If you really want to encounter a lot of views different from your own, go read some books. You don’t need right wing assholes screaming at you on social media for that. This can just be a place where you chill.
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I’m reading White Tears, Brown Scars right now, and I have The Bluest Eyes up next. White Tears, Brown Scars is really good so far and eye opening IMO.
And there are people from all walks of life all over the world who love researching, interviewing, and understanding topics deeply that do this professionally. Take advantage all. They don’t require you to respond or believe. They argue a point
It'd be one thing if controversial policies were a discussion about trade-offs: "we value monetary policy that errs on the side of austerity, b/c X, Y, Z have these benefits... Granted, without XYZ, the policy won't work."
But its not. It's just assholes screaming: "DEI's liberal Woke BS!"
That's all they attack you on. And it's too hard to explain the political science and history to them in a few tweets. So they always get an impression that they're winning their one-liner battles. It's insane. When u suggest some research or books, they call u pseudo intellectual it's crazy.
"For a broad strokes understanding of basic economics just go read Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations, it's a cool new book that came out when the US was born" is unfortunately not a suggested undertaking most people are open to.
That book's *explicit premise* is that "when business people get together, it's generally to conspire against the public." !! Blows my mind that "greed is good" is all that got turned up to 11 from.
Yeah, the world would be a better place if ppl read (and discussed!) their sacred texts(!)
"Want to know about the basics of matter and the formation of the universe? The First Three Minutes is actually a pretty quick read, bit dense in spots, but you get an neat overview."
"Okay, whatever nerd, four elephants on the back of a turtle hold up our flat Earth."
Right? Like all "differing views" are not created equal. Like I disagree with Bernie Sanders about a lot of things, but none of them are "poor people don't deserve to eat" you know?
a lot of people agree that poor people dont deserve to eat.
"its their fault theyre not making enough money to fill their stomachs. why should i pay for their food?"- is their top argument. not realising that the reason they cant afford food is textbook capitalism and theyre its victims too.
"And it's hard to explain the science/history in a few tweets..."
I actually came over from reddit where there was room to discuss ideas in long-ish form! And it's the same as twitter: reactive ppl projecting the bad-faith impressions in their head as the original argument and arguing against it
Like yeah, liberalism really would be a pox on the world if teachers were forcing transgenderism through kitty litter boxes in school bathrooms. I could understand how ppl'd think that's evil - I can't understand how ppl'd think that's true, rampant.
yeah what makes them think it's true 😭 it's funny to me the batshit crazy ideas Americans believe- both liberals and conservatives.
i also find it funny how ppl think changing genders is all liberal ideas stand for.
👍👍👍
Being able to exchange ideas in a civilized manner is what generates further ideas and allows progress. Screaming insults at someone is a sure way of making that other person totally unreceptive to one’s point of view: this marks the end of what could have been a fruitful discussion.
I got to just congratulate someone on their engagement, do you know how normal that is? When was the last time X didn’t feel like wading through sewage?
What? And be challenged instead of goaded? Wow, who would want to maybe learn something instead of raising their blood pressure and getting nowhere? /s
As what I think would be defined as a right wing a-hole, I totally agree! It’s important to read widely, seek to understand alternate views, and test our ideas and opinions. We might even change our minds! Understanding and empathy ensue, which creates… chill. Hoping bsky remains civil. Peace!
I need different opinions and viewpoints that expand my world, not limit it. R-wing POVs are so limiting: what's in their underwear, what women do with their bodies, "they" don't count as human, etc. 1/2
Damn, show me a new world or civilization I've never heard of before. Show me a world where everyone's gender is fluid. Show me a world where the fascists won, but the Rebellion will fight back w/new hope. 2/2
The thing about books, at least for me, is that i consume the information uncritically. Unless it's something obviously wrong, im not going to give it a second thought. You need a little suspension of disbelief to enjoy anything really
This is a fair concern, but the more you read, the more you can see the differences and nuances of conversations across topics. That’s when you know you’re getting into it!
My original intent was for this to be my chill place...until a few MAGA trolls piped up commenting on my posts. As a result, I have a quick trigger for the block button!!
Yes, but if you, instead of just blocking them, keep talking about how people should behave, you will encourage always ready crowd to regulate the space and you are doing the homework the bots give you. Block and move on and let people live.
When someone calls bsky an echo chamber, what they mean is the only tool they have to handle disagreement is irrational chimpanzee-screeching and feces-flinging, and they assume everyone else is equally limited.
People with different opinions who engage rationally don't fit into their world view.
There are still thoughtful, intelligent voices out there on the right side of the political spectrum, and they are actually even more shut out than those on the left. The Left has a role in opposition and a chance to reverse the 2024 results in 2 or 4 years; the sensible Right is in exile.
Reporting & blocking can get tedious for sure. The main thing is to limit the response they get as much as possible. Hopefully they'll get bored and go away.
I’m not sure how large my block list is at this point, but MAGA trolls are immediately blocked. I’m loving having a curated feed of civil, rational, respectful political discussions and non-political content (like pet pics 😻). 😊
The right wing doesn’t even have “views”. It’s just hatred, greed, and a desire to hurt others. The implication that there’s some kind of policy dialogue to be had is just gaslighting.
Whereas people like to argue for their own satisfaction, good books (and people) present arguments in structured and respectful ways to achieve a specific outcome.
Convincing you, informing you, inspiring you; a good argument works to your benefit. On the flip side, social media is a battlefield!
If you're referring to idiots on both sides, yes both sides. If you're referring to policy, then no. But do go on being a reactionary asshole commenting where no one invited you.
Some magazines are good for this too, though they won’t be found at the Target check-out. Subscribing to Harper’s has been good for my brain, and I’ve sound several thoughtful articles I don’t agree with.
I still cant believe how many people think you can understand the Right by talking to them. That's their chance to filter out whatever they dont think you should know.
It's like talking to a recruiter to understand the Army instead of reading field manuals
They don't genuinely believe that we're just "not hearing" them.
MAGAs fully and entirely know how unjustifiable their beliefs are, but they also know that they can garner sympathy from the uninformed if they act oppressed for "not being heard out."
Right wing lunatics really like writing their manifestos. Lots of literary options. You don’t need to hear every opinion from the unwashed masses to understand. It’s a hive mind Borg mentality anyway
If people wanted views different from their own, networks like FOX wouldn't be growth industries. While fact checking sources are everywhere, legions seem stuck in a time warp of disinformation. A wise man once said, “they will believe it's a dead end when they hit that tree.”
I'm a fan of debate and discussion but at this point it's not insane or close minded to refuse to have debates or discussions with Trump cultists or other fascist sympathizers
What’s laughable is that although I lean pretty far to the left, I probably hold more actual “conservative” principles than most Republicans these days. Their whole ideology pretty much boils down to “Gimme!”
Right wing manchildren always scream "Listen to my views!!!!" And then every single time you hear them out for a genuine discussion it's just "Trans people aren't people" or some shit
Over the course of nearly a decade I've never encountered one who
- listened to understand
- conceded when wrong
- accepted factual journalism (instead of attacking the messenger)
- didn't engage in ad hominem attacks or whataboutism
It's exhausting and that's the point. They want to wear you down
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But its not. It's just assholes screaming: "DEI's liberal Woke BS!"
Yeah, the world would be a better place if ppl read (and discussed!) their sacred texts(!)
"Okay, whatever nerd, four elephants on the back of a turtle hold up our flat Earth."
"its their fault theyre not making enough money to fill their stomachs. why should i pay for their food?"- is their top argument. not realising that the reason they cant afford food is textbook capitalism and theyre its victims too.
I actually came over from reddit where there was room to discuss ideas in long-ish form! And it's the same as twitter: reactive ppl projecting the bad-faith impressions in their head as the original argument and arguing against it
i also find it funny how ppl think changing genders is all liberal ideas stand for.
sooo long form Twitter?
Being able to exchange ideas in a civilized manner is what generates further ideas and allows progress. Screaming insults at someone is a sure way of making that other person totally unreceptive to one’s point of view: this marks the end of what could have been a fruitful discussion.
https://dailycaller.com/2023/02/16/reading-lord-of-the-rings-1984-could-lead-right-wing-extremism-govt-report-warns-douglas-murray/
People with different opinions who engage rationally don't fit into their world view.
The first thing they set fire to was a library
Convincing you, informing you, inspiring you; a good argument works to your benefit. On the flip side, social media is a battlefield!
Someone else said, "Blocked, not ashamed for protecting my peace" and I live for that energy
It's like talking to a recruiter to understand the Army instead of reading field manuals
We couldn’t avoid hearing them. No matter how many times it’s screamed at me I won’t be hopping on the fascism train.
MAGAs fully and entirely know how unjustifiable their beliefs are, but they also know that they can garner sympathy from the uninformed if they act oppressed for "not being heard out."
- listened to understand
- conceded when wrong
- accepted factual journalism (instead of attacking the messenger)
- didn't engage in ad hominem attacks or whataboutism
It's exhausting and that's the point. They want to wear you down
That's something right, left and center can agree on.