Linda M. Woolf, Ph.D. wrote:
>
> These choices have little to do with whom either McCain or Obama would 
> like to have dinner. Rather, they reflect political answers in the 
> midst of an election. The selections reflect campaign themes.
I'm with Linda here. I'm sick to death of these "projective test" 
questions of political candidates, in which one asks an oddball question 
in the vain hope of getting some unguarded insight into their 
characters. (The other day a Canadian reporter asked the Prime Minister 
what kind of vegetable he would be.) They are all (to first 
approximation) narcissistic megalomaniacs (who else would tolerate all 
the junk they have to put up with in order to obtain high political 
office?). Frankly, I would prefer to have explicit policy promises -- at 
least then you are in position to know when they lied flagrantly -- than 
this silly dance where we try to "know" them personally while they try 
to "display" aspects of the character they think we want them to have. 
In short, if I must have a psychopath, better to have one pinned to a 
board like a beetle in advance, than to be impressed with his or her 
shiny colors.

Personally, I'd rather have to diner people who didn't want to lecture 
me about politics, the economy, the military, sports, or science. By the 
way, if you want to see the what may be the worst dinner conversation 
ever, see Taylor Mali's "report" of a dinnertime discussion with a 
lawyer (if you haven't already): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxsOVK4syxU

Chris
-- 
Christopher D. Green
Department of Psychology
York University
Toronto, ON M3J 1P3
Canada

[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.yorku.ca/christo/
phone: 416-736-2100 ext. 66164
fax: 416-736-5814

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