4 ms·

> Many conservatives have a justified fear of speaking publicly, worried they’ll be labeled a racist/nazi Why would they be worried about being labeled a racis

> Many conservatives have a justified fear of speaking publicly, worried they’ll be labeled a racist/nazi Why would they be worried about being labeled a racist, unless of course they are saying racist things. Am I missing something here?

127 7y ago
They are worried about being labeled a racist, because that carries a heavy social cost. They can be very easily fired, lose their jobs only based on vague allegations. We live in a time where slander carries virtually no penalty and big corporations are terrified of being seen as anti-PC. The mainstream media and internet outrage mobs can very easily ruin anyones day. It doesn't matter if they are right or not. Sometimes the "news" are entirely fabricated.
- avmich 7y ago
  There are reasons to avoid being called racist, or not being PC, but anybody can call anybody anything - it's the arguments that matter. Fearing participating in a discussion and maintaining views carries a possibility of being wrong without correction, which should reasonably be avoided. Unfortunately we don't have ways of reasonable exchange of opinions in our populism times.
  - saltsaltsalts 7y ago
    Who controls what is PC? Now and 10, 20 years from now?
  - 127 7y ago
    Legal system was put in place to prevent mob rule. Internet has again enabled mobs to go around and freely harrass, bully and target individuals in order to enforce their own ideals, instead of what is written in the law. What makes someone upset is not the same what is unjust.
- Can_Not 7y ago
  I've only heard of people losing their jobs over specific and strong allegations of aggressive bigotry.
lukeholder 7y ago
Yes. For example, being anti-illegal immigration and pro strong national borders is something that is hard to talk about without being labelled a racist.
- acdha 7y ago
  No, it’s not — you just have to avoid saying things which are racist or being dishonest about your motivations. For example, if you want to talk about illegal immigration don’t use rhetoric of the “brown criminal hordes” genre and hope that your audience isn’t aware of the stats. Do be prepared to talk about your proposed legal changes and what problems they address.
  - notaracist 7y ago
    Maybe in your social/family circle, but up here in Portland and in my observable social circles, it's a topic that you can't discuss except for with people you know really well. Or rather, you can, and the person on the other side might not call you racist to your face, but they'll entertain no discussion of the topic other than suggestions that you are a bad person for not being compassionate enough. The fact that you have to give a disclaimer along the lines of "Don't get me wrong, I think Trump is an idiot and I have voted Democratic since I could vote..." to even have anyone participate in the conversation, is telling. I even made a throwaway because I am scared of being viewed as a racist in my workplace.
- Can_Not 7y ago
  I haven't seen anyone taking a non racist stance on those issues get called a racist.
robdachshund 7y ago
Not sure if you live in a bubble or just haven't been paying attention. The internet is now filled with raging PC warriors who often eat their own. The recent Chuck Todd and Cyberpunk 2077 controversies come to mind. On the latter one we have white "journalists" telling a black man that his game is racist because it has authentic creole characters. The far left has become the new moral majority, and they crucify anyone that strays from their talking points. In these days saying anything they dont like makes you a racist, bigot, nazi, fascist, etc. People are getting publicly shamed left and right for saying things that could not be remotely construed as supporting those ideologies.

127 7y ago

They are worried about being labeled a racist, because that carries a heavy social cost. They can be very easily fired, lose their jobs only based on vague allegations. We live in a time where slander carries virtually no penalty and big corporations are terrified of being seen as anti-PC. The mainstream media and internet outrage mobs can very easily ruin anyones day. It doesn't matter if they are right or not. Sometimes the "news" are entirely fabricated.

avmich 7y ago
There are reasons to avoid being called racist, or not being PC, but anybody can call anybody anything - it's the arguments that matter. Fearing participating in a discussion and maintaining views carries a possibility of being wrong without correction, which should reasonably be avoided. Unfortunately we don't have ways of reasonable exchange of opinions in our populism times.
- saltsaltsalts 7y ago
  Who controls what is PC? Now and 10, 20 years from now?
- 127 7y ago
  Legal system was put in place to prevent mob rule. Internet has again enabled mobs to go around and freely harrass, bully and target individuals in order to enforce their own ideals, instead of what is written in the law. What makes someone upset is not the same what is unjust.
Can_Not 7y ago
I've only heard of people losing their jobs over specific and strong allegations of aggressive bigotry.

lukeholder 7y ago

Yes. For example, being anti-illegal immigration and pro strong national borders is something that is hard to talk about without being labelled a racist.

acdha 7y ago
No, it’s not — you just have to avoid saying things which are racist or being dishonest about your motivations. For example, if you want to talk about illegal immigration don’t use rhetoric of the “brown criminal hordes” genre and hope that your audience isn’t aware of the stats. Do be prepared to talk about your proposed legal changes and what problems they address.
- notaracist 7y ago
  Maybe in your social/family circle, but up here in Portland and in my observable social circles, it's a topic that you can't discuss except for with people you know really well. Or rather, you can, and the person on the other side might not call you racist to your face, but they'll entertain no discussion of the topic other than suggestions that you are a bad person for not being compassionate enough. The fact that you have to give a disclaimer along the lines of "Don't get me wrong, I think Trump is an idiot and I have voted Democratic since I could vote..." to even have anyone participate in the conversation, is telling. I even made a throwaway because I am scared of being viewed as a racist in my workplace.
Can_Not 7y ago
I haven't seen anyone taking a non racist stance on those issues get called a racist.

robdachshund 7y ago

Not sure if you live in a bubble or just haven't been paying attention. The internet is now filled with raging PC warriors who often eat their own. The recent Chuck Todd and Cyberpunk 2077 controversies come to mind. On the latter one we have white "journalists" telling a black man that his game is racist because it has authentic creole characters. The far left has become the new moral majority, and they crucify anyone that strays from their talking points. In these days saying anything they dont like makes you a racist, bigot, nazi, fascist, etc. People are getting publicly shamed left and right for saying things that could not be remotely construed as supporting those ideologies.