This was someone who had always voted for left-wing Danish parties, now suddenly spouting alt-right lines as if it were a cure-all for progressive politics. Turns out, this kind of rhetoric comes directly from Sam Harris, Dawkins, and other white male psuedo-intellects.
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This friend had long been the kind of 'science-fan' personality; militant atheist, quoter of Carl Sagan, all that. I never minded, and didn't anticipate it would go to such a place.
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It's distressing that 'scientisim' is basically radicalizing young white men, but it shouldn't be that surprising. Science is not, and never will be, a system for prescribing morality or ethics.
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But these science-fan accounts present it as a way of life, a ticket to self-betterment, an enlightened path. No wonder it ends up being used to reaffirm white, patriarchal privilege...
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'identity politics' is nothing more than a rebranding of civil liberties and by the alt-right. Pseudo-intellectual anti-islamism is just racism in window dressing. This should be obvious, and yet it's not just my friend - it's also an increasing number of white, male professors.
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But that is how privilege works. When those who have it feel threatened, it is always easier to rationalize. The brain whispers that they'll be next on the chopping block. And so they attack in a language they know - scientism. Pseudo-rationality.
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Ultimately I got into a pretty nasty fight with the friend and cut off contact. Shitty, I know. If we can't engage and debate with those so close to us, what hope is there to ever reach across larger divides? I dunno.
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I'll end with a tip for other young, white men interested in science and looking for guidance on issues of politics, race, religion. Don't listen to me or the Dawkins of the world. Open your ears and listen to POC, to women, to people with different experiences from you.
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Replying to @micahgallen
Nice thread. Thank you. Having experienced, written, and read about the current state of scientism in pop science (and sadly even in non-pop science), it's really disturbing how slippery the slope really is. And yes, listening is key for true (non-BS) allyship.
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Replying to @o_guest
Thanks Olivia. Always a bit frightening to speak publicly about this stuff. I try to sit back and learn, listen from others as much as I can.
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Not sure if what I and @tofufru wrote (a few years back) is useful but maybe: http://sjwiki.org/wiki/Scientism
Well, listening (passive) is good but allyship is also about listening (active, i.e., taking orders and advice), so it's good to speak out and use your platform.
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