Many people, regardless of nationality or politics, fail to question what they hear, or to seek out other opinions and information — nor is this blinkered approach limited to one side or another of an issue. Polimom’s father referred to those who believe everything they read as “sheep”, and the frequent end to many discussions was a very sarcastic, “Well of course that’s true. It’s in the papers, right?”
In light of the general all-around strangeness in our informational smorgasboard lately , Polimom found this quiz (via Ray in Austin) fascinating: The Would You Have Been a Nazi Test
Here are Polimom’s results (emphasis stet from the site):
Congratulations! You are not susceptible to brainwashing, your values and cares extend beyond the borders of your own country, and your Blind Patriotism does not reach unhealthy levels. If you had been German in the 30s, you would’ve left the country.
One bad scenario — as I hypothetically project you back in time — is that you just wouldn’t have cared one way or the other about Nazism. Maybe politics don’t interest you enough. But the fact that you took this test means they probably do. I’m gonna give you the benefit of the doubt.
Did you know that many of the smartest Germans departed prior to the beginning of World War II, because they knew some evil shit was brewing? Brain Drain. Many of them were scientists. It is very possible you could have been one of them.
Conclusion: born and raised in Germany in the early 1930’s, you would not have been a Nazi.
There are a number of questions in the test that aren’t nuanced enough for a confident selection from the provided options (which no doubt led to the bizarre suggestion that Polimom isn’t particularly interested in politics). Nonetheless, it’s thought-provoking, and Polimom’s father would be proud to know that I learned something from all those embarrassing debates.
So what about you?
It says I would have left the country.
It says I’m low on patriotism, which I think is a crock; I think that means you can distinguish between your country and your government, and between loving your country and feeling superior to others.