2020s Compass Axes Test

This test is designed to map broad patterns in how people think about society, technology, culture, and the future. Instead of measuring political affiliation in a traditional left–right sense, it uses four independent axes that capture more structural and psychological differences in worldview.

The first axis, Edgelord vs. Guardian, reflects attitudes toward speech, humor, and social norms. It separates those who prioritize maximal expressive freedom, irony, and tolerance for offense from those who prioritize harm reduction, emotional safety, and structured moderation of public discourse. This dimension is less about specific political positions and more about how people think online communication should function.

The second axis, Futurist vs. Earthling, captures orientations toward technological change and material progress. Futurists tend to see advanced technology, including artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and space expansion, as the primary drivers of human flourishing. Earthlings tend to emphasize ecological limits, caution toward rapid technological change, and the value of stability, restraint, or reduced material throughput.

The third axis, Hoper vs. Doomer, describes general expectations about civilizational trajectory. Hopers tend to believe that long-term progress is real, that problems are solvable, and that institutions and innovation can improve outcomes over time. Doomers tend to expect stagnation or decline, emphasizing systemic fragility, institutional failure, and the persistence of unresolved global risks.

The fourth axis, Localist vs. Globalist, focuses on scale of identity and governance. Localists prioritize national sovereignty, cultural cohesion, and decentralized decision-making. Globalists emphasize international coordination, open systems, and transnational solutions to shared problems.

Together, these axes form a four-dimensional space for describing worldview structure. The goal is not to assign value judgments or ideological labels, but to identify recurring cognitive and cultural orientations that shape how individuals interpret conflict, progress, and collective action in the modern world.

Edgelord vs. Guardian

Edgelords value raw free expression, irony, dark humor, and an anti-fragile attitude toward offense. They think people should be able to say almost anything, and that distinctions like “punching up or down” don’t matter much. From this perspective, moderation, cancel culture, and sensitivity norms often look overprotective or socially restrictive.

Guardians prioritize emotional safety, respect for vulnerable groups, and maintaining civil discourse. They are more supportive of moderation, deplatforming of harmful speech, trigger warnings, and tools like sensitivity readers. They tend to see unchecked edginess as socially corrosive rather than liberating.

High Edgelord leans toward chaos, irreverence, and meme-driven culture. High Guardian leans toward order, care, and harm reduction.

Futurist vs. Earthling

Futurists embrace acceleration in science and technology: artificial intelligence, genetic engineering, space exploration, life extension, nuclear power, and expanding human capabilities. They believe technological progress is the main driver of human flourishing and that humanity’s role is to grow, expand, and transcend current limits.

Earthlings are more cautious about rapid technological change and its consequences. They emphasize limits, ecological balance, and simpler or more grounded ways of living. They are more supportive of approaches like renewable energy systems, reduced consumption, and preserving the natural world. They are skeptical of unchecked technological expansion.

High Futurist reflects an expansion-oriented, techno-optimistic mindset. High Earthling reflects a restraint-oriented, nature-focused mindset.

Hoper vs. Doomer

Hopers believe progress is real, problems are solvable, and the future can be better than the present. They tend to trust that innovation, institutions, and collective effort can overcome major challenges over time.

Doomers see decline, systemic failure, and nurture long-term pessimism about human societies. They are more likely to believe systems are rigged, institutions are failing, or that collapse or stagnation is likely. They see things as getting worse rather than improving.

High Hoper reflects an optimistic, constructive worldview. High Doomer reflects a cynical or collapse-oriented worldview.

Localist vs. Globalist

Localists prioritize national sovereignty, cultural cohesion, strong borders, and local self-determination. They tend to be skeptical of supranational institutions and believe political decisions should primarily serve citizens of a particular country or community.

Globalists favor international cooperation, open trade, global institutions, and cosmopolitan identity. They see many major challenges (climate change, conflict, economic instability) as requiring coordinated global solutions and view strong nationalism as outdated.

High Localist reflects a preference for decentralization and national prioritization. High Globalist reflects a preference for global coordination and universal frameworks.

References

• Harari, Y. N. (2024). Nexus: A brief history of information networks from the Stone Age to AI. Random House.
• Norris, P., & Inglehart, R. (2022). Cultural backlash: Trump, Brexit, and authoritarian populism (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
• Russell, S. (2023). Human compatible: Artificial intelligence and the problem of control (2nd ed.). Viking.
• Sunstein, C. R. (2023). Liars: Falsehoods and free speech in an age of deception. Oxford University Press.
• Zuboff, S. (2023). The age of surveillance capitalism (updated ed.). PublicAffairs.
• World Economic Forum. (2024). Global risks report 2024.