FluffyLiberal

Counter-example: "Wogs are bad.  British are the best.", "My country right or wrong.", "Gays/pinkos/rockmusicians are evil and ruining this country.". --DR

I don't see this at all.  I'd say that doing this is simplistic, yes - but does it have anything to do with Fluffy-liberalism?  Other than to suggest that suferring from advanced fluffy-liberalness is largely associated with the simplistic?  --Vitenka

The fluffy worldview tends to be a simplistic one, of the form "the people of Iraq are nice people suffering under an evil tyrant. Getting rid of said tyrant will create world peace within our lifetimes". The pragmatic view is "there are as many evil gits in Iraq as anywhere else, and in the chaos created by the fall of a government they'll have free reign". - CorkScrew

I'd draw the distinction between liberal as a philosophy and, for example, Liberal Democrat as a party. - CorkScrew

Um - I point out that the 'liberal' part has a fairly specific meaning, over and above fluffiness.  --Vitenka

Point accepted, it's just that extreme fluffiness tends to sprout as a subset of liberality. Right-wing folk tend to be more pragmatic. Come to think of it, I think the correct phrase is actually wooly liberal but I misremembered it. - CorkScrew

Yup - "Wooly minded" - to imply slowness of thought as well as cushioned from reality, but fluffy is definately out there as an equivalent term.  I suppose it's reasonable on a page with this title, but the definition is sounding more than a leeetle bit biased :)  --Vitenka

In what way? I vote libdem and only write right-wing stuff if it'll trigger interesting discussions - CorkScrew

Text above could describe "Fluffy", but not, in general, "Liberal". "PessimisticConservative?" is a similarly biased stereotype. Not that there isn't some truth at the root of both.. ;) -MoonShadow

I'd say the associated stereotype is self-centred, cynical Conservative. Of course, these days the political parties have such similar policies that the stereotypes don't apply. - CorkScrew

I've just tried to wonder to myself how to define 'FluffyLiberal' without associating 'liberal' with 'wooly-minded' and drawn quite a blank.  It's intended to be a term with a pointed meaning, so defining it any other way won't work :)  --Vitenka

Optimism.  That's what I'd say the fluffy bit boils down to.  If you base your philosophy on "things will go well and people can be trusted to act in everyone's best interests" then it's being fluffy.  --Vitenka

"Overoptimism" maybe. People aren't always antisocial, but you can't rely on it not happening. Personally, I blame story books ending wth "and they all lived happily ever after" for indoctrinating children early. - CorkScrew

Certainly likely to be a big part of the basis of it, yes.  Whether it is a bad thing or not, no idea.  --Vitenka

"Animals are people too" - Animals are not smaller, cute, immature humans.  People who assume they are, are not just optimistic, they are lacking in deep thought. --DR

"The Earth is our Friend." - gaia theory gone wrong.  inappropriate anthropomorphisation as a substitute for deeper understanding. --DR

Any belief that combines two or more of the following: crystal healing, homeopathy, coloured auras, chakras, reincarnation, lucid dreaming, astrology. --DR

Not necessarily fluffy - what matters is whether you're rigorous about it or not: "So you think you can astral project, huh? Well, project into the next room and tell me what card I'm holding up". - CorkScrew

Belief in a mystical 'countryside' in which life is simpler, better, easier and more comfortable. --Requiem

Good grief yes. People seem to forget that there was a reason why we moved into towns, and it was something to do with not having a ten--mile walk to the shops - CorkScrew

It's more the complete lack of understanding that the countryside is dirty, and has rats and wasps and cowpats and you just have to put up with the church bells at 9am on Sunday and the cockerel crowing at the dawn. --Requiem

Well, in Cambridge you get that last anyway, but I take your point. - CorkScrew

Excellent interiew. Must read more Atlantic articles. In particular, the linked articles on Zimbabwe are very interesting. - CorkScrew

Well, he's certainly not afraid to say what he thinks. - MoonShadow