Platner and The Purity Trap

Feel like these last few days in Maine can be a teachable moment. What we are seeing play out is political information warfare that could be branded a "purity trap".

Purity trap tactics have their roots in the swift boating of John Kerry and the destruction of Al Franken. Purity traps were run effectively against 'Genocide' Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.

So, let's talk about 'purity traps'...

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#PurityTrap #Platner

@mastodonmigration It's a "Purity trap" to hold sex pests accountable? Are you being serious here?

Al Franken had six accusers. Platner has them coming out of the woodwork. Comparing that to the Swift Boat attack on John Kerry is massively disingenuous as that was literally made the fuck up. The claims against Franken, Platner and yes Joe are real.

If we cannot nominate people who at the very fucking least do not support genocide and abuse women what the fuck are we even doing?

@reflex

As expressed in the thread, the subject vulnerability can range from completely fabricated to absolutely true. It can also be something in-between with exaggerated elements.

The point is the tactic is to establish the vulnerability as absolutely disqualifying through concerted media coverage.

You may think this is entirely appropriate and justified given the nature of the vulnerability. Nevertheless, there is a political tactic in play.

@reflex

Would also call your attention to the part about collapsing the political stakes. The success of the purity trap in disqualifying Biden for many supporters of the people in Gaza, helped Trump win, which resulted in many more of the people they intended to support dying. So, things are not always so black and white simple.

@mastodonmigration That's an assertion without evidence. Joe had no intention of slowing down. We don't' know about Kamala. Regardless, voting for genocide is wrong. Voting for sexual abusers is wrong. Being unclear about who we are and what we represent destroys our movement. This can be seen in elections ever since Clinton in the 90s.

@reflex

The intention here is not to render a determination on any of the cases, but rather to call out a specific type of deliberate political information operation tactic, so that we recognize it when we see it.

@mastodonmigration The intention here is to believe women and take their humanity as seriously as we take our own.

An 'op' that reveals true information about a person that reflects poorly on their comparison is an 'op' I do not care about, I care about the information, the person and their victims.

@reflex @mastodonmigration
I think you are stepping over the line when you tell someone else what the intention of their post is. You may have a different intention, but you can't tell someone they are wrong about what they intend, even if you think they are incorrect about some detail - their intention is THEIR INTENTION, not yours. Please take a beat.