Online left-wing infighting seems to me to be about applying labels to people because they argue or have argued one thing on a particular topic, and then use it to discredit an unrelated argument topic or paint their overall character. I know there are pot-stirring trolls and compulsive contrarians, but I do witness users I personally judge to have genuine convictions do this amongst each other.
Within US politics, CA Gov. Newsom is an illustrative example (plenty of examples exist too for other countries and around Lemmy/Fedi). I don’t particularly like him, he has done things I think are good, some things I think are funny, something things I think are bad and some things I think are downright horrible. Yet I have encountered some users online who will say they can’t ever applaud a move of his if one specific other policy or set of other unrelated policies crossed a line for them. I’m not asking people to change their mind on what they think of a person because of an isolated good thing they do, but to at least acknowledge it as a good thing or add nuance describing what about it you like or don’t. I can accept saying “I don’t think this is a good thing in this circumstance”, “this person will not follow through with this thing I think is good thing because ___”, or “they are doing a good thing for wrong and selfish reasons” too. But to outright deny any support for an action because of a wildly extrapolated character judgement of the person doing it, when that user would support it otherwise, vexes me greatly.
I know this is not every or most interactions on Lemmy, but these are just some thoughts I have to get out of my head. You don’t have to agree with me. I’m using ‘left-wing’ because the definition of ‘leftist’ or ‘liberal’ is wide-ranging depending on who you talk to. And on the side of the spectrum I’m calling left to left-centre, we seem to let the fewer things we disagree with get in the way of the many more things we would agree with each other. That’s all, thanks for reading.
Lesser evilism is a race to the bottom. While it’s easy to tut tut about how you’re the most reasonable person in the conversation, it’s plain to people with either memory or the werewithal to study ancient history that you and Gruesome Newsome are defending positions that were considered extreme far right 20 years ago. This is called the ratchet effect. The dems bravely hold the line against the mean, critical, STERN left, who are committing the worst crime of all (demanding results), laud themselves for being less Hitlerian (sometimes), and then the next brownshirt aficionado turns the heat up further
No, ceding to the greater evil because the lesser evil isn’t good enough is a race to the bottom. Lesser evilism is a gentle stroll to the bottom.
It’s easier to slow that gentle stroll to a stop, and subsequently turn around and head back up, than it is to slow down from a sprint.
Vote strategically to secure the best conditions the Overton window will allow, and use that period of deceleration to make a difference through direct action. Progressive change is easier to accomplish under mealy-mouthed liberals than under full-throated fascists.
Big talk abt lesser evil when the dems are more likely to suck up time and energy from ur parents only to funnel that money into a “based Republican” in a race where they lost so badly it’s red versus red
Btw my local government is now basically replacing the state level government. You guys are basically living in the fucking dark ages vro
Pardon?
Commune leadership no longer needs to rubber stamp five bajillion things with district govt. I use state and municipal so your westoid mind can fathom the power of Chavismo, Ho Chi Minh Thought, etc
Okay, I can understand your opinion. My question to you is then, how do we reverse or break this cycle? Asking earnestly.
Does the US just have to wait for a golden goose like an American Greta Thunberg who checks every box for you? Since painting every good thing with the brush of bad things doesn’t appear to inspire anyone to improve. And if your answer is there is nothing that can be done about it, then what’s the problem with at least trying to slow it down, by shaming bad things and cheering good ones?
Lol, awaiting the American Greta Thunberg like the Dalai Lama. This is gonna crack my buddy up oh man
.ml moment
Amazing how people are more willing to embrace/forgive, even revise history of fascism than communism who saved the world from fascism repeatedly.
Thank you for displaying perfectly the point I made with my other comment ITT. Based on barely more than zero, you declared me your political enemy.
Fascist apologia projection. Again.
https://lemmy.world/comment/20275109
Block feature is good.
Are you even aware the you’re denigrating with your “badge of dishonor” agrees with you on one of the biggest issues in US politics today (that I heartily disagree with) while also disagreeing with another? Same for me. We aren’t infighting. They have their own space with very clear statement on opinions permitted to participate and which aren’t, so I’m not over there arguing or trying to usurp their space. Meanwhile they are involved in discussion on .ml without getting themselves banned or flamed. Amazing how that happens everywhere but rabidly neo/liberal Lemmy.