@anildash
As much as it would be nice to simply ignore them when fascism is on the rise, everyone needs to be engaged in actively opposing it. Ignoring it won't make it go away.
Without vigorous opposition, they will take over, and you know from history how that turns out.
@anildash
You have to put time, energy, and attention into opposing them.
Sure, don't help them amplify their message, but utterly failing to oppose them is a very, very bad idea.
Think the idea they're trying to get at is to take control of the narrative ourselves and don't spend time engaging where, as they say, it might amplify their talking points via engagement and no meaningful work.
Sharing their memes to vent or ridicule them, random arguing, things of that nature are what they're wanting us to avoid because it lets these points spread like a pathogen.
Show the genuinely good things we've done, rather than share a kill count and possibly come off as some gloating fool to more moderate folks. Don't make yourself come off exactly like the stereotypes they make.
No, it just makes you look like an asshole if you get "overbearing" in the wrong context, not everyone is necessarily aware of how harmful some things can be and may recoil if a person starts absolutely going off at a "joke" or something someone else made.
I wasn't referring to opposition in of itself, more so extremely intense opposition. A firework to a firecracker.
We want to show kindness, right? So lead by example and be firm where it counts.
Saying this as someone with intense anger issues, I used to argue constantly with people about things and it made me completely exhausted all the time (Not helped by other issues making it even harder for me to operate.) and people just refused to engage with me because that's all they saw from me.
It's one thing to counter these people at their own game by showing the good stuff, it's another by just yelling at them all the time and showing yourself like that to others.
And in regards to amplification, I've been browsing Reddit for a good part of the day and splattered right on the front page are posts from Elon and even an Elon-positive meme that were all amplified by the sheer cross-site buzz.
People in the comments are likely having mixed reactions hate-venting on the man and I don't doubt it if the pro-Elon crowd is currently celebrating like mad as they see people being angry while also seeing a meme reinforcing their beliefs.
You're conflating people that may not have an actual clue on the full reality of the situation with actual fascists, which is exactly the issue that ends up driving these fascists to their spotlights because you're enabling them by being loud and obnoxious constantly and making yourself and the ideals you're standing for unappealing while the fascist paints themselves as a victim.
Like Anildash said, there is a point.
Educating those people who are willing to learn while tactically disengaging with people trying to rush up and start stuff (Knowing it isn't always necessary to engage because your argument makes a better carrot.) would be preferred.
Just now I made a comment to any Redditors on a thread complaining about Qatar and demonizing everyone that went for FIFA to actually send links to any human rights organizations that would more meaningfully help than a bunch of tourists.
@Fenrin @anildash
I'm sorry, but you're not going to deal with the fact that you just argued that disagreeing with fascists makes someone just as bad as fascists?
They want to exterminate entire populations, and you just argued that protecting their feelings is more important than protecting those they would kill.
Know it's been 3 days, but you didn't reply immediately. Please do not conflate my argument with that. The point is to take care of yourself and everyone around you by not constantly arguing and stressing yourself constantly under those conditions in a way that makes people, WHO ARE MORE MODERATE and willing to engage and listen, disengage.
And to do more useful things than constantly arguing for no good reason, things that are actual action.
@Fenrin @anildash
I have trouble taking someone seriously who seems more worried about the feelings of fascists than the people fascists would kill if they manage to regain power.
If you see a fascist and a non-fascist arguing and feel superior for taking a moderate position between the two, then you are slightly fascist. That doesn't make you more reasonable.
I want you to know right now that I had to listen to my friend the other night freaking out about their local Walmart, the one in goddamn Chesapeake, getting shot up. I don't want to hear that from you, because it's goddamn ignorant as hell.
I did not talk anything about "superiority of moderation", I'm talking about people with more mixed political opinions who may agree in spirit with things but may not necessarily stick to a particular side.
The point is to avoid arguing or posting things that it might end up causing support for people that might drive more moderate folks down the slippery slope to more extreme political positions because they may not be completely unaware of the scope of what they're looking at.
And in general, to take care of your mental health and the mental health of the folks around you that do support you. And to make things look attractive, by posting good stuff.
Proof on the claim, likely he didn't get the news up until two hours after the fact due to all the things that'd have to be dealt with after such an event.
I stayed awake until like 9 AM due to the overbearing stress, especially since I live in the outskirts of a conservative and liberal area in the South and do constantly fear for my relatives. I want to apologize for getting snappy with you, but I am most certainly not worried about the feelings of legitimate fascists.
@Fenrin
Your friend was freaking out about a mass shooting caused by policies implemented by proto fascists, therefore arguing with fascists makes me just as bad as the fascists. Got it.
Appeasement never works.
You know that much, right?
Please tell me you know that much.
@anildash @Fenrin
I argue with fascists because the response of too many is to not engage at all, and fascists see lack of opposition as tacit agreement.
They are far dumber than the other conservatives. The ironic thing is that they think they are smarter than the other conservatives. It doesn't take much to unravel them to the point they become emotional and start making violent threats.
Anil
Tofu Golem
Fenrin