Thread: Why is "flip-flopping" a bad thing?

OK, so for political candidates, being labeled as a "flip-flopper" is a "bad" thing.

I don't understand this.

If someone has an opinion to begin with (example: wedges rule, full hollows are garbage!), and later come to re-consider their opinion and change it, why is that such a bad thing?

Isn't the important part that the person gets to the right answer in the end?

Please ellucidate me all-knowing SRP Conversation board!

Well changing your mind is fine, but to change it back and forth on a daily or weekly basis smacks of pandering to a crowd rather than seeing the light.

Originally Posted by Quick Orange

Well changing your mind is fine, but to change it back and forth on a daily or weekly basis smacks of pandering to a crowd rather than seeing the light.

But aren't elected officials also supposed to represent Us, the people? So, if they do indeed pander to our whims, isn't that what they should be doing?

If they bait you with one line of thinking to get your vote and once recieving that vote then flip flop(switch) so that they may please some one else, seems dishonest to me. State your intentions (after serious thought) and stick to them. This would show stability rather than someone off on a whimsical fancy or self promotion.

Changing your mind after you learn the details, or after considerable thought on a topic, is not a bad thing. Expressing a different view simply because you think it will get you elected is a bad thing.

Well, once again, there is a difference between doing what the people want and claiming to have seen the light. Many candidates claim to believe one thing, then claim to believe another depending on the crowd they're speaking to. Candidacy is about presenting your beliefs, not representing your constituents (since you preseumably don't have any yet). I trust that a president is going to go along with his or her beliefs rather than what they perceive the American people want. And that is why flip-flopping is a bad thing

Originally Posted by Seraphim

But aren't elected officials also supposed to represent Us, the people? So, if they do indeed pander to our whims, isn't that what they should be doing?

The other way around. WE ask the questions so that we can elect someone who we think will represent our viewpoints.

Originally Posted by ScottS

The other way around. WE ask the questions so that we can elect someone who we think will represent our viewpoints.

True enough.

I guess I was thinking that not only candidates, but elected officials get the dreaded "flip-flop" title. I can certainly see where, as someone running for office they should make their intentions known. I can now see why that is a bad label to have as a candidate.

What's bad is "Both ways Barack"

Well personally I think people consider flip-flopping a bad thing because it means that they cannot pigeon-hole the person in question. We like to compartmentalise, and someone changing their mind on an issue throws out the bean count.

James.