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Hear, hear! Not only that: stand in the way of cancel culture. Commit to being an anger dampener. Don't share outrage porn on social media, and flag it when

by donw 6y ago

Hear, hear! Not only that: stand in the way of cancel culture. Commit to being an anger dampener. Don't share outrage porn on social media, and flag it when you see it -- from either side. Do like Monty Python. Whenever somebody you know starts chanting "Burn the witch!", don't outright disagree, and don't try to argue with facts and figures. Instead, ask them how they know she's a witch. Add nuance. Ask them to imagine how they would want to be treated if they were accused of witchcraft. And so on. Reach out, in-person, to others, and encourage them to do the same. Talk to people, in-person, with strong political views, and present counter-arguments to help them moderate. Yes, this carries reputational risk. Not doing so carries existential risk.

chiefalchemist 6y ago
Anecdotally, asking questions has become as "offensive" as making statements. People are so wrapped up in their echo chambers that _anything_ not in line with those "norms" is considered unacceptable. _Everything_ is binary. There's little grey area. Do deviate from the poles is seen as a complete switch to the other side. Free speech? Free thought isn't PC any more.
- donw 6y ago
  > Anecdotally, asking questions has become as "offensive" as making statements. I think it always has been. :) You are offering the other person a chance to convince you that they are right. Maybe they even have a good argument! And you'd never hear it if you don't open yourself up to that possibility. Just as importantly: you can't expect somebody else to be open to changing their mind, if you aren't open to changing yours. I don't always succeed in this, and sometimes end up chasing rabbits -- did so elsewhere here, in fact. Other than getting in a bit of writing practice, it was wholly unproductive. > People are so wrapped up in their echo chambers that _anything_ not in line with those "norms" is considered unacceptable. True, but like Clausewitz said, war is politics continued by alternate means. It's worth offending people and taking risks to avoid those alternate means.
  - chiefalchemist 6y ago
    > It's worth offending people I didn't see the questions are offensive patrern by keeping my mouth shut :)

by donw 6y ago

chiefalchemist 6y ago

Anecdotally, asking questions has become as "offensive" as making statements. People are so wrapped up in their echo chambers that _anything_ not in line with those "norms" is considered unacceptable. _Everything_ is binary. There's little grey area. Do deviate from the poles is seen as a complete switch to the other side. Free speech? Free thought isn't PC any more.

donw 6y ago
> Anecdotally, asking questions has become as "offensive" as making statements. I think it always has been. :) You are offering the other person a chance to convince you that they are right. Maybe they even have a good argument! And you'd never hear it if you don't open yourself up to that possibility. Just as importantly: you can't expect somebody else to be open to changing their mind, if you aren't open to changing yours. I don't always succeed in this, and sometimes end up chasing rabbits -- did so elsewhere here, in fact. Other than getting in a bit of writing practice, it was wholly unproductive. > People are so wrapped up in their echo chambers that _anything_ not in line with those "norms" is considered unacceptable. True, but like Clausewitz said, war is politics continued by alternate means. It's worth offending people and taking risks to avoid those alternate means.
- chiefalchemist 6y ago
  > It's worth offending people I didn't see the questions are offensive patrern by keeping my mouth shut :)