3 ms·

Even the US isn’t an ideological monoculture. The woke are ~8% of the US population. No one in China cares. The social strata in India and Pakistan that ape the

Even the US isn’t an ideological monoculture. The woke are ~8% of the US population. No one in China cares. The social strata in India and Pakistan that ape the English speaking world is on the retreat politically. This cultural moment is mostly a US thing, and to a lesser extent an Anglosphere thing, with especially English proficient vassal states like the Dutch or Scandinavians also taking part. If it ever burns out in the US it’ll just disappear everywhere else in short order. RMS life was not ruined for an argument on a mailing list, but because he has no allies because he’s constitutionally incapable of playing politics.

toxik 7y ago
It may be true that "the woke," as they are so disparagingly called, is a small group. Actually, I'd say 8% isn't a very small group at all -- but that is besides the point. The point is that this small group has much more than 8% impact on the outcomes of events like these. They may be 8% of the general population, but they are 99% of the people who care at all.
- AsyncAwait 7y ago
  I agree, however every time this discussion comes up I feel conflicted about agreeing because it usually devolves into smearing the left, as if it was some monolithic entity. You did not frame it that way, which I really appreciate, because I view myself as a leftist, but find these groups detrimental. I refer to them as sofa activists, whose goal in life is to feel good, without actually doing anything that can't be done from the comfort of their sofa, that is most impactful, worthy changes. In fact RMS himself is a leftist. The woke group is extremely vocal and extremely damaging to the left-wing movements worldwide, but it is still a minority.
- ukj 7y ago
  Relevant reading: 1. https://medium.com/incerto/the-most-intolerant-wins-the-dictatorship-of-the-small-minority-3f1f83ce4e15 https://medium.com/incerto/the-most-intolerant-wins-the-dict... 2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradox_of_tolerance https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradox_of_tolerance Logical conclusion: To be intolerant of intolerance is a moral virtue. I am having trouble deciding if this is a race to the top or bottom.

toxik 7y ago

It may be true that "the woke," as they are so disparagingly called, is a small group. Actually, I'd say 8% isn't a very small group at all -- but that is besides the point. The point is that this small group has much more than 8% impact on the outcomes of events like these. They may be 8% of the general population, but they are 99% of the people who care at all.

AsyncAwait 7y ago
I agree, however every time this discussion comes up I feel conflicted about agreeing because it usually devolves into smearing the left, as if it was some monolithic entity. You did not frame it that way, which I really appreciate, because I view myself as a leftist, but find these groups detrimental. I refer to them as sofa activists, whose goal in life is to feel good, without actually doing anything that can't be done from the comfort of their sofa, that is most impactful, worthy changes. In fact RMS himself is a leftist. The woke group is extremely vocal and extremely damaging to the left-wing movements worldwide, but it is still a minority.
ukj 7y ago
Relevant reading: 1. https://medium.com/incerto/the-most-intolerant-wins-the-dictatorship-of-the-small-minority-3f1f83ce4e15 https://medium.com/incerto/the-most-intolerant-wins-the-dict... 2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradox_of_tolerance https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradox_of_tolerance Logical conclusion: To be intolerant of intolerance is a moral virtue. I am having trouble deciding if this is a race to the top or bottom.