Okay, I admit it. I actively practice political profiling.

This started innocently enough before the 2000 election cycle. I assessed everyone I met as to their political leanings. It wasn't all that big a deal, but it happened. I mostly discounted it as a mild and harmless form of OCD .... or something like that.

But now, in 2007, it is automatic and its serious. My ears tend to roll shut when I suspect one of being a right wing nut (anyone left of the American dead center is, to me, a nut). I tend to get openly hostile when I am certain one is a right wing nut. I have lost a bit of my former politeness and grace. I really don't give a fuck about political nuts anymore - just as they, no doubt, don't give a fuck about me.

More recently, I have also begun religious profiling. If I conclude that someone could have had an on camera roll in the movie 'Jesus Camp', playing themselves, they get nothing from me. Not even the time of day. My religious profiling is omnidenominational. I can discount a Roman Catholic (my own religious background) as easily as some snake handling/tongue-speaking backwoods evangelical.

I hope this condition is temporary. As I stand here, days before my 60th birthday, I fear it is not.

and readily admit it. Although, I have been doing it longer than 2000.

happy birthday. Mine is only 3 weeks away.

affiliation is a choice and is a valid reason for assuming that an individual holds certain beliefs and values. The same goes for other statuses that a person chooses - that is, characteristics that are NOT innate. Religion (for adults), occupation, social associations, etc., all fit this category.

About the only characteristics that do not are gender and race.

Therefore, I also, do not feel that I am being UNFAIRLY prejudicial in presuming that, for instance, a repuke is racist or a cop is more likely than a social worker to beat my brains out for fun.

Tell me how this is wrong.

Unlike qualities we are born with, such as our race and sexual orientation, these are actual choices that a person makes and can often (but not always) be indicative of that person's values. Unfortunately, some folks parrot certain ideas because they have been indoctrinated with them through the MSM or by a general failure to question authority. This can come as a result of upbringing or overall suggestibility. I'm somewhat sympathetic toward these folks and try to look for so-called "teachable moments" in such cases.

when it comes to dating. I'm on match.com and democraticmatch.com. Just...can't...do...a republican.

A "beautiful" woman grows mighty ugly mighty fast if she starts blathering right-wing propaganda. On the other hand, the reverse is definitely true too.

JACKIE TREEHORN: People forget that the brain is the biggest erogenous zone--
THE DUDE: On you, maybe.

Especially when I'm driving.

Last year I was on my commute home, when a truck roared by me on my right - in the bike lane - in order to get one car length ahead of me. As I had to make the next left, we ended up stopped right next to each other at the stop light. As we both had our windows down, I smiled and called out to him - "you must be a Republican!". He looked puzzled, but nodded: "Yeah, why do you say that?" "Well, you don't seem to care about the law, and you have a serious 'me-first' attitude. Have a nice day!" And I drove off as my light had changed, leaving him with his jaw resting on his floorboard. :evilgrin:

I had another similar experience around the same time-frame. I was exiting the freeway. At the bottom of the off-ramp, you could be in the right lane to turn right, or the left lane to go straight or turn left. This idiot in a lifted jeep is in the left lane, which is a lot shorter than the lane turning right. However, when the light turns green, he makes a right hand turn, almost side-swiping me as I was also making my (legal) right hand turn, and shifting over a lane to the left in preparation for an upcoming turn (also legal). We had a similar talk at the next light as well, except this time the re-puke driver simply started spewing profanity at me.

It's amazing how many times the really crappy driver up ahead of you has some kind of republican kool-aid bumper stickers on. :eyes:

Very Republican.

I'm right with you, except I have some years on you, both in age and "profiling". Mine started during the Bush/Dukakis campaign. Having some Greek background, I saw what was happening and I starting giving it right back.

You know that infamous picture of Dukakis in the tank? Well, if it had been Poppy, it would have been readily accepted as the elite Anglo who was a WWII vet. But no, it was one of we "swarthy people" and it made no difference that Dukakis was a vet of the Korean war, who very well may have ridden in a tank. The trump card.....he looked uncomfortably like an Arab in a tank and they played it to the hilt (this while Poppy was playing footsie with the Saudis). They also took after Kitty, with her one time addiction to prescription medication and to his brother who had mental problems and then went after Dukakis, because his family was placed in the terrible position of having to have the brother removed from life support following an accident.

Do you remember that group of Bushies? Then four years later, they went went on a still active and personal vendetta against Clinton. Now days, Poppy stands in tears, at a loss as to why people are negative about sonny-boy. Well, look at the whole Bush cartel. Little by little and not fast enough, we're learning how to play THEIR nasty game. It's nasty, but I can enjoy it.

I can honeslty say that the old white men in suits gave me more money than the stereo typical LOOKING Liberal when I was a DNC fundraiser.

I'm not saying you go this far, but I have a thick Southern accent and a general "conservative" manner of dress and hair style- folks out here in SF assume I'm a Republican all the time. It kind of pisses me off.

I do it all the time.

Right now, I'm convinced my cat is a Republican. :)

Maybe it's a 50-something thing. I'm not even trying to 'get better'.

Happy Birthday a few days early !!