Ika MakimakiJul 10
I think about this a lot.
Show threadLeonard RitterJul 10

@pezmico it is not enough to recognize but one must also stop this mind virus* from propagating. the core counterargument is: there is more than enough space for twice more people as we are today. all it requires is a reduction in waste production, and there are so many blatantly optimizable avenues here. as long as states refuse to cooperate even on the bare humane minimum to stop global warming, we don't need to discuss killing people.

* as in "meme"; see ff discussion

Show threadCaro S.Jul 10

@lritter I agree with you, but want to point out how pervasive eugenic thinking is in a lot of us, unwillingly and unconsciously. You respond to a warning about eugenics with the right-wing eugenic "mind virus" while there are very good words like e.g. "ideology." And I'm sorry to say, words do matter in fighting supremacist and eugenic thinking.

@pezmico

Show threadLeonard RitterJul 10

@Heidentweet @pezmico ideology is not a good word either. nothing is good words because the fuckers (there's a good word) take whatever verbiage intellectuals like us come up with and misappropriate it to attack the ideas that we hold dear.

in german parliament, putin's far right party frequently uses the word "ideology" to describe the fight against global warming.

nothing is good words and yet we need to speak.

Show threadsea

@lritter @Heidentweet @pezmico "Mind virus" is problematic specifically because it relies on the idea of sickness as making people "bad." Viruses do not make people into Nazis. Being sick makes you less privileged and more in danger, sick people are othered by society which prevents them from accessing help. One of the ways that we other sickness is by correlating sickness with things like right-wing ideologies.

This is not about how right-wing pundits learn the vocabulary of leftists and weaponize it. This is about ableism.

Jul 10 at 11:40amWeb
Show threadLeonard RitterJul 10
@s3a @Heidentweet @pezmico you misunderstand. this is more like a computer virus. but yes. do not use the term "mind virus". i used a more popular interpretation of the idea of memes. but meme is also burned. we'll have that discussion every other week. best is we use no term for longer than 3 days.
Show threadseaJul 10
@lritter @Heidentweet @pezmico I don't misunderstand. Your words have impact beyond your intent and you are being informed of that harmful impact. You're welcome to keep using the harmful words you've chosen to use, but you will be doing so knowing you are participating in the very harms you're trying to rail against going forward.
Show threadLeonard RitterJul 10
@s3a @Heidentweet @pezmico got it. thank you for educating me.