.movingwithmitchell.com if you would like to comment or stay up to date. I stopped posting here and reproduced all previous posts, as well, 25 September 2018. Thanks!!!