Leaving aside the likelihood that he is in fact simply right wing, how many people genuinely think this, I wonder? When I want to challenge my assumptions I read widely. I don't actively pursue friendships with people I fundamentally disagree with. Does anyone? - ThreadSky

dorianlynskey.bsky.social • 27 days ago

Leaving aside the likelihood that he is in fact simply right wing, how many people genuinely think this, I wonder? When I want to challenge my assumptions I read widely. I don't actively pursue friendships with people I fundamentally disagree with. Does anyone?

Reposted from Mike Boylan-Kolchin

This would make @nytpitchbot.bsky.social blush. "I'm on various right-wing group chats"? What a hack.

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seanmaceoin.bsky.social•27 days ago

I doubt anybody on the side of decency pursues friendships with right-wing bigots.

Conversely, right-wing bigots seemingly always try to pursue friendships with their polar opposites, not just because they're pathetically needy, but also because they're out to try and convert them.

seanmaceoin.bsky.social•27 days ago

Right-wing bigots also lack the self-awareness to know when they're being given a wide berth, so they have to be told straight-up that they're not wanted, at which point they start playing the hurt victim.

Epic time (and energy) wasters, the lot of them.

spad.uk•27 days ago

I think there's stuff you can disagree with people on where there's value in hearing their opinions but most of the time it's "trans people shouldn't exist" or "we should bring back slavery" or "what if we let Elon Musk run a country" and there's just nothing to be gained by engaging with them.

kempchi.bsky.social•27 days ago

Sort of. I try to understand why I disagree with people. It’s shown me how intellect is often used to justify feelings, and that harmful beliefs usually stem from being drawn into misinfo ecosystems. Gently introducing new perspectives can help, unless bad ideas are rooted in deeper dysfunction.

dorianlynskey.bsky.social•27 days ago

Do you seek them out though?

kempchi.bsky.social•27 days ago

I grew up ultra religious, since leaving that world behind, I’ve been curious about how people fall into unhinged beliefs. When an old pal radicalised himself online I followed him down the rabbit hole to attempt to bring him back again. I think I helped him. fucking awful though, don’t recommend.

kempchi.bsky.social•27 days ago

I made one other very close friend from those times who through sheer loneliness found community amongst basicallly the worst people ever, and now they’re just the sweetest person you could meet (AND I convinced them to vote Labour last year)

robod99.bsky.social•27 days ago

I do try to listen to them. I actually read the right wing press every day. Not for information but to know and understand what they are thinking. Friendship, not really.
I have learnt they can't identify irony, mutually exclusive viewpoints, or extrapolate.

bowser1805.bsky.social•27 days ago

It's such a shame that Neville Chamberlain didn't live long enough to witness this moment.

gwils.bsky.social•27 days ago

Honestly it’s really quite a strain when you discover the politics of your friends is totally the opposite of your own and they are maddeningly blinkered. But I figure it’s one way I can see my own blind spots and to try to understand where they’re coming from.

gwils.bsky.social•27 days ago

I regularly have to take a breath and remember that they were friends first.

michaelnoller.bsky.social•27 days ago

I listened to an interview on gbnews this morning and it sounded so one sided. I don't know how anyone could think it was impartial. It must appeal to an audience that wants reassurance. I wondered if I was the same. But mostly I read progressive writers who criticise progressive politicians who

michaelnoller.bsky.social•27 days ago

don't go far enough. Stephen bush, Rafael behr etc. I try to understand some right wing views in the uk but I think many have gone down a radicalised rabbit hole since brexit which is why many lost contact with reality and led them to losing the last election.

chrismwheeler.bsky.social•27 days ago

Sometimes I might share hobbies or interests with people I disagree with politically. I sometimes talk politics with them, but try to not be too judgemental when I do so. Some have changed their minds over time, but that may not have been anything to do with me.

dorianlynskey.bsky.social•27 days ago

I just cannot stand bigots. So I could be friends with an economic conservative I guess but not a social conservative

crizqo.bsky.social•27 days ago

its not like you have to follow right wingers, they contol most media now. You can read the headlines

dorianlynskey.bsky.social•27 days ago

Exactly. I don't need them in my Whatsapps

nobregather.bsky.social•27 days ago

I do not. That is why I leave Twitter. It's exhausting and very few people changes It minds from time to time.

somesheep.bsky.social•27 days ago

Reading does not have the same cognitive quality than conversing / dialogue. Every good scientists actively seeks people who disagree (or should, if they have any grasp of philosophy of science). That you don’t do this is, frankly, shocking, but does explain some of what recently irritated me.

dorianlynskey.bsky.social•27 days ago

You’re irritated because I don’t seek rightwing friends? It’s hard enough keeping up with the friends I already have

somesheep.bsky.social•27 days ago

I am puzzled that you've never befriended someone, maybe in a context where politics wasn't prominent (for example though music) in you interaction that, later, turned out to be right wing and, yet, you wanted to keep that connection.

dorianlynskey.bsky.social•27 days ago

Hasn’t happened. I’ve had friends lurch to the right but the friendship hasn’t survived. I just don’t connect to that worldview I guess

dorianlynskey.bsky.social•27 days ago

I mean, you don’t meet many rightwing musicians

somesheep.bsky.social•27 days ago

I guess it's something you choose to do or not do. I believe having such friends helps me not to demonise the "other side". Crazy, to think there is value in being able to have empathy for an opponent.

dorianlynskey.bsky.social•27 days ago

I think of friends as people I connect with and enjoy spending time with rather than a cross-party focus group

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