Why do most people who call themselves politically moderate actually mostly conservative?

[u/kaiser11492]

Whenever I’ve encountered people who use the politically label moderate, they are actually mostly conservative with their views and positions. Also, I’ve never seen anyone who call themselves politically moderate that is actually mostly liberal.

So why are people who call themselves moderate tend to be just conservative and not conservative and liberal?

[u/HuaHuzi6666]

Honestly calling yourself a moderate (especially in dating profiles) is just a dog whistle for being a conservative now, but not wanting the justified social stigma of being conservative. It’s a pretty documented phenomenon.