Hear me out: I am a leftist. Don't ban me - this is something i've been thinking about quite a bit recently.
I mean, at a macro level comparing the far left to the alt-right -- we seem to be a lot more focused on egalitarianism (while disagreeing on the means to that end). The alt-right seems to be focused on creating an ethno state, pretty much. Comparing them, the morality clearly skews towards our direction.
However, what concerns me is how we (you and i) are further insulating ourselves into message boards. When I first think about insulation, what comes up to my mind are those idiots who get brainwashed by alt-right facebook propaganda. They interact with it, then that's all they see on their wall, and all of a sudden they are in an echo chamber. We've all heard about these and know how bad they are.
My first thought is: "Oh, well, I'm educated and I read books and theory. I'm not like them. Alt righters are just dumb ass facebook moms who haven't read a book in years."
My second thought is: "Oh, shit. I'm insulating myself JUST like them, though."
I don't know. I'm just kind of conflicted. Left ideologies aren't morally bad, unlike alt-righters. But, at the same time we are creating an echo chamber, just like how /r/thedonald did with thedonald.win -- after we both got banned by a traditional news outlet.
What are the effects of that? Is this good or bad?
I would never claim the have The Answer to something so big like this, but I do have a thought I think might help.
When this happens, I try (and usually fail) to think:
To what extent do any of us really choose our beliefs? Even leftists, whose whole shtick is to be self-critical, and to learn from evidence etc. But imagine everyone else!
We're speaking in a language we didn't choose, in a place we didn't choose. We grew up around people and ideas we didn't choose.
We're out here to combat, and to change ideas. The people holding those beliefs are, in some ways, more of a side-effect than the cause, if you zoom out enough.
That helps me be more ok with reactionary beliefs in the people close to me, which includes myself. Food for though . :af-heart:
I think that's true most of the time, so I agree with you. I just wish it were more helpful to my situation.
Unfortunately I'm dealing with people who tell me dangerous factually incorrect nonsense ("COVID-19 will disappear the day after the election", literally, or "there are no hospitals in FL that have run out of ICU beds, it's all hype"). I make arguments against it or send them links supporting my case but they continue to believe in the factual nonsense without engaging with me or the evidence at all. They just continue to repeat the same nonsense like I didn't open my mouth. It's difficult to endure.
It makes me wonder if what I'm encountering is the beginnings of dementia in my boomer parents. I used to admire them and now I actively avoid talking to them. One believes everything she's told on TV while the other is deep in QAnon land. To be honest the TV parent is worse. At least the QAnon one is suspicious of mainstream media.
In recent years I've been saying something I never expected I would: I wish more people would just watch mainstream media lmao. At least then peoples' propaganda is filtered through some low bar of journalistic standards. (FOX News gets a lot more attention than it deserves. It is truly terrible, but it also has a very small viewership compared to the... mainstream news)
Regardless. That's really hard to be around. Ppl believe some surreal stuff these days.
I don't know what to say about those dangerous beliefs, and I share the same frustrations in my own life. I can only think to say that holding these beliefs isn't a personal fault of your parents. It's a systemic thing, and it's happening across the board.
I genuinely believe that philosophy, and truth, will win out eventually. There will just be some growing pains. It just takes time.
Until then, all we can do is try to remember compassion and understanding as we try to lift people from the murky puddle of disinformation into the clear skies of a truer perspective :red-fist:
That's true, it's really amazing how poorly informed most people are.
I suppose for me the frustration comes from the total lack of critical thinking when it comes to media. Like my parent who uncritically watches the FL governor's press conferences and tells me, "If ICU beds were filling up how come the governor didn't say so?" Well, uh, maybe he has a reason for that?
If nothing else, I guess I can draw comfort from the fact that I'm still present in their lives and able to provide a leftist perspective. If I weren't there would there be any hope at all? LOL
Oooh. This was really nice to read for some reason .
I 100% agree with you about critical thinking. Honestly, when I think about how I think about the world, I often focus more on things like truth, honesty, taking things slow, and thinking critically than I necessarily focus on explicitly leftist things; even though I am unwaveringly leftist in my political lens. Critical thinking, and constantly watching out for your own epistemological blind spots is just that important, imo.
There's just a role for people like us, to be the watchers and to help others understand. Not such a bad calling, tbh :af-heart: