Everything You Need To Know About Isidewith: A Beginner's Guide

Isidewith is an online tool designed to help you understand your political leanings and find political candidates who align with your views. It achieves this by presenting you with a series of questions on various political issues, allowing you to express your agreement or disagreement. Based on your answers, Isidewith generates a political alignment score and suggests candidates who share similar perspectives. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to effectively use Isidewith.

Prerequisites:

  • Internet Access: You'll need a stable internet connection to access the Isidewith website.

  • Basic Reading Comprehension: The questions presented require you to understand the context and potential implications of each issue.

  • An Open Mind: Be prepared to consider different perspectives and potentially re-evaluate your own viewpoints.

    • Tools:

  • Web Browser: Any modern web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) will work.

  • Time: The questionnaire can take anywhere from 15-30 minutes, depending on how deeply you consider each question.

  • Optional: Notepad or Document Editor: Useful for jotting down thoughts on specific questions or comparing candidates.

    • Step-by-Step Guide:

    1. Accessing the Isidewith Website:

  • Open your web browser and type `isidewith.com` into the address bar. Press Enter. This will take you to the Isidewith homepage.

    • 2. Starting the Questionnaire:

  • On the homepage, you'll see a prominent button labeled "Take the Quiz." Click this button to begin the questionnaire. Alternatively, you can navigate to the "Issues" section and explore individual issues before taking the comprehensive quiz. This can be helpful if you want to familiarize yourself with the types of questions asked.

    • 3. Understanding the Question Format:

  • Each question presents a specific statement related to a political issue. Read the statement carefully.

  • Below the statement, you'll find a slider or a set of options that allow you to express your level of agreement or disagreement. The options typically range from "Strongly Disagree" to "Strongly Agree," with a neutral option in the middle. Some questions may also offer a "Don't Know" or "No Opinion" option.

    • 4. Answering the Questions:

  • Carefully consider each statement: Don't rush through the questionnaire. Take your time to understand the potential implications of each issue.

  • Be honest with yourself: Answer according to your genuine beliefs, not what you think you "should" believe.

  • Utilize the "Don't Know" or "No Opinion" option: If you genuinely don't have an opinion on a particular issue, it's better to select this option than to guess. Leaving questions unanswered can sometimes skew your results.

  • Read the rationale (if available): Some questions have a "Why?" link that provides additional context or arguments related to the issue. Clicking this link can help you better understand the nuances of the question and form a more informed opinion.

    • 5. Navigating Through the Questionnaire:

  • After answering a question, click the "Next" button (or the equivalent) to proceed to the next question.

  • You can usually navigate back to previous questions using a "Previous" button or a progress bar at the top of the page. This allows you to review and revise your answers if needed.

    • 6. Reviewing Your Answers (Optional):

  • Before submitting your answers, take a moment to review them. Most versions of Isidewith allow you to see a summary of your responses before finalizing your submission. This is a good opportunity to catch any errors or inconsistencies in your answers.

    • 7. Submitting Your Answers:

  • Once you're satisfied with your answers, click the "Submit" button (or the equivalent) to generate your results.

    • 8. Interpreting Your Results:

  • After submitting your answers, Isidewith will display your political alignment score. This score is typically represented on a political spectrum, showing where you fall relative to different political ideologies.

  • The results page will also show you which political candidates or parties align most closely with your views, based on their publicly stated positions on the same issues.

  • Important: Don't take these results as gospel. They are based on a simplified representation of complex political issues. Use them as a starting point for further research and critical thinking.

    • 9. Exploring Candidate Profiles:

  • Click on the profiles of the suggested candidates to learn more about their positions on specific issues.

  • Compare their stances on key issues with your own to see where you agree and disagree.

  • Look beyond the Isidewith results and research the candidates further through news articles, campaign websites, and other reliable sources.

    • 10. Exploring Issues in Depth:

  • Isidewith also allows you to explore individual issues in more detail. You can browse through different categories of issues (e.g., economic, social, environmental) and read summaries of the arguments for and against different positions.

  • This can be a valuable way to educate yourself on complex political topics and develop a more nuanced understanding of the issues.

    • Troubleshooting Tips:

  • Website Not Loading: Check your internet connection. Clear your browser's cache and cookies. Try a different web browser.

  • Results Seem Inaccurate: Review your answers carefully. Make sure you understood each question correctly. Remember that Isidewith is just one tool for understanding your political leanings, and it may not perfectly capture your views.

  • Candidate Information is Outdated: Isidewith relies on publicly available information, which may not always be up-to-date. Always verify information with the candidate's official website or campaign materials.

  • Questionnaire is Too Long: You can often save your progress and return to the questionnaire later. Look for a "Save" or "Continue Later" option.

Short Summary:

Isidewith is a valuable tool for understanding your political alignment and identifying candidates who share your views. By answering a series of questions on various political issues, you can generate a political alignment score and receive suggestions for candidates who align with your perspectives. Remember to use Isidewith as a starting point for further research and critical thinking, and always verify information with reliable sources. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can effectively use Isidewith to become a more informed and engaged citizen.