Are you a logical or emotional voter?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 17 Nov 2016 09:52:23 -0500

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Nov 17 at 2016 9:58 AM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Thu, 17 Nov 2016 09:58:49 -0500

Logical. There's no sense in voting with your emotions.

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Nov 17 at 2016 9:59 AM

SrA Edward Vong — Thu, 17 Nov 2016 09:59:15 -0500

I think with my pocket (and the pockets of those around me), and not with my heart.

Response by MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P made Nov 17 at 2016 9:59 AM

MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P — Thu, 17 Nov 2016 09:59:31 -0500

I try to base ALL my decisions on logic rather than emotion. Things just seem to go better in the long run that way.

Response by SGT William Howell made Nov 17 at 2016 10:03 AM

SGT William Howell — Thu, 17 Nov 2016 10:03:35 -0500

Normally logical, but this one was emotional. Neither candidate represented my goals, morals, or values so I voted on which one is not a criminal in my book.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 17 at 2016 10:08 AM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 17 Nov 2016 10:08:23 -0500

I would have to say Logical.....because if you want to be able to have a capable candidate, they have to have common sense (one would think).

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Nov 17 at 2016 10:08 AM

SPC Erich Guenther — Thu, 17 Nov 2016 10:08:41 -0500

It depends, if Ted Cruz ever runs again I will be voting on very negative emotions because of his past obstruction of the Senate. For everyone else I tend to be logical.

Response by SPC Kevin Ford made Nov 17 at 2016 10:12 AM

SPC Kevin Ford — Thu, 17 Nov 2016 10:12:04 -0500

Interesting question. I suspect most people will say logical, we certainly want to believe that about ourselves. However, in my experience most people have a tenious understanding of formal logic or even how to recognize when our inputs and outputs are based or influenced by opinion and bad logic. We have a broad ability for self deception. While I think most people will claim logic, the reality is that the outcomes of their thought process have been contaminated by poor or incorrect inputs and a bad understanding of logic and logic errors. GIGO.

Response by SFC George Smith made Nov 17 at 2016 10:20 AM

SFC George Smith — Thu, 17 Nov 2016 10:20:32 -0500

logical/realistic

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 17 at 2016 10:39 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 17 Nov 2016 10:39:09 -0500

I vote on policies and issues.

Response by SMSgt Thor Merich made Nov 17 at 2016 11:10 AM

SMSgt Thor Merich — Thu, 17 Nov 2016 11:10:51 -0500

Both, as they are intertwined sometimes. What is difficult sometimes is to cut a path through all the emotional information out there such as on the news and/or political ads to find the truth.

Response by Austin Hocutt made Nov 17 at 2016 11:10 AM

Austin Hocutt — Thu, 17 Nov 2016 11:10:57 -0500

How does one vote only based on feelings?

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 17 at 2016 11:18 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 17 Nov 2016 11:18:38 -0500

I vote my conscience. I don't consider that a logical or emotional voter. I vote with whomever falls in line with my belief system.

Response by SGT Cort Landry made Nov 17 at 2016 11:24 AM

SGT Cort Landry — Thu, 17 Nov 2016 11:24:11 -0500

I really think with the two that we had to choose from, neither were really well liked by the majority of voters. I have always voted my conscience and looked at what I think is better for the country, not just myself or family. People that I know who vote with their emotions seems to lean more left than right.

Response by SPC Makissa Lewis made Nov 17 at 2016 11:38 AM

SPC Makissa Lewis — Thu, 17 Nov 2016 11:38:49 -0500

I am emotional voter. I think most people are. You cannot be logical because politics, itself, isn't logical.

Response by CPL Patrick Brewbaker made Nov 17 at 2016 12:38 PM

CPL Patrick Brewbaker — Thu, 17 Nov 2016 12:38:45 -0500

I'm a biologist, I vote logically, emotions short circuit critical thinking skills.
Find you path and stick to it.

Wisdom comes from paying attention to wise people.
Love comes from always striving for the good of other before oneself.
Bravery is developed by simply gritting your teeth focusing your determination and you can crash through any circumstance.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 17 at 2016 12:40 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 17 Nov 2016 12:40:12 -0500

I vote based on the political positions and actions of a party. I agree with about 75% of Green party positions, so I vote Green party. That said, I'm not a huge fan of Jill Stein. She doesn't seem to be focused on the issues and she appears too ready to jump on whatever bandwagon is passing along if it looks like it's moving in her direction.

Response by MCPO Mark Durland made Nov 17 at 2016 12:57 PM

MCPO Mark Durland — Thu, 17 Nov 2016 12:57:00 -0500

Logical in the end. I look at energy, personality, connection with people mostly at the local level. If I have no gauge on those traits (am not familiar with the candidate before the election) I'll do my best.

For congressional elections and presidential primaries I'll look at voting history, platform history, and some personality traits.

For presidential elections I generally ignore personality and vote only platform.

Response by LTC Stephen Conway made Nov 17 at 2016 12:58 PM

LTC Stephen Conway — Thu, 17 Nov 2016 12:58:50 -0500

I am a logical voter

Response by Maj Marty Hogan made Nov 17 at 2016 1:10 PM

Maj Marty Hogan — Thu, 17 Nov 2016 13:10:17 -0500

Even if you are logical and do your research- isn't emotion part of your formulation of core values? Good question though SGT Private RallyPoint Member Would venture a guess some people may not have a clue.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Nov 17 at 2016 1:23 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Thu, 17 Nov 2016 13:23:03 -0500

I prefer using logic, it works better in the long run.

Response by SPC Phil Norton made Nov 17 at 2016 2:57 PM

SPC Phil Norton — Thu, 17 Nov 2016 14:57:14 -0500

Logical I voted for Obama first term. His ideas sounded logical and relevant. I was wrong voted Romney and Trump. Based logically on the fact if you want change you can't keep doing the same thing.

Response by PFC Donnie Harold Harris made Nov 17 at 2016 3:04 PM

PFC Donnie Harold Harris — Thu, 17 Nov 2016 15:04:39 -0500

JUST WHAT DO YOU WANT TO NO FOR? Just kidding. I am o so Logicalllll....

Response by Sgt Wayne Wood made Nov 17 at 2016 4:20 PM

Sgt Wayne Wood — Thu, 17 Nov 2016 16:20:08 -0500

neither, i'm an ANGRY VOTER

Response by PO1 Don Gulizia made Nov 17 at 2016 4:20 PM

PO1 Don Gulizia — Thu, 17 Nov 2016 16:20:48 -0500

I would like to say logical...but this year I voted emotionally, especially after taking my mandatory annual Cyber Awareness Challenge and SCI Refresher.

Response by Maj John Bell made Nov 17 at 2016 8:18 PM

Maj John Bell — Thu, 17 Nov 2016 20:18:30 -0500

Response by LTC Joseph Gross made Nov 19 at 2016 10:13 PM

LTC Joseph Gross — Sat, 19 Nov 2016 22:13:12 -0500

In the case of this election I voted emotionally. I've met that woman and based on how she treated me and feels about us, I despise her and voted against her. However, logically I could never vote for her!

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 24 at 2016 11:57 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 24 Nov 2016 11:57:06 -0500

The sad part is how many people are convinced they are purely logical voters, and yet display an ignorance that betrays that sentiment. You can never be a purely logical voter (no such thing exists, because of the nature of being human), but you can work to ensure you aren't too enthralled by emotion.

Also, what "logical voter" even means often depends on your starting point. For example: If you trust the scientific evidence for climate change, the "logical" course of action would seem to lean one way; if you don't trust it, the "logical" course of action leans the other way.

Further, is it really fair to call it a "logical" process if one merely engages in "valid" reasoning (conclusions following from the premises), but not "sound" reasoning (valid reasoning, with the premises also being true)? It is sad how many are convinced they're entirely logical by virtue of the former, but do nothing to ensure the latter. If you don't check the premises for truth, you're actually engaging in emotional reasoning while faultily convincing yourself that you are not.