This post is by a guest writer, my uncle Roger, who has realized over time that he falls squarely into the political “moderate” category. Think about it: Is your favorite politician a BW or a G? What about you?
The world is divided into two groups of folks – the “Black or White” folks, hereinafter referred to as BWs, and the “Gray” folks, hereinafter referred to as the Gs.
BWs
BWs believe that most of life’s important decisions are either black or white, yes-no, one-or-the-other. The advantage to the BWs’ approach is that decisions can be made fairly quickly and with certainty – when action is needed to solve a problem, particularly an immediate problem, they can act. Their strength is in their commitment, their decisiveness – these are good leadership qualities.
BWs will use such phrases as “stay the course” or “it’s my way or the highway” or “love it or leave it” or “damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead.” BWs like “team players” and “yes men” and will say “it’s simple.”
BWs make good “big picture” folks.
For BWs, the ends frequently justify the means.
The BWs’ weakness is their inability to amend decisions in light of new information, to accommodate different points of view, to deal with reality when it doesn’t fit their decision. From all the facts available, they will select and emphasize only those that fit their position – they’re brainwashed to a degree.
BWs believe that everyone must be either a BW or a G.
Gs
Gs believe that many of life’s important decisions are very complex, that they require much study and evaluation. The advantage to the Gs’ approach is that important facts are not overlooked – that decisions are more likely to be well thought out. Their strength is their analytical skill – a good leadership quality.
Gs will use such phrases as “let’s try an experiment” or “have we overlooked something” or “what’s the contingency plan” or “have we dotted all the i’s and crossed all the t’s?” Gs like inclusiveness and keeping everybody happy and will say “it’s complex.”
Gs make good detail folks.
For Gs, the process is as important, sometimes more so, than the outcome.
The Gs’ weakness is “paralysis by analysis” – their insistence on gathering every fact possible, whether significant or not, and gaining everyone’s opinion and, hopefully, everyone’s pleasant support – they’re in a dream world.
Gs believe that some folks are BWs and some are Gs and many folks are in between.
When BWs and Gs Debate
BWs are usually thinking “why doesn’t he get it – it’s so clear” while Gs are thinking “why doesn’t he get it – he ignores many of the facts.”
BWs prefer brief, short statements, using broad generalizations – it’s simple. Gs prefer thorough explanations, lots of information – it’s complex.
BWs will respond to valid points presented by Gs by ignoring the facts and not responding to them. Gs will respond to valid points presented by BWs by providing extensive facts and further analysis to counter the BWs’ arguments.
BWs believe that at their worst, Gs are wishy-washy elitists. Gs believe that BWs, at their worst, are ignorant zealots.
Frustration inevitably occurs when BWs and Gs debate. Neither is capable of ever convincing the other to change.
Folks are predominantly either BW or G. However, this can vary depending on the issue. A BW can, on occasion, think like a G and, similarly, a G can, on occasion, think like a BW.
More from Roger, who describes his political leanings thus:
As it turns out I am squarely in the middle politically, very conservative on some issues, very liberal on others. This adds to my frustration as I see far-left and far-right folks usually incapable of acknowledging the validity of the positions held by folks who disagree – no one viewpoint, no one position, etc. has consistently had correct answers to the many problems we face. This “truth” is overwhelmingly obvious to me.
Thus, having voted in every presidential election since 1968, I have voted for the eventual winner just once. (Ask me before each presidential election who I’m voting for and you will then know who the losing candidate will be – most accurate poll I know of.)
