I think I need to write something abt when it's helpful to criticise your own 'side' & when it tips into supporting the other side.
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Obv, it can be v positive & helpful to find common ground with ppl with opposing views or even admit they're doing some things better.
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But if solely criticising ur own side's extremists emboldens other side extremists or solely criticising theirs emboldens ur own, a problem.
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I think it comes down to whether you're genuinely trying to fix a problem on your own side to make it stronger to oppose a bigger problem.
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And when I say 'side', I don't necessarily mean as identified by a political label of left/right, liberal/conservative but by values.
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I'm not sure I have the answers to this, btw, but I do think there are more & less productive approaches & more & less noble motivations.
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Always a tendency to be more angry with ppl supposedly sharing your values letting the side down than w ppl who never claimed to share them.
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And this can be positive if its an attempt to get your own house in order. Setting your own house on fire is rarely productive tho.
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eg, if someone claims to value gender equality & then advocates sexist discrimination, this annoys me more than some1 who never did former.
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With ppl who don't want gender equality, all we can do is try to ensure they only apply this to their own lives.
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If they do claim to want equal rights, opportunities & freedoms & then act in a way that impedes this, much more argumentation needed.
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I think it also has to be honest. There really are those who hide behind 'honest criticism' as a way to conceal their actual opinions.
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Of course. But there's not much point addressing dishonest ppl. Well-motivated & sincere ppl need to be thinking more abt this.
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So those motivated by truly liberal aims can be distinguished from those pushing a less-than-noble agenda beneath a pretence of it.
End of conversation
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