Will Bunch expresses what I’ve been thinking since Trump was elected. American democracy is under attack from within. The fascists who yearn for an authoritarian government in the media are promoting it, and the media who supposedly don’t support it fail to recognize it. They are busy trying to follow the political playbook of the 20th century.

  • chakan2@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Sigh…It was a solid article, but it’s a both sides issue.

    outdated and detestable hierarchies of white supremacy and the patriarchy.

    That’s where the both sides come in. Centrists like me are the enemy.

    For example: I’m for equal rights and LGBT rights, but against kids participating in drag shows. Dancing for dollars is not a skill preteens should have. (Yes, I’ve been to a drag show when that happened, and that’s when I turned in my hard liberal card). I’m for BLM, but for the love of god, stop protesting people getting shot while holding a weapon. George Floyd was tragic, Travon Martin Michael Brown was justified.

    The whole world hates men like me. I’m just a middle class white dude making responsible decisions. I’m clearly the devil according to both sides of major media these days. I’m either a liberal elite or a TERF. There’s no in-between. There’s no subtle discussions to be had about any major issues today. You’re either in the frothing mad Trump army, or you’re in the frothing mad militant BLM feminist mob.

    Either way I vote in the next election is bad for America. The extremists are going to win.

    EDIT: Just look at the the replies to this. It’s all insanity from both sides.

    • Soulg@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      I can’t possibly fathom the lack of thought that goes into claiming that voting against a fascist authoritarian who has repeatedly stated he will go after and imprison his political enemies, is just as bad as voting for that. Anyone who tries to claim, STILL, that it’s a both sides issue is borderline not intelligent enough to even vote; but of course one of the best and worst things about democracy is that everybody gets a vote, no matter how horribly misinformed and stupid they may be.

      And that’s not even going into the absurd victim complex. “The entire world hates you” absolutely laughable. Just admit that you’re well off enough to not give a shit about anyone else and be done with it.

      • chakan2@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        You’re just proving my point. Thanks.

        EDIT: Seriously…what about anything you just wrote do you think will sway me to your side of any issues? The tone is hostile, the sentiment is fucked up, and you clearly didn’t read a word I said.

        That…that comment right there is why people are so radicalized. It’s going to be a brutal few years for America.

        • Forty@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Don’t pretend like anyone being nice to you was going to sway your opinions. This take is even worse than your both sides bullshit.

        • oʍʇǝuoǝnu@lemmy.ca
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          1 year ago

          If you need to be “swayed” to the side that isn’t voting for a borderline fascist government then you’re as daft as op says. Both sides bad, except one side has a slingshot pointed at your kneecap while the other side has a gun pointed at your face. I’d rather not get hit with either but if I had to choose 10/10 I’m taking the rock to the knee.

          • TimLovesTech@sh.itjust.works
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            1 year ago

            Agreed, when you can look and see one side has the support of the KKK, Proud Boys, and the 3%ers on top of chanting “Jews will not replace us” and dubbed “very fine people” by the leader of said party. And on top of that they also have those that believe in Jewish space lasers, lizard people, and pedophiles everywhere drinking children’s blood. They believe in the “attack on Christmas” and Jews bringing Armageddon where they will all be saved.

            If you can look at any of that and be like, “well the other side…” then you have chosen a side already, and it’s not center. It’s probably also time for some self reflection if that isn’t who you are.

        • agent_flounder@lemmy.one
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          1 year ago

          I think it will be a lot longer than that if Trump gets elected. Or anyone else willing to gut and dismantle most of our institutions.

    • ThrowawayOnLemmy@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      What drag show did that happen at? When? How many drag shows have you been to? What age was the kid?

      I just find this sort of rhetoric so unbelievable, I always question it.

      • chakan2@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Maybe 50-100? Dunno…they’d have one once a month at my local gay bar. I hung out there all the time for 5-6 years or so.

        None of them were kid appropriate. None.

        • dragonflyteaparty@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          You’re right. If a drag show uses provocative dance, sure a child shouldn’t participate. However, to me, participating means being in the show, one of the dancers. Is that what happened? Was a child or children the performers in this gay bar? Or did they witness a drag show that included provocative dance? Were the children dancing this way? Those are very different things.

          If the child was only witnessing the drag show, then, in your belief, should children also not see cheerleader performances if they are provocative? I’m pretty sure that would disallow children from seeing the half time show during football and many other cheerleading events along with dances performed by those at their concerts and not in drag. I’m not saying you brought up legality, but should we have laws to prevent children from seeing any provocative dances and therefore have venues ban them completely because maybe a child will get in or their parents may bring them?

    • Woedenaz@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      Hi, also a middle class white dude making responsible decisions and, white dude to white dude, you’re stuck a little too much up your own ass.

      Great, you went to some risqué drag shows. Good for you. Do you think ALL of them are like that? Are you so short sighted that you cannot fathom experiences outside of your own? Do you feel like your small sliver of understanding means you should dictate a parent’s ability to make their own decisions on what is appropriate for their child?

      And do you not understand that the children at drag shows is just a transphobic smoke and mirrors meant to prey on the “morally superior” yokals like yourself? These fascists are stripping away the rights of transgender people, making them scared for their very lives, because people like you are eating up this complete bullshit.

      And just shut up about BLM. It’s not your place, it’s not MY place, to tell a marginalized and oppressed people when they can and cannot protest. Just because you think the treatment of the individual is “justified”, it does not matter. What an absolutely absurd and arrogant thing to say, really.

      Seek more understanding before you choose to open your mouth on issues that you obviously do not understand. You cannot get haughty with folks that respond to you with anger and insults because you’ve clearly chosen ignorance over understanding. You need to come to terms with just how selfish and self-indulgent your views are before you can ever understand these issues you have chosen to insult with your callowness.

      • chakan2@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        I edited my comment…I put the wrong name there. You’re right, Trayvon was a tragic death too.

    • Mudface@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      I don’t hate you, bro.

      This crowd can be a tough one. I wish there were more people like you here. Don’t get discouraged

      • chakan2@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Thanks.

        I had this discussion with a big group over Labor Day. And the resulting replies were exactly what I was expecting. Everyone latches on to their fringe issue and goes as hardcore as they can on it.

        You show up with some nuance in a discussion, and you are the enemy. Period.

        The Internet is not a real place. Swing voters are real though, and they’re disgusted with this shit.

        (To clarify, I’ll likely never vote R, but I’m likely going 3rd party so I’ve still got a soul)

        • Mudface@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          I get it, another account of mine was banned from the entire instance for not speaking ‘right-think’

    • Seraph@kbin.social
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      1 year ago

      Found the “centrist”.

      If children enjoying a show with people dressing opposite from their genitals is a good reason to accept Fascism, no wonder you’re a disgusting boot licker.

      Centrists are neither left nor left. In fact I’d suggest they’re just Republicans terrified of the label because they know that they’d be lumped with white supremacists and women haters.

      Let me be clear as well: we don’t want you on our side if the issue if this is where you ended up after the last decade - no one is going to convince you of anything. Stick to the Nazis!

    • BrianTheeBiscuiteer@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      I truly wish there was a party for you. It sucks we only have two parties to choose from that are basically polar opposites.

      My only pitch is to ask, of the two, which do you think is more likely to “make room” for more third parties?

      • chakan2@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Neither frankly. We get to choose between hard R or soft R these days.

        We need universal healthcare, UBI, labor unions, etc…Neither side is going to provide those things without a bloody revolt.

        Which brings me back to my original post. That’s what media missing…There’s a huge swath of people in the middle that are simply not affected by the fringe issues and we are at best simply ignored, or as you can tell from the replies absolutely hated.

        I see why people are becoming radicalized.

    • starrox@sh.itjust.works
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      1 year ago

      The whole world hates men like me. I’m just a middle class white dude making responsible decisions.

      Oh poor little you. “Responsible decisions” like crying on social media about how mean the world is to you male white middleclass ass? Are you the next Kyle Rittenhouse or what?

      You make me ashamed of being in the same demographic group as yourself. Try to educate yourself and have some compassion.

      • chakan2@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Lol…you can cut off the man bun and step away from the keyboard. It’s nice outside.