Is being in the middle a bad thing in your mind (read more)?

Being in the middle is an absolutely fine place to be.

It is only since politics has become so polarized that being in the middle has become unpopular.

Why would you want to be on one extreme or the other necessarily?

It’s safe. Always stay in the center of the boat.
If it’s what you really believe, you can be a great bridge builder/facilitator/negotiator.
Perhaps you ought to run for president.

I am a middle pather, and I see it as the best of both worlds.

Not apathetic, not extremist.
Liberally liberal, conservativley conservative..depending in the issues at hand.

I embrace all wisdom and philosophy, beleive there are many great truths, more than one way to skin a cat, probably several thousand and always keep an open mind unless it is surrounding issues of cruelty or blatent wrongdoings.

I always try to look at the big picture, and am a critcial thinker by nature.

I am agnostic for a reason, even atheists should know that even though there is insurmountable evidence of no god, we can’t logically say there is no god.

I frequently refuse to take sides of a polarizing issue. I’ve seen one jelly in particular deride people for having this stance and I’ve lost much respect for this person as a consequence. what you describe is spot on in my opinion. For people like this there is no middle ground and a deep desire for either conflict of a militant ramming down the throat of their point of view, much like the Christians that they deride.
I see no point in giving people like this the compliment of rational discourse.
Siddhartha believed in the middle path. Kahlil Gibran teaches up tolerance and moderation. The Christ teaches the same. I see no reason to argue with these men.

If you don’t want to “pick a side,” then don’t pick a side. Tell anyone who has a problem with it to take a long walk off a short pier!

To be at either extreme means that you accept the positions of that extreme. I find extreme positions to be often more grounded in ideals (“it ought to be…”) rather than reality (“and this is what works for what we have”). As I prefer to be grounded in reality, I am often in the middle.

There are times when an extreme view is called for (“that oil needs to be plugged up, like, yesterday, dammit!”) but I don’t find that to be true all the time. And sometimes, the extremity called for is on the left, sometimes on the right. That balance brings me, again, to the middle.

I’d like to think that the middle is for those who think, and the wingnut extremes are for those who don’t. ;)

Of course being in the middle isn’t a bad thing, but being in the middle just for the sake of being in the middle doesn’t make much sense either. If you feel strongly about a particular side, then there’s nothing wrong with choosing that side and expressing reasons for even being definite about it.
Anyone who gets upset over someone not choosing a side says more about them than it does about the individual wanting to stay neutral.

@Blackberry Not to get off topic or anything and if you’d like to PM me to continue the discussion you can, but you do realize that saying “there is no God” and “I don’t believe in God” are two entirely different things, right? While plenty of atheists will tell you that God does not exist, there are some who simply say “I do not believe in God’s existence” but do understand that they cannot disprove his existence. I don’t think a lot of people understand the difference.

being in the “middle of the road will get you killed! Seriously, every issue cannot be black or white. There is a lot of gray out there.

@Vunessuh Oh yes you are correct.

Just the concept of left, right and middle is inaccurate.

Being in the middle can definitely be okay. It shows that you are considerate to the opposing extremes. I feel the same way about people who are “undecided” about things. Often people who have an undecided stance on a topic are viewed as uninformed or wishy-washy. I think some people are just naturally cautious and don’t take anything as an absolute.

@Blackberry‘s example of being agnostic is a common idea that I see bullied by both ends of the spectrum. Zealots won’t understand why agnostics don’t just try to believe, and atheists think they’re just wimping out. Of course not everyone beats up on middle-of-the-roaders, but I’ve certainly seen my share of intolerance.

You don’t belong to one of the big groups so you’re a freak. I imagine biracial people have this problem a lot.

I grew up in a world of “Gray” and continue to see it that way all around me, I’m okay with that. Like @Blackberry, I’m an agnostic for the same reasons.

Being in the middle is fine sometimes. There are times when you have to make a decision one way or the other. Hope you are wise enough to know the difference.

Black/white thinking is a sign of mental disorder. It is pretty much a defining characteristic of Borderline Personality Disorder, and fits the symptoms of other mental disorders as well.

Then again. I am convinced that much of the world (and especially America) is totally insane :P

@DominicX My guess is you generally are more open minded and more pensive than most of the people you come into contact with on a daily basis. Not sure if you are in the middle, or simply are not lock step with a particular party. Listening to many opinions and deciding what is logical to you, many times means politically you will vary on where you stand on each particular issue. Not to mention that lately people label themselves and don’t even really know what the labels mean. They call themseles consrvatives, but are not really conservative; they don’t even really know the definition. This happens on both sides. From where I stand you are fabulous! Don’t question it.

You obviously ‘think’. Good for you. You don’t need anyone’s approval. Keep doing what you’re doing.

The one on the left was on the right, and the one on the right was on the left, ande the guy in the middle got drafted.—Kngston Trio

I’ve always liked mainstream music and have beaten myself up about it.

@zenele

Really? That wouldn’t cross my mind at all, okay, so, you are middle of the road neurotic. haha

There is a lot of grey, there is also a lot of black and white. If you never ever pick a position and live on the fence it’s just as extreme as far left or far right.