My main problem with the is/ought confusion is when I make an argument about what we should do and people seem to think I am saying this is what we're doing. No. If it were, I wouldn't need to make arguments about it.
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So people can actually be motivated to counter those trying to address a problem because they really want a whole group to be written off and this becomes less likely if someone says they don't have to be that way.
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I think the most clear example of this is when critics of Islam react very badly to Muslim Reformists. They keep showing me human rights abuses in the name of Islam as tho the reformists are not also specifically trying to deal with those.
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When pushed to explain why, if they are concerned about this, they would not ally with insiders also concerned, they often tell me that they fear that people will rely completely on reformers as an example of the problem being dealt with & not seek any additional measures
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They are in an existential state of fear and they want drastic measures now. There is some truth in the perception that seeing a group trying to fix its own extremists is reassuring and this ties into the argument about why liberal lefties should criticise its extremists.
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The liberal left is currently divided on whether it should prioritise criticising the right or getting its own house in order & trying to oust the extreme identitarian loons.
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Those who argue for the former believe that we need to unify against a common enemy and that dissent in the ranks can only divide and weaken the left. They can become angry & suspicious of the motivations of those of us who criticise our own side.
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Those who argue for prioritising getting our own house in order think that this is the only way to present a credible enough opposition to the right and the issues that concern us that reasonable liberals can get on board with.
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This relates to the psychology recognised in the fear that if that Muslim reformists are seen to be trying to get their own house in order, people will feel somewhat reassured that the problem is acknowledged and back away from existential threat reactions of banning a whole grp.
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Isn't this true? If you are someone who sees a problem within Islam, are you more reassured by Muslims who tell you it doesn't exist and quite possibly that you're racist for thinking it does or by Muslims who tell you they see it and are on it?
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In the same way, lefties who say criticisms of extreme identitarian and authoritarian leftism are unwarranted and probably motivated by bigotry are less likely to reassure waverers than those of us who say, 'Yep, this exists. It's a problem. It doesn't define us & we are on it'
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End of conversation
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