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?

  • Gorn [they/them,he/him]
    ·
    4 years ago

    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: