It's easy to say that it feels like a psyop, but the levels of class reductionism - that is to say - the knee-jerk ridicule of intersectional shit or critical race theory stuff feels highly suspect. Like, you can't say white people are nerds (which they are) in a lot of anti-woke left spaces without harsh rebukes, and it seems really suspect to me. Is there a real fash pipeline in our midst? Are class reductionist white people that sensitive and defensive and... well... white to the point that they can't let go of their privilege even in the context of them being left?

  • OgdenTO [he/him]
    ·
    4 years ago

    I think some of it might be that the dirtbag left aesthetic appeals to baby leftists - like, let's talk about class but we still make fun and swear and are mean to others groups. It is at it's core childish, but it is also intended to compete against the rights mockery of the left as "nice", and to bring in some passion (and defense of violence) into leftwing circles that are often extremely focused on procedure and theory. I think a strength of the dirtbag left is that it is kind of "cool", so it appeals to youth.

    Saying that, dirtbag leftists need to grow up at some point. That is, at some point, theory, inclusion, internationalism, anti-racism, procedure, community building, teaching, and understanding all need to become "cool".

    If they don't, that is suspect. It's either someone who won't let go of their white supremacy, or it's a grift, or most likely both.

    • purr [undecided]
      ·
      4 years ago

      really agree with you regarding the dirtbag lefty having to grow up. I think thats why i always thought the moniker was kinda weird because the people who coined the term--chapo people---were like 35 when they coined it.... because of that ive always associated the term with immaturity but also with people who should know better and who cant seem to grow up

      i understand that the peter pan failson angle is part of why the dirtbag left stuff is so attractive but still

      • OgdenTO [he/him]
        ·
        4 years ago

        Oh absolutely. Ignoring bad ideas to keep the peace is some kind of liberalism.