all 111 comments

[–][deleted] 47 insightful - 2 fun47 insightful - 1 fun48 insightful - 2 fun -  (2 children)

You don't need me to tell you this, but it's real. You're not imagining it.

I think it started with academia and the liberal elite, then got out of control and took over the campuses, then before you know it -- progressive extremism and ideological purity everywhere.

I'm amazed at how they think The Left is somehow immune from going too far and tipping over into abusiveness. "We're progressive, so we can only bring progress!" Yeah. Maybe read up on Stalin. 🙄

[–]VioletRemi 19 insightful - 6 fun19 insightful - 5 fun20 insightful - 6 fun -  (1 child)

"We're progressive, so we can only bring progress!"

Well...they did progressed in ways of bullying and oppressing, found new ways to do it!

[–][deleted] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Yep. They did.

[–]TherealSimbul 37 insightful - 4 fun37 insightful - 3 fun38 insightful - 4 fun -  (23 children)

People thought Hilary Clinton would win. Look what happened.

Complacency is our worst enemy. Hold your nose and vote for Biden -- there's a LOT at stake.

[–]Girlwiththeraventat 26 insightful - 1 fun26 insightful - 0 fun27 insightful - 1 fun -  (21 children)

I don't see how Biden is going to help anything. I don't think Trump will fix anything either. He'll probably make things worse, but I'm worried about Biden taking wokeness too far. I feel like we are on a path to have thought crimes soon, you won't be able to have an opinion unless it's the "right one"

[–]quickbeam 27 insightful - 1 fun27 insightful - 0 fun28 insightful - 1 fun -  (7 children)

Biden's going to listen to medical professionals and help us get Covid under control. For that alone it's worth voting for him. He's also likely going to get immigrant kids out of cages, stop banning people from random countries that happen to have Muslim populations, and generally improve our standing internationally. I doubt Biden is very woke, and the only thing that he'd probably affect in terms of trans rights would be choosing Supreme Court justices, which is much more crucial in terms of how it will affect abortion rights than anything else at this point.

[–]100_percent_truth[S] 17 insightful - 2 fun17 insightful - 1 fun18 insightful - 2 fun -  (6 children)

Ok, I know it's hard to break the programming but I need to go be open minded that much like the trans debate, you're only being told one side by the media. Lemme preface all of this by saying I'm not a trump fan. Just a fan of the truth.

  1. On cages: Obama started the "cage" program. The media circulated a pic from 2014 to use against Trump as an example of kids in cages.

A) https://twitter.com/azcentral/status/1000875531250774016?s=20

B) https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2019/sep/13/joe-biden/fact-checking-biden-use-cages-during-obama-adminis/

  1. On covid: it is under control. This is the latest CDC data on deaths in the entire country. We are chronologically speaking at the bottom row now.

https://i.imgur.com/uZKTl6H.jpg

Much like the trans narrative, there is some agenda here that's not borne out by facts.

  1. Banning people from Muslim countries? Trump only used the list made specifically by Obama for this.

https://observer.com/2017/01/barack-obama-policies-foundation-donald-trump-muslim-ban/

If you start to realize that everything is like the trans narrative, that you're told to think a certain way and it all crumbles when you look into it, you'll see why I feel politically homeless. The knee jerk reaction is to say that well, Trump is worse. I'm actually not sure that's true in even half of the issues if you really look at them. They are all bad.

[–]koalayoga 9 insightful - 1 fun9 insightful - 0 fun10 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Agree, and the idea that Joe Biden can singlehandedly stop coronavirus at this point is wishful thinking at best. Most people don't want to be locked down, period, and I think that goes beyond right vs. left. In fact, a Democrat might make things worse by enacting more draconian national lockdowns that would just lead to a full out rebellion.

[–]emptiedriver 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (4 children)

global warming? I do get pretty confused over which data to believe, especially when people are so quick to reject anything that seems to counter the narrative. I don't want politics to be this antagonistic. It should just be sensible ship-steering, with voters choosing the candidates who seem most capable and have the best plans.. Hard to tell how much influence the executive branch ends up having. It's so much more complicated than that, and it does seem like the role of the media is important - if not to how we actually end up living, very much to how we see ourselves.

[–]100_percent_truth[S] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

Honestly, if Republicans would be for the environment more than corporations, it would go a long way. I detest their stance on that.

[–]OrneryStruggle 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

What have "progressive" governments actually done for the environment? Most of those people who signed all those treaties and accords, how close are they to meeting their pledged goals? Have you checked?

[–]100_percent_truth[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Good point!

[–]OrneryStruggle 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I'll take this one. I personally believe that global warming/climate change is happening and that a large part of that is probably to do with man-made factors, although understanding climate science if you're not a climate scientist is VERY DIFFICULT and there is no real consensus on details, no matter what the media would have you believe.

However, the "democratic" stance on global warming is a total farce and lies, damned lies. Like everything else. The people supporting a lot of 'climate initiatives' are after money only and are likely to make environmental issues much worse. Most climate initiatives currently being supported by "progressive" governments and NGOs are not attempting to reduce environmental destruction or carbon emissions at all, but to re-sequester carbon (which is actually even more harmful for the environments, by many accounts) and to "financialize" nature.

I know this is a GC sub so I don't want to soapbox about environmental initiatives, but really, don't trust anything you're getting sold too hard as a black and white issue. It's money all the way down.

[–]Feather 16 insightful - 1 fun16 insightful - 0 fun17 insightful - 1 fun -  (4 children)

I think Biden would mostly stay out of this BS. Or at least I hope. All the "woke" people I know hate him, especially TRA's.

It pained me when Elizabeth Warren was trying to be woke by coddling people about pronouns at some point... I don't think Biden would bother with that.

Any moderate liberal is an evil fascist to these people. They don't see in shades of gray.

[–]ZeWombat 14 insightful - 3 fun14 insightful - 2 fun15 insightful - 3 fun -  (2 children)

Warren did more than coddling people about pronouns. She said she was going to have a trans kid 'interview' and have final say on her secretary of education pick. That's enough of Warren for me.

[–]immersang 6 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 0 fun7 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

She said she was going to have a trans kid 'interview' and have final say on her secretary of education pick.

Yeah, that's when I knew the she had completely lost the plot. What a shame. I liked her before.

[–]GraceWindsorWexler 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I couldn't roll my eyes hard enough.

[–]OrneryStruggle 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Biden literally said trans rights are the civil rights issue of our time. Come now.

[–]stitchedlamb 12 insightful - 1 fun12 insightful - 0 fun13 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

If it makes you feel any better, many progressives hate him because, frankly, up until Bernie got super popular Biden's views were just barely left of Reagan. He's come around on things like more progressive taxes for corporations and expanded medical insurance, but the dude doesn't even want to legalize weed. I think your fears are understandable, but unfounded.

[–]hermiona52 8 insightful - 1 fun8 insightful - 0 fun9 insightful - 1 fun -  (4 children)

Honestly, as someone from Europe Trump vs Biden is like choosing between far-right candidate and just right-wing one. The Left is starting to materialize in form of AOC gang and Bernie, but I'm baffled how anyone can really vote for Trump if you care at all about democracy.

Yeah, TRA is anti-science in many things. Trump is anti-science in ALL things, especially the most important ones - like healthcare and global warming.

[–]slushpilot 6 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 0 fun7 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

how anyone can really vote ... if you care at all about democracy

But, that's—exactly how democracy works?

It's true you might not get what you think you're voting for, but all politicians lie or often turn out to be worse in practice than in theory.

the most important ones - like healthcare and global warming

These are indeed important. But first, if people can't even talk to each other then how can they hope to resolve anything else, especially big questions like that? It has to start with not silencing the opposing voice, which you must allow to be heard, if you care about democracy.

[–]immersang 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

But, that's—exactly how democracy works?

It's true you might not get what you think you're voting for, but all politicians lie or often turn out to be worse in practice than in theory.

You just deleted a crucial part of the quote (the "for Trump" part) and then pretended like the poster doesn't want people to vote in general. What the hell?

[–]slushpilot 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Because that's exactly the point: you still get a vote in democracy, no matter who it's for or how terrible they are.

[–]OrneryStruggle 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Except one of them is for sure a molester of children and one of them only probably is.

Trump was less anti-science about COVID than Fauci, which is kind of hilarious considering how wildly stupid Trump is. US politics are a farce but stop shaming people for having a conscience and not wanting to vote for a child molester with dementia.

[–]LoopaLoopa 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

In a discussion about JKR on a left leaning tech forum where I am usually the only woman, I found myself unable to enter the conversation and opted to send PMs to the guys who I was in agreement with because I’m. Not quite anonymous enough. It’s just not safe-not for women.

[–]sisterinsomnia 8 insightful - 1 fun8 insightful - 0 fun9 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

This is one of the ghastliest aspects of what is happening online and probably in real world, too. This silencing of people who are trying to hold onto their own hard-won rights.

[–]OrneryStruggle 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I can't see how anyone with a conscience could vote for Biden calling themselves a feminist.

[–]WrongToy 35 insightful - 1 fun35 insightful - 0 fun36 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

I fully agree. What happened with r/gc's cancellation is something I really fear accelerating during a Biden admin. I despise Trump but frankly I also despise this.

It's been happening since 2016, the MSM not covering anything remotely anti-TRA. WoLF didn't go with Heritage Foundation because they LIKED THEM, they went there because there was no megaphone except the right.

Speaking just for myself, I've always felt that whoever is in power--either side--finds its own ways to oppress women. My conclusion is that we always have to go AROUND them, regardless of who's in charge.

[–]OrneryStruggle 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Ayaan Hirsi Ali did some good interviews probably a decade ago about why she chose to work with the Heritage Foundation. Maybe since she's a black middle eastern ex-muslim feminist people will take it seriously coming from her. I did and I stopped judging her for it.

First they came for the socialists, as they say.

[–]aldoushuxleyghost 24 insightful - 1 fun24 insightful - 0 fun25 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I'm in the same boat (live in hyperwoketown - Seattle). I am butch but straight, often travel to rural WA, and these days feel more at home and accepted by rural folks than at home. I always vote like 99% democrat and I always will vote, but I've declared myself politically homeless and have no idea how to vote in Nov besides not trump. I really don't like Biden as a candidate, he was my last choice among the democrats (he speaks as if he has dementia, and is in the sway of the wokerati, though not as much as WArren). I don't think Biden will win in a landslide honestly, with covid likely to suppress turnout in places without mail-ins.

Yes it's all depressing.

[–]slushpilot 21 insightful - 1 fun21 insightful - 0 fun22 insightful - 1 fun -  (5 children)

I'm not American, but I get the sense that this "political homelessness" is something many Americans are feeling. I admire your country but it's in a tough situation.

a party who wants me to not exist, who wants to silence me

I'm curious if there's a better interpretation of "not exist" and "silence", because this sounds identical to hyperbolic TRA language. For comparison, we all know what we mean when we say something like "adult human female"—and it's not saying that trans people don't or shouldn't exist.

[–]emissch 8 insightful - 2 fun8 insightful - 1 fun9 insightful - 2 fun -  (2 children)

I actually think lesbians can use this language freely without hyperboly. They literally think calling yourself a lesbian is a dog whistle for being a terf. They would rather lesbians identify as queer and accept girldick into their lives. If that's not denying existence and silencing I'm not sure what is...

[–]VioletRemi 11 insightful - 1 fun11 insightful - 0 fun12 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Queer is so vague word. In one review on big site about lesbian game, they were all time referring to characters as "queer people" or "queer women". But what does that mean? "Game about queer people" - what does it mean? Is it about gay men? Non-binary straight couple? Lesbians? Transsexual couple? Asexuals? It is so vague and unclear, that I felt disgust reading it. And I had a strong feeling that "bi-sexual" and "lesbian" is just a swear words in their minds, as they are trying to never use it. Even game itself said this word few times, while progressive reviewers avoding it like a plague...

[–][deleted] 7 insightful - 1 fun7 insightful - 0 fun8 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Queer means absolutely nothing. It is a way for woke people to feel included in the wokeness brigade.

There is lesbian, gay, straight and whatever the TRAS are.

I am not queer, I am a lesbian.

[–]100_percent_truth[S] 8 insightful - 1 fun8 insightful - 0 fun9 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Right- not exist as in it's inconvenient that my existence proves you don't have to be a man to have so called masculine traits, and not exist as in have no voice.

[–]slushpilot 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I know what you mean. I also think this could easily be said of either party, for different reasons.

[–][deleted] 18 insightful - 1 fun18 insightful - 0 fun19 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

I completely understand. I am a femme lesbian. I have mourned the loss of butch lesbians to transitioning over the last 10 years or so.

Personally, I watched a family friend that came out at age 13 as a butch lesbian go off to university and within a year decided that she was trans, telling everyone to call her they/them and has recently started to take testosterone.

Sometimes, all of it is more than I can take.

I have always supported democrats but this crazy as shit TRA nonsense and erasure of women makes it very difficult to support Democrats.

Most of the right wing policies I don’t support. Can Biden be educated? Warren has already downed the Koolaide so she will be zero help in the fight to regain sanity.

[–]VioletRemi 11 insightful - 1 fun11 insightful - 0 fun12 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

In 14 years testosterone, it is almost certain PCOS or even worse. And if anyone is trying to help girls and explain that this is very harmful to health, at least wait until puberty is ended (or better until age of 18-20+) - you will be called a TERF. Health of kids is sacrificed for ideology.

[–]DogeWalker 14 insightful - 6 fun14 insightful - 5 fun15 insightful - 6 fun -  (19 children)

If “cancel culture” is your number one political issue, you must be doing great financially, lol.

[–]100_percent_truth[S] 20 insightful - 1 fun20 insightful - 0 fun21 insightful - 1 fun -  (9 children)

See that's the problem. I'm thinking much bigger, more longer lasting issues. Once you lose a freedom (in our case, to have our own space, or free speech generally) you almost never get it back.

[–]DogeWalker 6 insightful - 2 fun6 insightful - 1 fun7 insightful - 2 fun -  (8 children)

To me, "cancel culture" just means wokeists whining on the bird website that their favorite songwriter, author, youtuber, or whatever, said something that they disagree with. Don't get me wrong, I dislike cancel culture as a concept, but I don't think it's in the same realm as general free speech concerns. Do you have any examples that would help me understand how they are the same?

[–][deleted] 12 insightful - 1 fun12 insightful - 0 fun13 insightful - 1 fun -  (7 children)

Oh wow, I've watched people track down a woman commenting on a live news Facebook feed about BLM (which isn't the same, but we're still talking cancel culture). They found all of her information over Facebook for her employer, and several people immediately started calling in with complaints with the goal to get her fired. It's pretty damning.

[–]DogeWalker 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (6 children)

I would call that doxxing. I am not defending those actions, but at the same time, words matter. Take this thread for example. What does the Democratic party in the USA have to do with this? Are Democratic Party officials the ones participating in this doxxing?

If we want to be taken seriously about this or any other issue, we should be willing to get specific and to keep thinking critically.

[–]Anna_Nym 8 insightful - 1 fun8 insightful - 0 fun9 insightful - 1 fun -  (5 children)

Doxxing is part of cancel culture. It's one of the tools. If you think that cancel culture sounds like something you associate with the conservative right or MRAs, you're not wrong. Both sides use what is now called cancel culture. But the left-affiliated side currently appears to have more institutional capture and so is more dangerous with it. To put it in very broad trends, the right currently seems to only be able to cancel their own. The left can cancel their own as well as those in neutral territory.

The current Democratic Party has tension between its moderate members--including both those who could be called centrists and those who are liberal leftists--and its more firebrand progressive wing. When I look at CA as a bellwhether of what types of problematic policies the firebrand progressive wing may put into place, I do find it troubling. I think that wing is gaining influence over the Party and that the wing is anti-free speech, anti-policies-of-equality, and anti-biological sex. Because this is already the dominant ideology for books, TV, movies, and media, there will be no checks.

[–]DogeWalker 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (4 children)

Ok... maybe the Democrats hav gotten worse. But have the Republicans gotten any better? I don't think so.

Both parties are beholden to corporate interests, that is for sure. But only one party is a machine purpose-built to grind up poor people at the altar of prosperity. Republicans have been pissing on poor folks since at least the days of Reagan. Republicans are equally happy to piss on poor whites as they are to piss on poor non-whites, but they have benefitted from racial divisiveness for at least 100 years.

Because this is already the dominant ideology for books, TV, movies, and media, there will be no checks.

Not trying to attack you personally, but I have to take a stand against this. There's a huge difference between TV and media being shaped by corporate interests, and having actual speech/expression curtailed by the government. Can you give some examples of the censorship you're seeing in the media? I have a hard time remembering anything that would amount to that, happening in recent memory. Just because The New L Word has 18 TIMs playing true and honest lesbians.... so what? You can find most banned books if you have an internet connection. Just don't watch wokeist TV and read instead.

[–]Anna_Nym 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

I'm not sure what you're arguing with because you seem to have two separate points, and I feel both have been addressed to you clearly in replies.

Point #1 seems to be that cancel culture is not a big deal because it's not government censorship. It is true that it generally isn't government censorship in the US right now. I consider losing employment, social circles, hobbies, dealing with targeted harassment etc. to be a big deal, even if it's not done by the government. I also consider the chilling effect on people's ability to discuss policies and events that affect them to be a big deal.

Point #2 seems to be that cancel culture has nothing to do with the Democratic Party. To this one, I would agree that yes, the Democratic Party is not the primary advocate or perpetrator of cancel culture. However, what we see in progressive areas like CA, Seattle, Portland, and certain House districts is that supporters/advocates of cancel culture are gaining political power through the Democratic Party. This is troubling to me for the reasons already stated.

In terms of examples of media censorship as a result of cancel culture, I am confused how someone could be on this board and have to ask that.

[–]StupidHappyPancakes 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

The government actually IS implementing more censorship by harshly penalizing people for saying wrongthink, such as criticism of immigration being a criminal matter in some parts of Europe, or the enforcement of "misgendering" laws that carry heavy fines.

[–]Anna_Nym 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Not in the US yet, right? Or are there state laws in some places that do that?

But I agree that looking at the trajectory in other countries, it is very easy to see how the Democratic Party could end up promoting and enforcing laws like that in the US.

[–]DogeWalker 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Out of curiosity regarding point #2, do you live in one of those liberal areas?

[–][deleted] 14 insightful - 2 fun14 insightful - 1 fun15 insightful - 2 fun -  (3 children)

No, cancel culture does the most to harm to people who are NOT financially untouchable. We can't speak out without the risk of losing our livelihood. People on twitter were making a big deal about these privileged rich/tenured people signing the Harper's letter, but that's precisely the point. Only the uncancellable can safely speak out on cancel culture. I'm glad they're doing it on behalf of the rest of us.

That said, Biden all the way. Doesn't stop US politics from being a dumpster fire with no candidate who will stand up for women though. :/

[–]DogeWalker 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

Doesn't cancel culture impact celebrities, leaders, and those in powers by definition? One is "cancelled" from the sphere of tweets and pop culture. I don't see how it really impacts the everyday person.

[–]Anna_Nym 11 insightful - 1 fun11 insightful - 0 fun12 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

One is cancelled from one's job, social groups, and any other realm that mass pressure can reach. You are so lucky that you've never seen it in action. It's horrible and cruel and leads to a Stasi-like/Cultural Revolution-like state. Free speech and cancel culture cannot co-exist.

[–]OrneryStruggle 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (4 children)

Personally I'm not doing great financially which is why I don't like the fact that speaking freely - about almost anything on almost any platform in almost any context - can end my career before I ever claw my way out of poverty, probably permanently.

[–]DogeWalker 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

I also condemn the extremes of "cancel culture," but I am saying that "cancel culture" is a drop in the bucket compared to real economic concerns facing everyday working people. I don't want people to get banned from twitter or to have to look for a new job... but I also want my grandma to be able to afford her daily medication. In my opinion, making "anti cancel culture" your primary political issue, is shooting ourselves in the foot regarding the more overarching issues that control people's livelihoods in the first place. It makes no sense to me to become a single-issue voter on this issue. What about poor women and their access to health care???

[–]OrneryStruggle 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

Cancel culture is NOT a drop in the bucket compared to real economic concerns facing everyday working people, it is one of THE SINGLE BIGGEST CONCERNS facing everyday working people. I am far less afraid of losing my job AND ALL FUTURE JOB PROSPECTS because of my chronic illness, because of an incident of incompetence, or anything else than I am afraid of losing it for my political beliefs.

This isn't some funny, trite issue of a couple people getting banned from twitter and remaking an account, it's about people losing their ENTIRE LIVELIHOODS FOREVER and being scared all the time, no matter who they are talking to and on what platform.

How am I supposed to afford my medications as someone with a disabling chronic illness who works full time if I lose my job and am unhireable later? I can't just go become a day laborer because I'm severely ill, so I have spent over a decade of abject poverty trying to make it in a career field that will allow me to earn money despite being very sick. I have spent the last few years of it scared shitless, with many other people in my position scared shitless. Cancel culture isnt just twitter or jobs either, it's also the government deciding who can access what services. In the liberal utopia of Canada poor immigrant women trying to make a scant living from at-home waxing and epilating services were sued for everything they had and lost their businesses because they didn't want to wax male genitalia. You are the one who is shooting yourself in the foot if you think this isn't a problem. It is one of THE MAIN OVERARCHING ISSUES that controls people's livelihoods right now, full stop.

As a poor woman my access to healthcare is guaranteed by my government, but access to drugs I need to live is not, so I need to keep my job in order to afford them. And I can't keep my job if I get "caught" having my beliefs. I.e., I have to spend my life acting really cautious and lying about issues that are fundamental to me, and I'm never sure when I might get caught anyway because I can't lie all the time to everybody.

[–]DogeWalker 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Ok, and I understand those concerns. I'm just coming from a position where... if we are honestly concerned about this stuff, we must think critically and rationally about it, and not have these kinds of extreme knee-jerk reactions.

If we react without thinking rationally, we're no better than those doing the cancelling.

[–]OrneryStruggle 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

It's not a knee jerk reaction and I don't know why you think it is. It is a rational reaction to many years of worsening conditions for people like us - and not just people like us in the sense of "GC feminists" but anyone who is not down with the current trendy beliefs. I am an immigrant to a rich western country from a poor "backwards" country and this targets people like me and my family a lot more than it targets upper class western people with liberal arts educations. It is an assault on everything that leftism and liberal western societies in general used to stand for. It is a reinstantiation (but worse, according to my parents) of everything that caused them to leave our home country.

Not cancelling people on principle is in fact always going to be better than doing the cancelling.

[–]emissch 15 insightful - 2 fun15 insightful - 1 fun16 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

I'm still voting Biden (blechh) just to get fucking Trump out of there even though I consider myself a moderate/independent and I am no fan of Biden's. I can't vote libertarian either because they are full of assholes and the party is a disaster. Here's the thing though: there are more progressive candidates on the dem side like Warren who have double downed on the TWAW/TRA activism. She's waaay worse than Biden. Bernie I think is on the TRA side as well IIRC. Biden is more of a centrist so I'm hoping that they don't do anything drastic should they win in November.

[–]OrneryStruggle 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Biden has been way more openly pro-TRA than Sanders, for obvious reasons.

[–]Shinjin_Nana 14 insightful - 1 fun14 insightful - 0 fun15 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

I am with you. I have been a center left independent basically since my first vote and right now is a trying time for the politically homeless.

I constantly find myself struggling with the issue of the devil I know vs the devil I don't.

I know republicans are garbage and will try to roll back women's and LGB rights. But they also know what a woman IS, at least in order to discriminate against her. We know this. We already have buttons and signs in the garage....

But now I see that democrats are garbage, too, who can't even define a woman who are poised to do nearly irreparable harm to the next few generations of women. Trans women are MEN and do not deserve to be in women's spaces.

Someone on the old GC said the best outcome is a split presidency and congress then pray the next 4 years of abyssal deadlock are enough time for the left to come to their senses.

[–]100_percent_truth[S] 10 insightful - 1 fun10 insightful - 0 fun11 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

Actually Trump made that order that lets gynocologists say no to treating men. A Dem would never do that.

[–]VioletRemi 15 insightful - 5 fun15 insightful - 4 fun16 insightful - 5 fun -  (0 children)

And on other hand those laws about 99 years of prison for making abortion.

[–]Shinjin_Nana 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Was that the recent challenge to title VII? Cause he lost that and his own court said apparently 'sex' protection now means LGB and Trans status instead of just bio sex like it was initially meant to. Again the T sneaked on on the coattails of the LGB and men in dresses continue to win spaces among real biological women, to their detriment.

[–]VioletRemi 14 insightful - 1 fun14 insightful - 0 fun15 insightful - 1 fun -  (5 children)

USA voting system is a monopoly of two parties. And now one party is bad, and other is even worse. And sadly whoever wins - it will be bad for LBG folks and women.

[–]Girlwiththeraventat 13 insightful - 2 fun13 insightful - 1 fun14 insightful - 2 fun -  (4 children)

Currently only one party is trying to silence the other side and it isn't the Republicans. Before I would have considered myself a Democrat, but now I feel very alienated from a group who just seems to hate the country they want to control. It's not progress if it's at the price of freedom.

[–]VioletRemi 7 insightful - 2 fun7 insightful - 1 fun8 insightful - 2 fun -  (3 children)

the other side

I thought they are silencing their own side.

[–]Girlwiththeraventat 13 insightful - 2 fun13 insightful - 1 fun14 insightful - 2 fun -  (2 children)

If you aren't with them, you are against them and you must be silenced. It doesn't actually matter what political party you are.

[–]Amareldys 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Yes, but they spend more time being angry at left wing people who don't 100% toe the line, they don't really bother with the right.

[–]slushpilot 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

No, I think it's just a more effective tactic against companies/individuals who are sympathetic to progressive values and who will buckle under social pressure because they don't want to be cast out as right wing.

Those who are openly on the right, and not concerned with offending the tribe are more immune to it.

[–]Anna_Nym 10 insightful - 3 fun10 insightful - 2 fun11 insightful - 3 fun -  (0 children)

There is no question for me that I'll be supporting Biden because Trump is just incompetent. But I'm with you on not knowing what will happen with the Democratic Party in the future. I am in a socially liberal area where cancel culture runs rampant, and I non-hyperbolically think we will enter an authoritarian reality if this approach gains widespread political power. People don't care about due process, injustice, or free speech.

I think the Republican Party is a lost cause because they were already captured by their ideological wing. But I am hoping that there will be a counter force with disenchanted centrist Republicans and disenchanted Democrats to create a revitalized liberal movement.

[–]Syphii 9 insightful - 2 fun9 insightful - 1 fun10 insightful - 2 fun -  (6 children)

I'm a huge supporter of Bernie and democratic socialism in general. Before COVID and our current government's handling of it I was planning to vote third party. I can't stand Biden, but I'm going to vote for him. At this point, I can only hope that Biden picks a qualified VP pick due to his age and concerns about dementia.

[–]quickbeam 5 insightful - 2 fun5 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 2 fun -  (5 children)

Same exact situation for me. I'm voting Biden because of Covid too. It's going to get much worse before it gets better, and I have no hope it will ever really get better if we keep Trump around.

[–]100_percent_truth[S] 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (4 children)

Then please don't! Covid is fine now, it's being used politically because many people are saying what you're saying. Just have a look at the latest CDC data for deaths in the entire country. We are being lied to.

https://i.imgur.com/uZKTl6H.jpg

[–]adultxhumanxfemale 9 insightful - 1 fun9 insightful - 0 fun10 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

This is the second time in this thread you've stated that Covid is no longer a concern because the death rate has gone down. No, the situation is NOT under control. The death rate is down because the newly infected are younger and less likely to die from their symptoms. Many are asymptomatic. We are in no way being lied to by Dr. Fauci or the CDC. Many states in the US are hitting new peaks of infected patients every day.

Vote as you wish but to not vote for Biden because of incorrect Covid-19 info seems highly illogical.

[–]OrneryStruggle 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

It is not under control only because it is a mild respiratory virus, which literally CANNOT be controlled.

No one is going to "control" COVID, but some people want to kill a lot of people pretending they can, and hint - it isn't Trump in this instance.

Many of the world's best, most famous epidemiologists and virologists are saying this and being censored. Why would that be? Think about why GC women are being censored and think that maybe there might be parallels.

[–]Syphii 4 insightful - 2 fun4 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

Are you telling us not to vote? Seriously?? This isn't just about who becomes the president, but also who will become supreme court justices, congress members, house of representatives, local officials, and federal judges.

COVID isn't my only reason for voting for Biden, but it was the first to change my mind about voting third party. The majority of my family members are in health care (nurses, physicians, health departments) who are constantly swamped with COVID cases, and they are keeping me updated on how our local hospitals are doing. JFC, it's not a 'liberal hoax'. My other major reason for voting is because of BLM and my utter disgust for how poorly POC have always been treated in the US. I'm voting this election (as I always have) and I recommend everyone else does the same.

[–]100_percent_truth[S] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I said don't vote for Biden just because if the coronavirus- thought that was fairly clear since I literally addressed your sentence with a direct rebuttal. But go ahead and get your knickers in a bunch for something I didn't say.

[–]missdaisycan 9 insightful - 1 fun9 insightful - 0 fun10 insightful - 1 fun -  (4 children)

Since 1978, I've been voting as an independent, even when I couldn't register as one. But that requires effort - researching candidates and their supporters - and voting for the best one EVEN if they're a third party. 42 years I've been saying no vote is ever a wasted vote. Third party or cross party voting is advocating; it's saying NO! And if more of my idiot peers and our parents had done so, MAYBE things wouldn't be so bad now. But everyone FEARS THIS is the most important moment, so they need to stay the course. Hindsight shows me there were few "most important moments". The Chinese think in eons, Americans think in the moment.

I agree with previous commenter: split branches to slow progression, though don't kid yourselves that both sides aren't being bought with the same money.

(edit. bad at math today)

[–]Girlwiththeraventat 8 insightful - 3 fun8 insightful - 2 fun9 insightful - 3 fun -  (2 children)

I feel the same way. But for me I live in a very red state, so I was going against the tide. I have never met a Republican who wanted to silence anyone. At this point I almost feel like a lot of Republicans saw the writing on the wall for censoring in the name of "wokeness". I also feel a lot of Democrats have had the wool pulled over their eyes with propaganda, including myself.

I'm scared for the future of our country honestly.

[–]ThisReality 8 insightful - 1 fun8 insightful - 0 fun9 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I have never met a Republican who wanted to silence anyone.

That was not my experience when living in red states.

[–]100_percent_truth[S] 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I feel the exact same.

[–]quickbeam 8 insightful - 2 fun8 insightful - 1 fun9 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

I don't think the whole Democratic Party is like this any more than all Democrats/leftists are like this. I mean you're not like that, and I'm a leftist and I'm not like that either. I'm only voting for Biden in order to have not-fascism and hopefully get rid of the coronavirus. It is by no means assured that Biden will win at all, let alone in a landslide, so if you happen to live in a swing state please vote for him and check your local races to see who's running. Quite a few local politicians are not extreme cancel culture types. I don't even mind "woke" politicians as long as they call people in rather than trying to cancel/shame them. I think a lot of people are just well-meaning but not fully informed, and that includes politicians.

[–]OrneryStruggle 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

The democratic party absolutely is like this which is why they supported the candidate they supported. The Republican party is too. Pretending that either party would just "allow" a seemingly incompetent candidate who doesn't do something for the party as a whole is delusional. Someone as incompetent and literally mentally infirm as Biden doesn't win the nomination by accident.

[–]koalayoga 7 insightful - 1 fun7 insightful - 0 fun8 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

I'm a walkaway. I cannot possibly vote for Biden because Democrats in control will criminalize criticism of the transgender movement and completely destroy all sex-based protections. Never mind all the creepy videos of Biden pawing at little girls over the years. And I don't get these comments saying that Biden will stop coronavirus. How? No way he can.

First, the Democrats completely jumped the shark when they tried to make everyone else stay home while encouraging protests during a pandemic. I was in favor of initial protests...and then what happened? They turned into BLACK TRANS LIVES MATTER protests. Please don't tell me that somehow black trans lives are so critical that we need to risk everyone's lives during a pandemic to protest NOW about it. So now Democrats in public health are flat-out lying and trying to pretend like protests didn't help spread the virus while meanwhile we were told not to go to fourth of July events even with masks and social distancing.

We have science deniers on both sides. Infuriating!

If you think Biden will win in a landslide you just need to go peruse the Walkaway group on Facebook and look at how many people are super furious at these double standards. I don't think Biden will win, actually.

I'm not sure if I can vote for Trump. But I'm done with the Democrats. As far as abortion goes, I don't think that's going to be removed with the recent Supreme Court decision blocking the anti-abortion law...even with more conservatives on the bench...as they are now more libertarian and hands off it seems.

[–]OrneryStruggle 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Thanks for your smart and measured comment. I am getting furious at the 'Biden will stop Covid' comments too. What is he, the second coming of christ?

I think people thinking Biden will win by a landslide is delusional, but I also think at this point people should be walking away from partisan party politics, doing good research and voting realistically for the issues they think are most likely to actually be affected in the next term. Not based on party affiliation or how much they like the look of the presidential candidate.

[–]DogeWalker 6 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 0 fun7 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

You say you won't vote for Democrat candidates because all of the people who have attacked you have also been Democratic voters. I understand that is an easy reaction, but the logic is not airtight -- your anger is not directed at the correct target, imo.

Have you ever contacted any of your representatives to say you supported them with your vote, but you have concerns about where things are headed?

[–]100_percent_truth[S] 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

No I said I won't vote Democrat because they don't support women's rights and are against truth. Did you not read what I put in the text box? No offense.

[–]DogeWalker 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Have you ever contacted your representatives? Resistbot makes it really easy.

[–]feministunderyrbed 6 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 0 fun7 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I’m not counting on Biden for much beyond not being Trump, but that is enough. I believe he will protect the right to abortion and do a significant amount to unfuck our economy and education system, among other things. No politician or party is reliably gender critical, and that sucks, but getting rid of Trump matters more than anything else politically right now.

[–]DangerJelly 6 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 0 fun7 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Yeah, cancel culture is something I've had a hard time confronting. I had already made up my mind to be a little more... mindful of when I got involved in political discussions online, as some people can really rile me up and it was NOT good for my mental health, but I think in that time the cancel culture just got THAT much stronger. People fired and unable to have any kind of life over one poorly worded tweet. No way to apologize and move forward. It's tricky because I can almost see the point when it comes to people who are like, blatantly in the KKK, or blatant Nazis (like, white nationalist, fully offensive, loves hitler nazis), but when people ask innocent questions, phrase things badly, or are just plain uneducated, or hold a viewpoint that is considered "evil" by the masses... do they deserve the same level of hatred as when they blatantly promote the killing of others? Idk if any of that makes a lot of sense. But I understand your identity crisis. I'm Canadian and the situation here is both better and worse in so many different ways. I think some of the things I say in private among select friends would already be considered hate speech. I miss so badly the easy days of being in the libfem crowd and feeling like I was blazing a path to a bright new future and was on the right side of everything. It's a lot harder to admit that things are more complicated than that.

[–][deleted] 5 insightful - 2 fun5 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 2 fun -  (4 children)

Well, we have the options between Trump, Biden, and whichever party runs against the two that likely won't win due to lack of exposure.

Trump is a textbook narcissist, a misogynist, and overly concerned with businesses while not being able to keep his fucking fingers from clicking away and shutting his damn mouth. Biden has evidently had multiple brain aneurysms on top of being quite elderly, and seemingly just occupying space while thumbs-upping everyone. I'm concerned with his ability to run the country, so it will completely be up to his VP pick. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Biden#Brain_surgeries

I wanted Tulsi. The association with the herb (holy basil) struck me in a lighthearted woowoo way. I didn't agree with everything, but you never fully agree with everything a politician tries to offer. She stepped up to the plate on LGBT issues in the end and supported a plethora of gay rights laws, though I wonder if her issues with LGBT military were more with Trans folks being active in the military and not a blanketed LGBT feeling. She had a very genuine and strong character that didn't feel cheaply manufactured. I also liked that she had backbone, despite both her and Jill Stein being labeled as "Russian assets". I'm extremely disappointed that she was sidelined so hard.

[–]WrongToy 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

People are saying the veep's going to be Kamala Harris. You know, she's got "she/her" in her Twitter bio.

[–][deleted] 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

That's.. fun.

[–]100_percent_truth[S] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

I freaking love Tulsi. She would be such a badass president.

[–]Lucretia 1 insightful - 2 fun1 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

She’s a Russian plant and a homophobe — but, your allegiance here scans with all the rest of the walkaway propaganda you’ve been spamming.

[–][deleted] 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Can’t downvote here... so you’re safe.

[–]GConly 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Welcome to the walk away movement.

You are not the only liberal realising the democrats have swapped over to intersectional Marxist policies that are inherently authoritarian and anti free speech, and dropped liberalism.

Free speech is hate speech now.

Same issue with the Labour party in the UK. A lot of liberals are having issues with the swing over to authoritarian Marxism.

Sadly being a liberal is now getting grouped with being 'on the right' which is just ludicrous.

[–]Lilith_Fair 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

The way I see it, if you live in a solidly blue or red state, you can actually go with your conscience and not vote the presidential level. You can still vote on the Congressional, state, and local level.

If you're in a swing state, then the choice is entirely up to you. I don't believe in pressuring anyone to vote any way. And I feel really sorry for everyone who's in that position.

As for feeling politically homeless, there is some liberal pushbacks now happening against cancel culture and ideological purity. Katie Herzog and Jesse Singal's podcast is gaining traction very fast precisely for people who feel that way. You can find and connect with others who feel this way on their Patreon page comments, not just about Trans issue but cancel culture and intimidation against "wrong think" all around. Bridget Phestasy too has a podcast and YouTube station with a decent size platform of politically homeless people from the left and the right. I discovered them this year and it's been such a breath of fresh air. Bridget just did a podcast interview with Abigail Shrier who wrote Irreversible Damage about the social contagion of transing girls. Here's the Stitcher link. It's on Apple too. https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/ricochet/walkins-welcome/e/74249880

If you want something more highbrow, Yascha Mounk started a new community called "Persuasion" to bring together people who don't want to be besieged by the extremes: https://www.persuasion.community. I found out about this on Katie and Jesse's podcast.

I think there is a slow pushback building up against the liberal Twitter mob craziness. I hope we'll get back to some center of sanity.

[–]leculdesac 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

Check out Bret Weinstein and Heather Heying and their Dark Horse Podcast. They were the first victims of this crap in a university setting at Evergreen. There's a terrifying documentary about Evergreen as well. They still consider themselves progressives--they're evolutionary biologists, and they're atheists. She speaks out about the transactivist crap pretty regularly.

They've just put forward this Unity political plan--as fanciful as it is, it is serving as a focus for a lot of people on various sides of political issues. He's even been interviewed on Tucker Carlson, and I think finally on CBS. They're very much NOT pro-life, pro-capitalist, etc., but they're fed up with this bullshit.

[–]100_percent_truth[S] 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Bret was just on Joe Rogan. Really enjoyed hearing him.

[–]OrneryStruggle 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Seconding the recommendation to watch the Evergreen documentary. It was... a wild ride and very relevant to the issues GC communities face.

[–]jet199 2 insightful - 4 fun2 insightful - 3 fun3 insightful - 4 fun -  (1 child)

Kanye is the way to go.

The only non rapist to choose from.

[–]100_percent_truth[S] 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

That we know of lol!

[–]EvaWumben 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Oh, they'll call Biden a TERF soon, never fear.

[–]macaron 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

I'm not American, and it seems like both parties are shit choices. Repubs because of Trump's absolute incompetency and narrcissism, and the Dems because of identity politics, which the trans stuff falls under.

But... America has had over 100,000 deaths due to covid! That is insane. Especially for a country you'd think would be a leader in the developed world. I mean there is an endless list of things wrong with Trump (the way he allies himself with America's enemies for another), but the covid deaths just take the cake. He won't even wear a mask in a hospital.

[–]OrneryStruggle 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

the US COVID deaths per pop are middle of the road compared to European countries, it's just a big country. Maybe because you are not American, you don't realize they have like 10x the population of larger European countries or Canada, etc.

They also counted literally every death of someone with a positive COVID test, even if they died of being shot with a gun, as a COVID-19 death, so there's that.

[–]msteacherlady 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I, as many here, feel politically homeless. However, I'm not experiencing any confusion about how to vote. The only reason I have any power to do anything is because I am protected by my union, and so is my husband. He comes from a long line of union labor of all kinds. There are even two women (one a WOC) in his family that work in the trades and do quite well. I have heard some absolute horror stories online from women in the trades, but luckily these two have had no such experiences, though they know women who have but at least there's happy endings to their stories thanks to their unions standing up for them.

In a binary political system, I know who's definitely NOT on my side. However, I really wish the Dems would let go of all the woke horseshit and come back to supporting the middle class, y'know, so vulnerable people would actually have something to land on. All the wokesters aren't even Democrats!

Oh, and climate change. Are we not talking about that anymore?