The Alt-Right is a largely self-identifying group who are inherently not interested in sharing their space with people of different persuasions (whether that’s ethnicity, sexuality, or religion). These people have coalesced into an entity. So not every bigot is a member of the Alt-Right, yet every member of the Alt-Right is a bigot.
Misogyny is not equivalent to being Alt-Right. Yet given the notion that bigotry is entrenched in outdated ideas, misogyny is at least adjacent.
As to whether it is dismissive to label someone as “Alt-Right” or “Misogynist,” sure it is. That’s largely the point when someone who doesn’t agree with their views uses the label; it discounts their argument using intellectual short-hand which means “Yeah, we’ve already covered this ground and it’s a decided set of conclusions.” I can safely tell you that opponents of the Alt-Right have zero interest in finding a middle ground. There simply is none to find with people who want you dead, displaced, or oppressed.
Now is someone who is Alt-Right damned for eternity to be denounced by decent folk? No, because their views can change. Should those who oppose them engage in pleasant conversation with the hope of encouraging such change? I can certainly see the argument on an individual basis, but it’s honestly debatable in terms of general efficacy when compared to trying to make it as miserable as possible to be a vocal advocate of the group.
You see, there is an underlying belief in certain segments of US society that there’s a “silent majority.” Groups who are on the fringe, such as the Alt-Right, draw strength from the idea that many, many more adhere to their belief system than will admit it. Disabusing a group of this notion helps to weaken it, and a person tends to move on when they realize their support system is weak. This further diminishes their numbers and (ideally) creates a cascading effect on the Alt-Right’s membership.
@Timex
So you keep saying. But is that really going to win the hearts and minds of the people?
It is like saying that you are better than a Bannana peel on the floor.
Watch that you don’t trip on that Bannana peel…
Nesrie
3396
Nobody wants to win the hearts of minds of Nazis. They’re fucking Nazis. When they decide to stop being Nazis, then we can talk to them.
… and we can all stop reading his posts now. This is like a gman sock puppet.
@Nesrie I said “The people”. Which means “The public”. Because of jumping to conclusions, you just called the people Nazis…
See, it is easy enough for ‘good people’ to make that mistake, that anybody even remotely trained can seize upon, or anybody who believes that you insulted them injustly could get angry about it.
… the saying that ‘Left-wing want to call everybody Nazis who they don’t agree with’, isn’t entirely incorrect. So long as the left keep falling for these basic mistakes, then you bet Trump gonna capitalise on it.
That’s what I’m trying to get at. If you present your ideology as elitist or toxic in things like forums or Twitter, you are going to appear not in control, therefore it puts people in reach of Trump.
Nesrie
3399
No one is doing that here, and it’s bullshit for you to claim anyone is.
Menzo
3400
Nothing the left does is going to stop Trumpists from accusing them of all sorts of things. We call Nazis Nazis. I am not interested in appeasing Trumpists or Nazis, or undrestanding where they came from or why they’re Trumpists or Nazis.
It’s totally unnecessary to achieve my political goals. What I want is for them to slink back into the shadows where they belong. I want them to be very lonely. And I want them to feel like they have no societal support for their beliefs.
But you are so full of questions and judgement, and short on actual ideas or solutions. What would you do about it? Get off your high horse and join us in the mud with real thoughts. I’d be way less inclined to think that you’re a Russian sockpuppet or a simple troll if you did.
You heard the phrase, “Bullshit baffles Brains”?
I was talking about the general argument that is positioned towards ‘the left’ or ‘anti-trump’ or whatever fractured group the non-republicans are now. Again, defensiveness looks weak, and puts people off.
The left must start talking more about what THEY would do in alternative to Trump. Make it pleasant to read and listen to. Politics is a fickle game, and I don’t know if anybody won an election purely on the grounds of arguing ‘At least I’m not a Nazi’.
I’m in the mud right now. Never thought I’d talk to people as stubborn as or more so than I.
But, hey, at least I’m not a Nazi, so I’ve got something going for me, right, guys?
Where are these fucking people coming from? It’s all 1 guy right?
Timex
3404
Everyone on this forum besides you is actually just Tom.
magnet
3405
They do, all the time. Regulate guns. Increase social spending, particularly for education and health care. Increase taxes on corporations and the wealthy. Increase regulations on banks. Tighter environmental regulations. Pathway to citizenship for DREAMers. And more.
It’s really no mystery at all if you are paying any attention to politics.
Menzo
3406
If you really want to engage in an exchange of ideas about how Dems can win elections, this thread is probably a better place for it.
Are the Left the same as the Democratic Party? Woah boy…
Can one envision a situation in which the alt-right are defeated, but the Republicans stay in Office (even under Trump)? Or is it a package deal for them all to go?
Is is only the Democrat Party that can do this, and therefore does it mean that all moral people of this Earth MUST support and vote Democrat? Is it the ONLY viable solution to defeating the Nazis?
How much influence does a USA citizen have in expressing their needs via voting?
ShivaX
3408
Her belief that she’s better than a fucking Nazi?
Um… yeah, everyone has that belief, sorry to break it to ya.
Tadpoles. Tadpoles is a winner.
Timex
3411
Nazis are pieces of shit, and will find no succor here.
magnet
3412
The only people who care about “winning the hearts and minds” of Nazis are political operatives, and the only viable political operatives on the left are Democrats.
For some reason, you and gman seem to think that anyone engaged in political commentary is a political operative. But that’s not remotely true. Some of us, probably most of us, just like to discuss politics and don’t give a rat’s ass about the effects of our discussion on the fortunes of the Democrats. Because I’ll let you in a little secret: the effect is basically zero.
