Since around the time of Brexit/Trump things have got progressively muddy. Before that there were clear ‘sides’, ‘that person is definitely on the polar opposite of my own moral compass’. Now, every now and again, people whizz around so often you find yourself agreeing with someone you loathe.
Ben Southwood. @leeperry Yeah, you’re probably right. I think it’s the other side that unnerves me, seeing old friends emboldened to make outrageously racist/transphobic/homophobic remarks.
Lee Perry I’ve not really experienced that, and though I religiously do not talk about religion or politics on here or on my site (unless I’m really angry), I think between indyref and brexit that I lost most of those old friends along the way.
Ben Southwood. @leeperry Yes, that certainly seemed to be the turning point. Like you, I try not to talk about anything like that online and actively mute and avoid accounts that are too political. I’m kind of glad I wasn’t in Burnley when Brexit happened, because I think I’d have gotten too angry.
Michael Bogdanffy-kriegh I suspect we agree with “those we loathe” more often than we might suspect. A while back I decided to abandon any conversation that starts with identifying as liberal/conservative, my candidate vs. your candidate. When we claw our way out of the silos we have been driven into, and have conversations directly about issues we find, for example, book banning is not favored by many in both liberal and conservative camps…
Ben Southwood. @mbkriegh I think as a former ‘people pleaser’ I probably now have the temperament that can vocalise his abhorrence of those who punch down and spout hatred. I’d rather not get into those conversations myself, because I think arguing on the internet is just stupid - particularly with strangers.