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> I can barely deal with my racist in-laws in Texas, so I have no idea how you could be friends with a Nazi Aren't there lots of interactions that people can h

> I can barely deal with my racist in-laws in Texas, so I have no idea how you could be friends with a Nazi Aren't there lots of interactions that people can have with each other besides discussing topics such as race, or nation, (or gender, or sexuality)? Why are people so willing to define themselves by their stance on any of these particular topics, to the point of being openly hostile to people with other positions on any of those subjects?

fred_is_fred 9y ago
Because for people who define themselves in a certain way and literally watch Fox News from sun-up to sun-down its so core to their identity that you cannot discuss ANYTHING without it being about this stuff. I was told last time (Thanksgiving) that it wasn't fair that there wasn't a White Friday too the day after Thanksgiving. And god forbid we discuss sports, or the news, or the weather (climate change is a lie you see), how to raise kids, etc. There's literally nothing to talk about because of how core to their identity being a "down-trodden" put-upon middle-class white person is.
- reitanqild 9y ago
  If you take some of the advice given freely in this thread you might have a better chance at improving their lives. Also, based on your performance in this thread I'm not sure the Texans should take all the blame in this particular case.
zimpenfish 9y ago
> Why are people so willing to define themselves by their stance on any of these particular topics, to the point of being openly hostile to people with other positions on any of those subjects? I can't speak for anyone else but for me, at pretty much the top of the privilege ladder, if I don't push back on the people who want to hurt others for their own gain, I'm just as bad as them. Which does make me openly hostile to racists, misogynists, homophobes, etc., yes but, I'm hopeful, also on the right side of history (and, yes, atoning for past sins when I was less understanding.)
- azangru 9y ago
  > if I don't push back on the people who want to hurt others for their own gain, I'm just as bad as them Now, I don't mean any offense, and I am sure you are a wonderful person, but doesn't the phrase above translate into you wanting to hurt (~ push back on) certain people for your own gain (i.e. for your peace of mind)?
  - zimpenfish 9y ago
    > doesn't the phrase above translate into you wanting to hurt (~ push back on) certain people for your own gain (i.e. for your peace of mind)? Sure, you can read it like that but then you'd be equating e.g. "denial of basic human rights" on their part with "me vocally and publically disagreeing with them". Which seems like a really daft stance to take.
    - azangru 9y ago
      What does "denial of basic human rights" mean though? Do these people have the power to grant or deny any rights to anyone, or do they just talk rubbish and behave eccentrically?
      - zimpenfish 9y ago
        > What does "denial of basic human rights" mean though? http://www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights/ http://www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights/ Specifically #2, #3, #6, #7, #9. > Do these people have the power to grant or deny any rights to anyone They advocate that these rights should be removed from people. In some countries, where you have similarly aligned people in charge (like the US), these denials of rights eventually get made into law.

fred_is_fred 9y ago

Because for people who define themselves in a certain way and literally watch Fox News from sun-up to sun-down its so core to their identity that you cannot discuss ANYTHING without it being about this stuff. I was told last time (Thanksgiving) that it wasn't fair that there wasn't a White Friday too the day after Thanksgiving. And god forbid we discuss sports, or the news, or the weather (climate change is a lie you see), how to raise kids, etc. There's literally nothing to talk about because of how core to their identity being a "down-trodden" put-upon middle-class white person is.

reitanqild 9y ago
If you take some of the advice given freely in this thread you might have a better chance at improving their lives. Also, based on your performance in this thread I'm not sure the Texans should take all the blame in this particular case.

zimpenfish 9y ago

> Why are people so willing to define themselves by their stance on any of these particular topics, to the point of being openly hostile to people with other positions on any of those subjects? I can't speak for anyone else but for me, at pretty much the top of the privilege ladder, if I don't push back on the people who want to hurt others for their own gain, I'm just as bad as them. Which does make me openly hostile to racists, misogynists, homophobes, etc., yes but, I'm hopeful, also on the right side of history (and, yes, atoning for past sins when I was less understanding.)

azangru 9y ago
> if I don't push back on the people who want to hurt others for their own gain, I'm just as bad as them Now, I don't mean any offense, and I am sure you are a wonderful person, but doesn't the phrase above translate into you wanting to hurt (~ push back on) certain people for your own gain (i.e. for your peace of mind)?
- zimpenfish 9y ago
  > doesn't the phrase above translate into you wanting to hurt (~ push back on) certain people for your own gain (i.e. for your peace of mind)? Sure, you can read it like that but then you'd be equating e.g. "denial of basic human rights" on their part with "me vocally and publically disagreeing with them". Which seems like a really daft stance to take.
  - azangru 9y ago
    What does "denial of basic human rights" mean though? Do these people have the power to grant or deny any rights to anyone, or do they just talk rubbish and behave eccentrically?
    - zimpenfish 9y ago
      > What does "denial of basic human rights" mean though? http://www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights/ http://www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights/ Specifically #2, #3, #6, #7, #9. > Do these people have the power to grant or deny any rights to anyone They advocate that these rights should be removed from people. In some countries, where you have similarly aligned people in charge (like the US), these denials of rights eventually get made into law.