There are insights I’ve learned through my life as a Buddhist and neurodivergent person I’d like to share on platforms, and occasionally, some contemporary topics I’d like to weigh in on for the same reason. I’ve also been encouraged by different people in the space based on what I’ve shared.
Politically I’m a Centrist, with most of my opinions being politically correct; Anti-Trump, Pro-choice and pro women’s issues in general, No problems with how people live their lives sexually or otherwise in terms of LGBTQ. I’ll vote left cause there’s no alternative, but dream of a non-two party system.
But I honestly don’t feel like sticking my neck out in the current culture. It doesn’t feel to me as if the “bad people are being cancelled”, while that does happen, it feels more to me that we’re “waiting for someone to trip up”.
And once you’re out, you’re out. There seems to be no space for people making mistakes, learning, and growing. It’s like we’re all meant to be perfect and there’s no learning curve whatsoever.
And occasionally I like to question topics or nuance views, and that just gets hit with these extremely tribalistic opinions where I’m either “with us or the fascists”, which just doesn’t reflect where I’m coming from at all.
As an example, sometimes as a neurodivergent you really can get far by developing strategies around your weaknesses, but I see people getting torched for “victim blaming” and all kinds of really strong reactions, based on them just trying to help, not at all trying to minimalize anyone’s experience as far as I can see.
So honestly I’m just staying out. Everything I’ve learned in my life has been through trial and error, being wrong and then getting wiser, and I just don’t feel safe in this culture. I feel like everyone’s waiting for you to trip up, and if I was to make a mistake, or have a bad opinion, there’s no chance to grow, it’s just instant banishment and goodbye.
Anyone else feel like this?
Edit: Upon reflection, it feels like we live in a “Suspicion Culture”.
It’s gotten much worse in recent years, but yes, there are an alarming number of people out there who zealously attack influencers and creators left of center to enforce their version of purity politics. You can’t really have a nuanced conversation about any of the political issues of the day without getting dragged, harassed, or threatened.
But I don’t think you should let that stop you. There are other factors at play making that problem seem worse than it is. For one, yes there are real human beings who hold their political beliefs zealously and cannot handle any challenge or idea that might call their own ideals into question. They run rampant in the comment sections of pretty much every platform. But there are also other cynical actors at work as well. It’s somewhat well documented that foreign agents use bot farms and AI to destabilize public trust and one of the ways they do it is to sow division within political groupings. There are also local (to the western world) operators doing the same thing. It’s impossible to tell the difference between the human zealot and the bot agitator or what percentage each group makes up, but it’s safe to assume the automated commenters are a significant portion of the population.
Do your thing, block/ignore the haters, it’s just noise.
Glad to know it’s not just me. Feels like all nuance has disappeared in favor of tribalism where there is no actual purpose to conversation outside of professing or confirming your allegiance.
Thanks for the encouragement, and I hadn’t thought of the destablization bot angle. Crazy to think about, but a fact nonetheless.
Just look at the comments section of your post. So many people have seen the phrase cancel culture and ignored everything else you said just to accuse you of some venal sin in their eyes. I think I saw a few people trying to accuse you of being a secret right winger because you said you’re centrist.
It’s sad because so many of the issues that we are facing today could use a nuanced discussion that isn’t limited to the binary for or against framing corporate-run media tries to force on everyone.
When everyone is angry and politically polarised; nuance is seen as weakness, and neutrality as the enemy