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By talking about how problematic these people are, you miss and reinforce my point. I’m not saying anything about how they behave or whether it’s acceptable or
by mikeash 8y ago
By talking about how problematic these people are, you miss and reinforce my point.
I’m not saying anything about how they behave or whether it’s acceptable or helpful. I’m saying that how you behave should not be determined by them. If you’ve decided not to encourage people to do the right thing (or, worse, stop doing the right thing yourself) because some other people are jerks, you’re just making excuses for behaving badly.
There is a useful discussion to be had about persuasion. Phrases like “it pushes people away” are perfectly fine of that’s what happens. But when it becomes “it pushes me away,” well, take some responsibility for your own beliefs and actions.
- yourbandsucks 8y agoAs far as my side of the street: I've knocked on a LOT of doors for progressive candidates, and will continue to do so. Don't you worry about me. But do you see the box you're building? I'm either 100% on board with an ever-more-extreme program, or I'm somehow revealing the evil nature of my heart by being turned off by them? I'm very serious about the persuasion component, and the fact that it's pushing EVEN ME away ought to set off alarm bells. If they're annoying and unpersuasive to me, how on earth would they be perceived by someone in Ohio? Have they ever met someone from Ohio?
- mikeash 8y agoThat’s not the box I’m building at all. Here’s what I’m trying to say: figure out what you believe in, figure out what to do, and then do it. Don’t account for how other people advocate for it, just do your own thing. If you think they’re useless or even counterproductive then fine, but if that changes how you do things then you’re doing it wrong.