What is a "centrist" anyway?

Most people I know who claim they are centrists are people who don't have any political opinions at all with regards to most issues. Or they are simply uninterested in politics in general.

To me a "centrist" is a person who follows the mainstream idea on everything. It was therefore "centrist" to attack Iraq because "the media and the president said so".

Politically speaking, a "centrist" can be someone who doesn't deviate "too far" from the "Washington Conventional Wisdom" (i.e., what's OK to all those people chatting at cocktail parties).

I've also heard people describe themselves as "centrist" simply because their views didn't neatly match either "liberal" or "conservative" stereotypical views.

I regard both of the above definitions as useless and (sometimes intentionally) misleading, since neither really requires being in the actual middle. I think your observations may be more accurate for the overall population, but when you hear some politician or pundit use the term, they're usually trying to paint themselves as reasonable and thoughtful and their opposition as rigid slaves to "radical" ideology.

... because calling your opponent an asshole will get you in trouble.

This discussion is becoming very reminiscent of the neocons when they were starting to gain power -- "get on board or get the hell out of my way!"

As Rush Limbaugh put it, "A moderate Republican is somebody who doesn't believe in anything." Of course, that's bullshit. Just like claiming that a centrist is someone who has not political awareness.

I really suggest that DUers remove their collective heads from their asses and take a look around. They might enjoy the view.

I'm not quite a centrist but as close to one on DU as is likely (it requires a very thick skin for a start).

I have plenty of opinions. I follow politics closely to form those opinions. I form opinions based on the issue, the data I can find on it, and an objective analysis of the harm or benefit various options or solutions would generate as far as I can see. Then that's an opinioon I hold until more data or arguments are made available.

Some of these decisions are pretty much the standard here. I have no time for denial of any rights to anyone based on gender, sexuality, race or religion. I think medical decisiosn including abortion and euthanasia belong only to the patient, advised by their doctor. I believe in taxing rich people more than poor people, and using those taxes in part (and great part) to help the poor be less poor in various ways. Typical DU stuff there.

But not all of them fit in the uber progressive mold, because that's not where the data lead me. On things like the death penalty, free trade, guns, certain aspects of employer/employee relationships, etc I find that the facts drive me to disagree with the prevailing opinions here. I don't do that because I have a martyr complex or seek out discord for its own sake, but because I am convinced I'm right.

So because I don't automatically take the strict progressive line on EVERY single decision (and to be honest I consider that far more indicative of someone who does not have their own opinion or sufficient interest in politics to make up their own minds than centrism would be) then obviously I end up moving further towards the center than most here, just as Republicans who favor reproductive choice, equal rights, religious pluralism and some sort of social safetry net find themselevs moving towards it from the other direction. It could not be otherwise. To differ from the left in a way they consider too far right can only move a person towards the center.

What you seem to be describing to me would be an apathetic conformist not a centrist.