If I had a dime for every time someone called me "that darn liberal" in a forum... well I would have a lot of dimes.

What I do not understand is the negative connotation to the word, so I used wiki and came out with this definition:

Liberalism is an ideology, philosophical view, and political tradition which holds that liberty is the primary political value.[1] Liberalism has its roots in the Western Age of Enlightenment, but the term has taken on different meanings in different time periods (for example now in the United States generally it means new liberalism while in the rest of the world has the meaning of classical liberalism).

Broadly speaking, liberalism emphasizes individual rights. It seeks a society characterized by freedom of thought for individuals, limitations on power (especially of government and religion), the rule of law, the free exchange of ideas, a market economy that supports free private enterprise, and a transparent system of government in which the rights of all citizens are protected.[2] In modern society, liberals favor a liberal democracy with open and fair elections, where all citizens have equal rights by law and an equal opportunity to succeed.[3

Okay, so whats wrong with been a liberal? If agreeing with what I just read make's me a liberal, then I suppose I am. Makes sense to me.

What I do not understand is the negative connotation to the word, so I used wiki and came out with this definition:

Well, I know that this is difficult for you to grasp, but few people actually use that definition in wiki when they call someone a "liberal".

I would also say that if you don't know what a liberal is, in the common usage of the term, then you probably need a bit more education and experience.

Baron Max

But no one says what it means.

But no one says what it means.

I would also say that if you don't know what a liberal is, in the common usage of the term, then you probably need a bit more education and experience.

Baron Max

I would also say that if you don't know what a liberal is, in the common usage of the term, then you probably need a bit more education and experience.

Baron Max
I'm familiar with it's usage, but what does it mean? Has it always meant the same thing?

I think to him it means:

Today the word "liberalism" is used differently in different countries. (See Liberalism worldwide.) One of the greatest contrasts is between the usage in the United States and usage in Continental Europe.[16] In the US, liberalism is usually understood to refer to modern liberalism, as contrasted with conservatism. American liberals endorse regulation for business, a limited social welfare state, and support broad racial, ethnic, sexual and religious tolerance, and thus more readily embrace pluralism, and affirmative action. In Europe, on the other hand, liberalism is not only contrasted with conservatism and Christian Democracy, but also with socialism and social democracy. In some countries, European liberals share common positions with Christian Democrats.

I'm familiar with it's usage, but what does it mean? Has it always meant the same thing?

In the USA, "liberal" has come to mean, essentially, "stealing" from those who work and earn a living, and giving to those who don't or won't work.

In the USA, it's come to mean advocating an unfair welfare state, where workers are forced to pay taxes in order to support those who don't or won't work.

In the USA, it's come to mean forcing an unfair tax burden on the workers in order to pay for the healthcare and hospitalization of those who don't or won't work.

In the USA, it's come to mean a policy of allowing criminals (illegal immigrants) to live and work in the nation, and worse, to have the same legal rights as legal citizens ....and still be criminals that are NOT punished in courts for their illegal, criminal activity.

In the USA, it's come to mean an idealogy of government whereby policy is set by groups of protestors in the streets who yell the loudest and/or by tv newscasts which create slanted, biased news to show the worst of certain issues in order to try to change government policy.

In the USA, liberalism has essentially come to be commonly accepted as a form of "communism", except the people who don't want to work are not forced to do so yet still receive the same goods and services as those who do work. And all the while still claiming to be democratic and capitalistic.

In the USA, liberalism means being nice and kind and loving to vicious criminals and give them all of the rights of all good and law-abiding citizens ...even if the criminals have murdered hundreds of innocent citizens!

In the USA, liberalism means to take guns away from the citizens so they have no means of self-protection for the above noted vicious criminals ...while still allowing the criminals to have as many guns as they want or need.

Liberalism is usually the ideology of the young, who have not yet learned the ways of the world and of the hardships of working to support their families. Old, lower- and middle-class liberals are pretty scarce in the USA. Rich liberals are possible, but you'll never see any of them giving away any of their own money to help the needy or the poor ...they want to take the money from others!!

And there are other such common usage "definitions" for liberals in the USA.

Baron Max

A liberal is someone that still believes the capitalist twin party system works. A liberal believes voting for Democrats, any Democrat is preferrable to overthrowing the corrupt system we live under.
A liberal is the first to criticize communism but will suck up to a conservative moderate if it means a democrat will be elected.
Liberal in the US today means anyone not supportive of reactionary Republican values and the religious right. This is misusing the term of course.

A liberal is someone that still believes the capitalist twin party system works. A liberal believes voting for Democrats, any Democrat is preferrable to overthrowing the corrupt system we live under.
A liberal is the first to criticize communism but will suck up to a conservative moderate if it means a democrat will be elected.
Liberal in the US today means anyone not supportive of reactionary Republican values and the religious right. This is misusing the term of course.

I consider myself "liberal" by the definition I pasted there, and by the hill billy responses I get, but I do not see myself as a supported of Capitalism. Simple reason, since I come from a 3rd world country, I have noticed Capitalism requires exploitation to survive... I am not the biggest fan of exploitation.

The definition presented at in the OP is more in line with 18th/19th century, or classical, Liberalism.

Liberalism as defined today is mostly a result of the New Deal in America, and is basically a very lite form of Socialism. In Europe, it is mostly a welfare state.

Most liberal's dramatically contradict the idealogy, by focussing on limitting the "liberties" of others.
I have a liberal near me which forbids me from letting my dog "spook" wildlife, for example.

Most liberal's dramatically contradict the idealogy, by focussing on limitting the "liberties" of others.
I have a liberal near me which forbids me from letting my dog "spook" wildlife, for example.

That does not sound liberal from my perspective. Have you pointed out to the tree hugging fairy that your dog is animal life as well?