I posted this in another thread, but i am curious enough about this to make it a thread on its own. My question is, what would the average poster here look like…that is, not the median, but the mean. If you take all the beliefs of people here and summed them (and assumed something along the lines of strenuous atheism + strenuous theism = zero) what would you get? This is as much a question of what people believe, as how many believe it (as well as how people perceive other in the community… do you think there are more people like you, or less, are you the majority or minority). I am also curious about our various backgrounds. This could easier go in the format (as others have done with various global statistics about race, hunder, poverty etc.) of, e.g. if the community has 100 people in it, 60 are college educated (or soemthing along those lines). My initial, and half joking attempt:
Something along the lines of, the average ILPer is a white male, aged 2x (i.e. in his twenties), and just so happens to be and unsociable, aggressive bastard. His hobbies include making himself feel smart and making others feel dumb. He is college educated. He is slightly atheistic, and basically believes that being nice to people is ok. He is modestly capitalist (though completely immodest), with a few socialistic ideas thrown in, and is generally in favor of a woman’s right to choose.
And to add a bit, I figure I should throw in a few facts to start compiling the statistics. I am a white male, aged 24, Catholic, college educated, have a girlfriend, basically believe helping people is nice, in favor of constitutional democracy, capitalist w/misgivings about unadulterated capitalism, moderately conservative on most social/economic issues. Generally feel that abortion is a bad thing, but wouldn’t completely make it illegal, would rather see states only provide civil unions and leave marriage to religions, philosophical/theological thought influenced by Augustine, Kierkegaard, to some extent Plantinga, the Socratic methods, and mostly random shit I came up with on my own/in discussions with friends. I work a crappy job and hope to go back to school so I can avoid the real world for another 6 yrs. I suffered from depression, have tried a myriad of legal and illegal drugs, went through a period of fairly heavy marajuana and alcohol usage, have no pets, am an American, and generally am a pretty laid-back easy going sort of guy.
And you aren’t my best friend, why???
Well, I am an Hispanic male, ( Dominican to be specific ) aged 24, was raised Catholic and went to Catholic school most of my life, dropped out of high school, but had a baby and finished high school at 21. Joined the United States Marine Corps shortly after 9/11 and during this time took some online college courses. Have had more than my share of girlfriends, basically believe helping people is the path to success, and though I admire Che Guevara, I have grown fond of capitalism.
Abortion is a terrible thing and still feel bad about the one me and my ex had last June, but wouldn’t make it illegal whatsoever. I believe that people should do whatever they feel like doing. But only on the basis that it doesn’t hurt others, hurts children or the environment. If they follow those three guidelines, people could do whatever they feel like. Gay marriage? Who gives a flying f*ck. It makes them happy, well go right ahead. Or as they say in Japanese, dozo.
I believe that racism doesn’t really exist anymore. And I’m not being naive. I belive that people are now more prejudice between cultures as opposed to races. And though I’m not prejudice, I do tend to stereotype more than I should admit. Which is why I won’t go back to my neighborhood. And I stereotype against ignorance of any kind, which stems from what level of conversation an individual can offer me as opposed to what they look like or where they come from.
I honestly have love for every human on this planet, and tend to think people are my friends until proven otherwise. I believe in chivalry, and that sex isn’t a bad thing, but un-safe sex is.
I have also suffered from depression, being too lonely and an outcast. I’m still very self concious, and probably fear success. I still carry a Napolean complex and fear that I will never settle down because I can’t settle down. I am also very obsessive, which is why I’ve been messing around with XXI for so damn long and it is probably all I be worth.
And I once use to be the average ILPer… now I’m much forgotten.
next up!!!
~ yours truly
John B. Smooth
aka
Smoothini the ghetto Houdini
chairman
XXI Entertainment
Hey Smooth…long time no see bud! 
At anyrate, I think the average ILP is your standard hieght, Stocky, Mcdonalds-fed, college-aged, caucasian male. The average ILP-er is also probably a liberal political fanatic who loses his temper in any political-related threads in the Rant House.
…oh…and…a lover of some cheesy 80’s band.