[commander]

Hello everybody.

As you can see, I'm pretty much new here. My initial reason for joining these forums is being represented by this thread, which -in my opinion- features some outright inane banter, but- before I start getting into that discussion, I'd much rather take the time and make sure whether there is even a point to arguing with you, as some of the posts contained in said thread appear to carry the colours of severe brainwashing, unbased conviction and popular influence.

Therefore, I'd like to use a simplified and adjusted version of a test which I helped to develop within the course of my profession; something we got used to referring to as an "Echelon Test".
The test itself consists of a range of very simple questions, which mostly require a very simple answer. While the original version aimed at analyzing and categorizing an employee's judgemental abilities and his capability to make decisions based thereon, the variant that I intend to use now is merely trying to assess the cerebral causality that governs your thoughts.

Now, before you deem and dismiss me as pretentious, let me clarify some things:

Partaking in the test is completely voluntary
I am only asking you to partake, I do not give any orders. However, should you choose to not partake, I would ask you to just leave it at that, and not comment and state your reasons or -if you must- summarize your reason for objection in one short and simple sentence, which will be noted, but not be a subject of the further discussion. I am fully aware that human logic is prone to errors and as such offers enough reasons for not taking this test - I accept all of them as valid.

If you choose to partake-
-then I would like you to answer whilst adhering to the given 'rules' and notes which I added. My intention is to keep things simple. This is not a vocabulary test, you do not need to write a complete essay to prove your worth or something along those lines.

I will not use the gathered information anywhere outside of these forums
I do not take interest in using your answers for marketing or similar purposes, as curiosity is the sole basis for my initiative. However, I take it that you are fully aware that this is still an open forum on the internet.

Originally, this test featured around thirty very simple questions, which could be answered in less than half an hour. Yet since it doesn't require you to demonstrate any sort of trained skills, you have an unlimited amount of time to answer it. In practice, we usually had asked the participants to return the results within a week, which was more than enough time. This means that you can take your time to think about and answer each question. However, this test aims at making this hardly necessary. I'd like to encourage you to go with your initial thoughts and instincts to keep things simple. Well, that is, only if your instincts don't require you to go into detail, of course.

Be honest, please. I will not discuss your opinions in this thread or pass explicit judgement on them.

Note that the question's topics are mostly hypothetical - they have been carefully chosen, so there is no need to nitpick them in order to avoid them or make you look smart. Your ability to interprete their meaning could also be considered part of your results. As a hint: Go with with the obvious, I'm not trying to trick you into anything by wording them in a weird manner or something like that. You may answer them in any order, even though they are mostly based on their predecessors. You can choose to not answer some of the questions.

I do not aim to offend or agitate, so try not to get too emotional should you come upon a question that offers potential for a fight.

Right then, here is it.

1. What do you think of Adolf Hitler?
Note: I don't want to hear a complete psychological or pathological report here. Just try to express your general opinion of him. 'psychopath', 'monster', 'abomination', 'hero', 'had the right idea', 'artist' - something like that, perhaps?

2. Would you say that he deserves some kind of punishment? If yes, which?
Note: Take what you know about him into account, not what you know or think you know about what has already happened to him.

3. If you were to point a loaded gun to his head, would you pull the trigger?

4. Would you describe yourself as a good or a bad soldier?
Note: If you do not understand this question, omit the answer.

5. Would you prefer to see a man or a woman in charge of the world?
Note: No need to explain your answer, just state your choice.

6. Would you give your life for any member of your kin?
Note: This is a question about your personal resolution. Whether you'd really be able to do or not do it is something that only the actual moment can answer.

7. Would you give your life for one of your friends?
Note: The definiton of "Friend" being very general.

8. Would you give your life for a stranger?

9. If you had to choose, would you join the sides of left-wing or right-wing extremism?
Note: For this question, let's assume that there aren't any other options. Compromise, if you must.

10. Do you see a meaning to life in general? If yes, which?

11. Do you see a meaning to your life in specific? If yes, which?

12. Is there a god?
Note: Keep the answer as short as possible. One or two words are more than sufficient.

Thanks in advance.

[Cobnat]

1. What do you think of Adolf Hitler?
Note: I don't want to hear a complete psychological or pathological report here. Just try to express your general opinion of him. 'psychopath', 'monster', 'abomination', 'hero', 'had the right idea', 'artist' - something like that, perhaps?

Not as much of a genius that historians give him credit for.

2. Would you say that he deserves some kind of punishment? If yes, which?
Note: Take what you know about him into account, not what you know or think you know about what has already happened to him.

No.

3. If you were to point a loaded gun to his head, would you pull the trigger?

If the other options are trail or suicide then yes; I would like to be able to claim that I was the one who killed Hitler.

4. Would you describe yourself as a good or a bad soldier?
Note: If you do not understand this question, omit the answer.

Certain circumstances determines whether a person is a ‘good’ or ‘bad’ soldier.

5. Would you prefer to see a man or a woman in charge of the world?
Note: No need to explain your answer, just state your choice.

No. I believe in a decentralized system of government and economy. Also if there was a person in charge of the planet then I doubt they would take Australian interests first.

6. Would you give your life for any member of your kin?
Note: This is a question about your personal resolution. Whether you'd really be able to do or not do it is something that only the actual moment can answer.
7. Would you give your life for one of your friends?
Note: The definiton of "Friend" being very general.
8. Would you give your life for a stranger?

Depends under what circumstance.

9. If you had to choose, would you join the sides of left-wing or right-wing extremism?
Note: For this question, let's assume that there aren't any other options. Compromise, if you must.

No; I would rather die then join the extremists.

10. Do you see a meaning to life in general? If yes, which?

Yes. If by ‘meaning’ you mean obligation then the meaning of life is to die and pay taxes (not generally in that order).

11. Do you see a meaning to your life in specific? If yes, which?

No.

12. Is there a god?
Note: Keep the answer as short as possible. One or two words are more than sufficient.

I am not in the position to say.

[Dr Lecter]

1. What do you think of Adolf Hitler?
Twisted. Charismatic. Evil. Bit of a puppet though. But still pretty evil. Probably not on the hellspawn level though. But close.

2. Would you say that he deserves some kind of punishment? If yes, which?

Clearly he needs punishment. I don't know what I would propose though, he'd probably be too dangerous to put in any prison since his followers might try to break him out, and execution might make him into a martyr.

3. If you were to point a loaded gun to his head, would you pull the trigger?
Possibly. Depends on various scenarios.

4. Would you describe yourself as a good or a bad soldier?
Depends. Good as in doing the right thing, or good as in trained under Rambo and Jack Bauer?

5. Would you prefer to see a man or a woman in charge of the world?
Man.

6. Would you give your life for any member of your kin?
Probably not.

7. Would you give your life for one of your friends?
Probably not.

8. Would you give your life for a stranger?
Almost certainly not.

9. If you had to choose, would you join the sides of left-wing or right-wing extremism?
Probably left.

10. Do you see a meaning to life in general? If yes, which?
Unsure

11. Do you see a meaning to your life in specific? If yes, which?
No

12. Is there a god?
No

This post has been edited by Dr Lecter: 15 September 2007 - 07:27 PM

[Cobnat]

2. Would you say that he deserves some kind of punishment? If yes, which?

Clearly he needs punishment. I don't know what I would propose though, he'd probably be too dangerous to put in any prison since his followers might try to break him out, and execution might make him into a martyr.

How the hell would you punish Hitler? I mean what punishment could possibly fit the crime\s?

[Spoon Poetic]

1. What do you think of Adolf Hitler?
Well, his artwork was akin to that of Thomas Kincade (though his figure studies were more on par with a high school art student), yet he thought he was the next Michelangelo. He was pretty egotistical. (And a hypocrite - he destroyed and denounced certain avant-garde styles of art as being backwards and "undesirable" blah blah, but some of his personal favourite pieces fell into these categories.) Oh, and there was the whole sick and twisted cruelty towards people he deemed "undesirable." He was pretty smart, though, and had some good ideas - such as that art (all forms of art - visual art, music, literature) is one of the main ways ideas spread and are adopted - which is why he destroyed certain pieces of art and literature while making more Neo-Classical shit and of course the propaganda.


2. Would you say that he deserves some kind of punishment? If yes, which?
He's dead; how much punishment can one expect to give him? Assuming he were still alive, though: I don't really see as its our place to "punish" like a parent would a child, but if it were up to me I'd make sure he couldn't do anything again (so as to hopefully ensure the safety of the people he would try to go against).


3. If you were to point a loaded gun to his head, would you pull the trigger?

This tests seems to believe Hitler still lives. Anyway, it depends on what time you're talking, here. If we're assuming he's alive now, no. That's not my place. If it's say, in the early 40's or something and I already know much of the horrible stuff he's doing and I can stop it by killing him, yes. If we're talking before he's committed any atrocities, and I have no idea he's going to commit them, no. If it's before he's committed them, and I know he's going to commit them, I think I'd try other ways to keep him from becoming the monster he was before resorting to killing him, but if in the end it would save 12 million lives to shoot Hitler, I'd do it. But I wouldn't do it just to make Hitler dead.

4. Would you describe yourself as a good or a bad soldier?
I'm not a soldier. I will never be a soldier. Therefore I am neither. I think these questions are looking for certain answers and not asking the right questions to get them.

5. Would you prefer to see a man or a woman in charge of the world?
Neither. Why should any one person control the whole world? That's awful. Besides, both genders have both strengths and weaknesses, and that's only if you go by the stereotype.

6. Would you give your life for any member of your kin?
My brother, certainly. Some of my family members, yes. Otherwise, it depends on the situation and the person. The answer is probably, though.

7. Would you give your life for one of your friends?
Some friends, undoubtedly. Other lesser friends, it depends on the situation (does he/she have kids and I don't, etc.)

8. Would you give your life for a stranger?
Like I said, I'm not a soldier and never will be one. I wasn't born to die for people I don't know. It's not an ambition of mine. However, I completely support those that are willing to die for the strangers in their country.

9. If you had to choose, would you join the sides of left-wing or right-wing extremism?
Neither. The way I see it, the line of politics isn't actually a line (left extreme-->left-wing-->moderate-->right-wing-->right extreme), it's a circle, where right-winged extremism and left-winged extremism meet at the opposite of the circle as moderatism. (Is that a word?) And extremism in any form is ultimately pretty backwards. They both have their people they don't like, they'd both kill to get their way, etc. I despise extremism. But I'd put myself more towards the left than the right, but not by a lot. I vary from issue to issue. (i.e. I'm against abortion, also against capital punishment. For gay rights, against the disestablishment of religion.)

10. Do you see a meaning to life in general? If yes, which?
Sort of. If "Live as well as you can and help others to live as well as they can" counts as a meaning/purpose...

11. Do you see a meaning to your life in specific? If yes, which?
The individual is insignificant to the whole, but the individual is more significant to the individual than the whole is to the individual.

12. Is there a god?
Yes. (Let me guess, you're going to throw me in with the right-wing extremists now, just because I'm not a hardcore atheist )

This post has been edited by Spoon Poetic: 15 September 2007 - 09:35 PM

[Dr Lecter]

How the hell would you punish Hitler? I mean what punishment could possibly fit the crime\s?

Unless you hung him by his testicles from a lampost till he died. While people threw stuff at him.

*edit* I should say testicle, since as we all know, he was born with only one ball. *edit*

This post has been edited by Dr Lecter: 15 September 2007 - 10:05 PM

[Otal Nimrodi]

1. What do you think of Adolf Hitler?

What, as a person? As a leader? As an artist? His tastes in books? Writing style? Sex?

Not nice, pretty good at knowing how to get power but ultimately too extreme, he's better than I could be, I don't read German so I can't judge but I've read some translated and didn't like them, and the same goes for writing style, and he had a relationship with his niece and was all creepy S&M-y, which can't be said of me, but as Freud said, the only unnatural sexual behavior is not to have any.

2. Would you say that he deserves some kind of punishment? If yes, which?

Well, yes, he deserves some kind of punishment. I mean, it's not for me to say, but I'm sure that there's some appropriately ironic punishment in hell for him, yeah.


3. If you were to point a loaded gun to his head, would you pull the trigger?

Wouldn't that be a bit pointless, ya? I mean, he's dead and all. I can't say when you mean so I can't judge. I mean, if you mean back when he was a poor tramp guy, I probably wouldn't. I'd think that maybe the fear he got from the fact that I COULD have killed him would have been enough to scare him into not being as evil when he DID get all his power, because my presence may have already sufficiently disrupted history. However, it may turn out that my presence in the pass in fact changed him, due to afore mentioned masochistic tendencies. However, I do have sadistic tendencies, and may use the fact that he WILL be Hitler as a chance to kill Hitler. Sort of the same thing about once he actually rules Germany. I mean, if I showed up in his quarters? Or if he was making a speech? It all depends on the when and the where.

4. Would you describe yourself as a good or a bad soldier?
Well, you said to omit the answer if I didn't want to answer, so I'm omiting. I'm disqualified from joining the army.

That may make me a bad soldier, though...

5. Would you prefer to see a man or a woman in charge of the world?
This question is a bit vague. I mean, do you mean a specific one? As in would I rather see Mother Teresa or Joseph Stalin? Or do you mean would I rather see a man or a woman in general? Because this answer is particularly vague. I mean, I know that, in GENERAL women are predisposed to be less impulsive, but that doesn't mean I want to just say "A woman" or "A man" because I might end up with Jack the Ripper or Aileen Wuornos. So I can't answer this quesiton because a general answer for a gender doesn't make much sense.

6. Would you give your life for any member of your kin?
You say this is only a hypothetical. As in would I consider it honorable or the right thing to do? I would say to give my life would be the right and moral thing to do, assuming that one accepts morals as existing.
I don't much LIKE my aunts and uncles.

7. Would you give your life for one of your friends?
Well, if you mean a casual acquaintance I call a friend, probably not. I mean, I might give my life for Mirithorn, a good friend of mine, or Rabies or Mic or Natty. But not for Jemmy. It all depends on the friend, and all depends on the reason. Would this be sacrificing my life to save theirs but having them have a worse life? Or a better one? Or the same one? Do I think they're attached enough not to get all guilty and suicidal.

8. Would you give your life for a stranger?

Probably not. Wow, must succinct I've been.

9. If you had to choose, would you join the sides of left-wing or right-wing extremism?
Well, that's tricky. I mean, I really hate the whole anti-abortion, anti-condoms, anti-sex-before-marriage moral religious right, and the fact that I don't like them would probably lead me to join the left-wingers out of spite. But then again, I find the "NO MEAT, NO WOOL CLOTHES, NOW I THROW A BUCKET OF PAINT ON YOUR COAT" crowd to be equally reprehensible.

10. Do you see a meaning to life in general? If yes, which?

Well, yeah. I want to have the most amount of fun in the smallest amount of time that I have.

11. Do you see a meaning to your life in specific? If yes, which?

See above. I don't see as much of a meaning to the lives of people I don't know.

12. Is there a god?
Well, honestly, I don't care. If there isn't a god but there is a final judgement, I'm going to hell because I'm a terrible, terrible person. If there is a God and there is a final judgement, I'm going to hell for not believing in him, (Look, crazy feminist ladies, before you flip out 'cause I said him, God is a masculine noun) if there isn't a final judgement, it doesn't matter 'cause I'm dead anyway.

[Mirithorn]

1. What do you think of Adolf Hitler?

Unfortunate. Someone I don't know or understand much about.

2. Would you say that he deserves some kind of punishment? If yes, which?
Note: Take what you know about him into account, not what you know or think you know about what has already happened to him.

It's not my place, or anyone else's in my opinion, to give punishment, other than in a functional way. If it's revenge, call it what it is.

3. If you were to point a loaded gun to his head, would you pull the trigger?

Depends when. If after the fact, no, if before the fact, maybe, if I understood the situation and I thought it would save lives.

4. Would you describe yourself as a good or a bad soldier?
Note: If you do not understand this question, omit the answer.

Bad. I'd be a wreck in a week.

5. Would you prefer to see a man or a woman in charge of the world?
Note: No need to explain your answer, just state your choice.

Not enough information to make a choice.

6. Would you give your life for any member of your kin?
Note: This is a question about your personal resolution. Whether you'd really be able to do or not do it is something that only the actual moment can answer.

If members who are already dead are included, yes. Otherwhise, no.

7. Would you give your life for one of your friends?
Note: The definiton of "Friend" being very general.

Yes.

8. Would you give your life for a stranger?

No.

9. If you had to choose, would you join the sides of left-wing or right-wing extremism?
Note: For this question, let's assume that there aren't any other options. Compromise, if you must.

Left wing, if only because of habit.

10. Do you see a meaning to life in general? If yes, which?

Yes, to exist. (I see it as a meaning, so I'm counting it as one.)

11. Do you see a meaning to your life in specific? If yes, which?

Yes, to die.

12. Is there a God?
Note: Keep the answer as short as possible. One or two words are more than sufficient.

I'm going to take this question to mean "God or Gods".

Yes, but they're jerks.

[barend]

1. What do you think of Adolf Hitler?

Goddamned vegitarians are all facists and hypocrits!!! I bet he ate fish too.

2. Would you say that he deserves some kind of punishment? If yes, which?

He should be locked in a bunker somewhere and shot.

3. If you were to point a loaded gun to his head, would you pull the trigger?

Only a lunatic would hand me a loaded gun. I'd shoot that lunatic and leave Hitlers skeleton alone.

4. Would you describe yourself as a good or a bad soldier?

As a one man army I'd describe myself as a fantastic soldier.

5. Would you prefer to see a man or a woman in charge of the world?

Man. women are compulsivley dishonest and subject to mood swings, unreliability, flippancy, and would ditch this world if a better looking one came along leaving us in the lurch.

6. Would you give your life for any member of your kin?

No.

7. Would you give your life for one of your friends?

I actually already have. But I ended up surviving too. That was for three friends and a girlfriend. Otherwise dictated by circumstance.

8. Would you give your life for a stranger?

Probably not, but I wouldn't stand idly by while one was in danger either.

9. If you had to choose, would you join the sides of left-wing or right-wing extremism?

left wing and right wing are both problem parties. If I absolutley had to I'd join the right wing just because they'd probably have mucsle, and i could use my charisma to divid them and create a new faction of rednecks who would do everythting i said, with which I'd destroy all other factions.

10. Do you see a meaning to life in general? If yes, which?

Yes. unfortunatley it's a truth that no ones is willing to here. So for all intents and purposes it seems to be thraldom. That's the concept everyone seems most content with.

11. Do you see a meaning to your life in specific? If yes, which?

To shit on anything that brings stupid people happiness.

12. Is there a god?

Yes. People are too stupid to have possibly evolved from anything lower.

Thanks in advance.

You're welcom in retrospect.

[civilian_number_two]

You guys don't seem to mind, but isn't a single post from a new member on the subject of Hitler immediate cause for immediate banning in forum land?

Just an observation; carry on.

[Jordan]

1. What do you think of Adolf Hitler?

Saddist, good public speaker, terrible military tactician

2. Would you say that he deserves some kind of punishment? If yes, which?

yes, firing squad

3. If you were to point a loaded gun to his head, would you pull the trigger?

yes

4. Would you describe yourself as a good or a bad soldier?

bad

5. Would you prefer to see a man or a woman in charge of the world?

man

6. Would you give your life for any member of your kin?

yes

7. Would you give your life for one of your friends?

yes

8. Would you give your life for a stranger?

no

9. If you had to choose, would you join the sides of left-wing or right-wing extremism?

right

10. Do you see a meaning to life in general? If yes, which?

love, be loved

11. Do you see a meaning to your life in specific? If yes, which?

lol no

12. Is there a god?

yes

---

I edited my post from it's orginal content, basically it said in short that I think you're a douche. Seriously read your post out loud.

This post has been edited by Jordan: 17 September 2007 - 04:46 PM

[Spoon Poetic]

I know, civ2, but it still might spark some interesting discussion. I like reading other people's answers, too.

[Jordan]

Spoon you already failed his test, i bet part of the test was being able to have the confidence to answer a question with yes or no, without feeling you need to explain why.

[Spoon Poetic]

Yeah, I probably am stuck in with the hardcore right-wingers, too - I think the test was rather one-sided and the questions were searching for specific answers; no matter what answer you give it seems like he'll be able to twist it into something else due to the wording of the question.

Especially since he called us all brain-washed.

[Jordan]

Stop posting here, he's analyzing us. I bet he's one of those guys who really thinks about things, like if you offer him a cookie he'd be like "yes, yes I hunger, I shall accept your cookie on the grounds that I am hungry".

I bet he also wears a poorly cut suit from the markswork warehouse. He drinks black coffee, is thin, and is really sure of himself.