In a position commanding a wide public audience, Jonathan Rauch has spent years speaking against us and mocking us. Today, he’s had an epiphany and figured out he’s been well-paid to be wrong. That’s cool. “Welcome to the fight. This time I know our side will win,” and all that.
I’m not going to waste any effort kicking him today, but I’m also not shocked, not scolding anyone who doesn’t welcome Jonathan Rauch with a bouquet of flowers and wet kisses. Anyway, in five days or five minutes he’ll decide we’re wrong again. Shrug.
Yeah, you’re right there will be a lot of fair weather supporters who are only switching sides because the wind blew our way. Nor do I think we should coddle these people.
My point is that: if you don’t have something constructive to say then at least be silent. There is ZERO advantage (outside of soothing their ego) for a person who supports this cause to actively attack people who are coming around to see how bad this situation has become.
The net result of this kind of tactic is to create division among allies. This kind of behavior isn’t something that benefits us and should be actively discouraged.
I’m not saying ‘be nice or they’ll go back to fascism’ as you can already see the troll comments (reading from that exact same encyclopedia of toxic rhetoric). I’m saying that this kind of behavior cuts off these new anti-fascists from being able to support the movement, dividing the enemies of fascism.
As I said, go try to engage some of these people in conversation to change their mind. Very often you’ll find they have zero interest in having a good-faith discussion, and will constantly be deploying all manner of fallacy as a smoke screen. These people are not allies, they are agitators and, even if they are real American Human People then they are ideologically aligned with the agitators.
Ha — how did you get to know my family so well?
I’m not interested in conversation with people who aren’t interested in conversation, so I no longer engage — unless they say something stupid or fascist in my presence.
Ha — how did you get to know my family so well? I’m not interested in conversation with people who aren’t interested in conversation, so I no longer engage — unless they say something stupid or fascist in my presence.
I live in a rural area of a red state so I have to deal with MAGA people, family and clients, constantly.
In a position commanding a wide public audience, Jonathan Rauch has spent years speaking against us and mocking us. Today, he’s had an epiphany and figured out he’s been well-paid to be wrong. That’s cool. “Welcome to the fight. This time I know our side will win,” and all that.
I’m not going to waste any effort kicking him today, but I’m also not shocked, not scolding anyone who doesn’t welcome Jonathan Rauch with a bouquet of flowers and wet kisses. Anyway, in five days or five minutes he’ll decide we’re wrong again. Shrug.
Yeah, you’re right there will be a lot of fair weather supporters who are only switching sides because the wind blew our way. Nor do I think we should coddle these people.
My point is that: if you don’t have something constructive to say then at least be silent. There is ZERO advantage (outside of soothing their ego) for a person who supports this cause to actively attack people who are coming around to see how bad this situation has become.
The net result of this kind of tactic is to create division among allies. This kind of behavior isn’t something that benefits us and should be actively discouraged.
I’m not saying ‘be nice or they’ll go back to fascism’ as you can already see the troll comments (reading from that exact same encyclopedia of toxic rhetoric). I’m saying that this kind of behavior cuts off these new anti-fascists from being able to support the movement, dividing the enemies of fascism.
As I said, go try to engage some of these people in conversation to change their mind. Very often you’ll find they have zero interest in having a good-faith discussion, and will constantly be deploying all manner of fallacy as a smoke screen. These people are not allies, they are agitators and, even if they are real American Human People then they are ideologically aligned with the agitators.
Ha — how did you get to know my family so well? I’m not interested in conversation with people who aren’t interested in conversation, so I no longer engage — unless they say something stupid or fascist in my presence.
I live in a rural area of a red state so I have to deal with MAGA people, family and clients, constantly.