"How much of a contrarian are you?" Topic

On a scale of 0 (none) to 10 (max), how much of a contrarian are you? Defined as "a person who opposes or rejects popular opinion."

Depends.

8+ on a good day.

I do NOT!

Probably 11-13. I'm a good candidate for Oppositional-Defiance Disorder. I argue against the majority just because it's there.

Sorry to answer a question with a question, but, how do you define popular opinion?

It's a bit difficult to think of all that many things about which there is a popular consensus.

Kanye West is at least a 6.5 on the nuts-o-meter.
I hate shoveling snow.
Diarrhea is unpleasant.
Car insurance is a necessary evil.
I dislike getting sand in my underwear.
Having new shoes is a mixed blessing.
There are few joys quite like finding out that you didnt really lose your keys after all.
Pomegranates are overrated.
The primary reason that there is still a North Korea is that Japan is downwind.
The moon is awful purty.

6

5

Right down the middle

Only when investing in the market.

I'm a retired teacher and therefore a rule-follower. Being contrary just to be so is a waste of time and energy. However, I appreciate thinking out of the box and creativity if that's what you mean. I'm calling it a 5.

That's an excellent question, and I'm glad you asked it. Many people are talking about contrarianism and its related doctrines, anti-contrarianism and conformism. These are very interesting, and, dare I say, controversial, subjects, and bear substantial consideration. And in that light, I'm going to give the due consideration, all the consideration that they are due.

I reject the premise of the question.

Normally I would consider disagreeing with Parzival but in this case he is totally correct.

There is something about "popular" that makes my skin crawl. Sometimes I can control it but usually I let it ride. Let's face it, most people are stupid and the bigger a group of people is, the more MoronIdioticon particles they're going to release into the atmosphere.
LT

If it is popular I am against it.

I'm usually the last to know what's going on…

Not necessarily. I could be arguing in my spare time.

MoronIdioticon…

The only con we're likely going to be involved with in the near future.

+1 Brass1, and I'm definitely opposed (9) to populism (just another word for stupidity).

Around 8

I'm with Brass1 – stupidity seems to be the norm from where I'm sitting so why should I go along with them.

I can't see why a teacher thinks they are slaves to rules, I did 32 years teaching and was at odds with management most of the time. Looking back I still think I was right and had plenty of evidence to show that.

Populism (in the political sense) is more about manipulating public opinion than actually riding it. I never really went in for fads as a youngster either, definitely a genetic trait, I think, as my kids seem to all have strong views and the nouse to back them up.

I don't hey the scope of the question.

Do you mean is global warming sized contrarian?

I can't help if the rest of the world is wrong. Its not me that's out of step. Popular is often idiotic, wrong and devisive, ego point 1.

"Eat Sh**, a billion flys can't be wrong" sums it up.

I have very little understanding of what popular opinion is. For example,

I dislike getting sand in my underwear.

I didn't realize that large swaths of people had an opinion on HMS Exeter getting sand in his underwear.

I don't reject popular opinion – I ignore it.

I'm not. I come up with reasoned opinions based on evidence and due diligence. Popular opinion – means nothing to me and as stated above, I ignore it.

I'm not a contrarian, YOU are.

:)

It's better to die on your feet than nod obsequiously….

I would say a 7 as I pick my battles. In my games club it has been somewhat of a blessing as I always like the army no one else does.

If you do Romans, I'll likely do the Sassanids or Goths. If you do Greeks I have Persians ready and I have Muslim armies for when you start your Crusaders

youtu.be/29E6GbYdB1c

To be fair UshCha, those billion flies AREN'T wrong. It's perfectly acceptable for them to eat s**t.

5

Why are you asking us about this at this particular moment?

Seriously, Bill ?!?!? You are asking that question of
a bunch of WARGAMERS, who will argue the difference
in the shades 'scarlet' and 'claret' in British officers'
uniform coats C. 1815, who will beat into the ground
the artillery practice of firing by prolong, who
will go on and on and on about 'grapeshot' being Naval
only or a sort of 'super sized' cannister and – well,
you get the idea…

As for me – I'm with Brass 1

You make it sound like it's a bad thing!

6 or 7

What's it to you…?

TGerritson for the win.

Unless you disagree.

When I was younger I prided myself on being the principled contrarian. When I got older, I realized that other people thought I was just a pompous jerk.

They were mostly right, and I try not to do that anymore.

One of my bosses once related to me that one of the other managers had described me as an 'unprincipled bastard'. He corrected him by saying that I was a 'principled bastard'.

I'm happy with that !!! Being called a pompous jerk by mindlessly conforming idiots doesn't make you wrong.

All the good contrarian jokes have been said, so I won't stoop that level.

Oh yes you will!

I thought being contrarian was something required of 'old fogies' I know our family has abided by that tradition for generations. It certainly is apparent in politics today.

I'm against it on principle.

One of the disappointments of getting older is the realization that the received opinion frequently is received for good reasons.

Last Conformist:

Which 'received opinion' are you speaking of. I am receiving opinions all day long, both on-line and socially-distancing.