this post was submitted on 12 Jun 2024
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Ahh, yes. The classic way to combat authoritarianism: with more authoritarianism. "If you disagree with the party line your voice must be silenced."
And since I know your kind tend to assume things that aren't said: I'm not saying don't vote. I will vote Dem in November, but I'm very close to my breaking limit on voting for people that constantly disparage me. I am saying that the kind of thinking you've displayed here is just as much of an existential threat to the US as the MAGA cult. Refusing to hold the Democrats accountable for anything ever (because it's "not the right time") is just a slower death.
Ahh, yes. The classic straw man. Accuse the author of something they didn’t say, or imply, but something you can summon a paragraph of nonsense to support flawed thinking.
Did say silenced? No. I said CALLED OUT. As in- flush them out for the bullshit they’re spreading.
You claim you’re voting. So clearly this isn’t directed at you anyway. Unless of course you’re just saying you’re voting so that you could follow it with the… “but maybe I won’t if people don’t stop being mean to people that are telling other NOT to vote!”
You said called out AND pushed out. How is pushing them out not silencing them?
If they chose to leave because they don’t like being called out- that’s a bonus.
Oh, gotcha. So bullying people who don't pass your litmus test (whether or not they actually believe or are what you claim) until they leave isn't silencing the voices of people who disagree with you.
Calling out bad actors is not bullying. You’re not a victim.
Labeling people "bad actors" simply for expressing an opinion counter to yours and then trying to run them out is 100% bullying. You are not the arbiter of what people are allowed to think.
I’ve seen from comments in this post that you yourself don’t like having words put in your mouth, yet here you are doing it to me.
People here to sway an election by trying to convince people not to vote?
Yeah. They’re bad actors. There’s other words for them, but I’d rather not get banned. -and contrary to your assumptions… It has NOTHING to do with their opinions being counter to mine. I could care less what their opinion were if their opinions were organic and relevant. But NONE of them are here to discuss anything in good faith. The moment you challenge their bullshit, they either ignorantly accuse you of ad hominem- or they shut all over the discussion to derail the topic.
This isn’t day one of this shit man. It’s been going on plenty long enough to accurately gauge what they’re up to.
They don’t belong here. So… calling them out for what they are with the hope that their message falls flat is absolutely necessary. If they get bored and leave…
That’s a bonus.
What words did I put in your mouth? You called them bad actors again even in this reply and in your first one you advocated for pushing them off of Lemmy. The rest of the comment you just replied to were my words ("bullying" and "you are not the arbiter of what people are allowed to think").
Is it the last one you're complaining about? That's not me putting words into your mouth, that's me calling out what you're advocating for. You are advocating for pushing people off of a social media platform when YOU have decided to label them a "bad actor" without actually knowing their intentions. Your entire premise seems to me to be predicated on the idea that no one could possibly be so disillusioned, disenfranchised, and dissatisfied with the system that they go on social media and state those feelings. Therefore, anyone saying that MUST be a bad actor.
I never said that. Leaving this platform is isn’t silencing anyone. It’s just making bad faith trolls leave a platform. It’s a win for everyone.
What is “my kind” here? Apparently you like to assume things about people you don’t know. I’ve never spoken with you before. So how do you k ow about my “kind?” Seems very… putting not just words in my mouth, but an entire personality as well.
I ask you… who am I bullying? People who are yelling at other so not vote during a very important election? What the litmus test you’re assuming I have here. Since you like to make impatiens about what others say and do…
If you look back through this conversation, I never once labeled anyone a bad actor because they expressed an opinion counter to mine or anything.
I called them bad actors because they’re here to disrupt an election and cause fuck tons of damage to this country.
That you’re making such an effort to defend them says a lot about you.
Not gonna retread the entire conversation on the points you decided to stick your head back in the sand for. But on "your kind," it's the people who go around spreading vitriol at anyone who expresses an opinion counter to your own. And you immediately proved me right in your response by assuming the worst intention for me stating that I'm voting.
I'm not defending anyone, I'm standing against your call for authoritarianism. Because plenty of people are completely genuine in their disillusionment with the system but your characterization of them as "bad actors" is based solely on them saying one specific thing (that's the litmus test).
Again: we do not need more authoritarianism. We need honest discussion of ALL of the flaws of our political system. The Democrats are not above criticism, no matter how batshit insane the Republicans get.
Im going to say this one last time since you seems to be having trouble:
It isn’t because it’s an opinion counter to my own. It’s because they’re wittingly or unwittingly going to cause a lot of damage to America and Americans over a single issue that’s so nuanced, they don’t understand how it even works or what it’s happening.
This isn’t an opinion. This isn’t authoritarianism. It’s simply trying to protect democracy.
Red Project 2025. Understand what will happen to our LGBTQ+ friends and family. Understand what will happen to our moms, our sisters…. Our daughters. Understand what will happen tou your protect rights.
Democrat is at stake and this is no time to be fucking around with right-wing trolls, and bad faith posers pretending to be leftists.
I’m not arguing this with you any further.
Then I'll say this one more time since you seem to be having trouble: that's your opinion, and other people see what you're doing as an existential threat to American democracy just as much as MAGA.
That's the point I've been trying to make this whole time. Your personal opinion on the only path to protect democracy happens to involve some steps that I think will also destroy democracy. And in the meantime I think we have very little time left to stand up against the anti-democratic practices of the Democratic party, and they're continuing to inflame extremists in the opposition to give themselves cover.
By the way, for someone who is constantly yelling about bad actors in a discussion of US politics, you've got some pretty suspicious grammar in this comment.
Suggesting others Not vote is NOT democratic- and absolutely IS a threat to democracy. Period. Full stop.
Spreading misinformation and propaganda in other to sway an election is NOT democratic and absolutely IS a threat to democrat. Period. FULL STOP
I will not debate this further. Don’t like what I say- block me. But I will continue to call out the bad actors here that are trying to get Trump elected.
I reserve error checking my grammar for people I actually respect. Having difficulty reading what I say? Don’t read it, but insinuating that my grammar is an indication of anything suspicious is fucking stupid.
Suggesting that others not vote isn't undemocratic. People are allowed to not vote in a democracy. The opposite that seems to be suggested here would be forcing them to vote, which is not democratic.
CHOOSING to not vote is a freedom. It’s not democratic. And suggesting that others not vote undermines democracy.
I agree.