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”.

  • FluidBeef@quokk.au
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    2 days ago

    I actually always suspect when a progressive voice is silenced like that that anti-progressive agent provocateurs are behind it, goading others on into this absurd manichaen mindset of purity tests and witch hunts that feel more like the tools of the enemy. Not even that paranoid an idea given that we know about the troll farms and bots.

    • beliquititious@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      2 days ago

      Yeah I mean with things like COINTELPRO in our history and Russia’s Internet Research Agency in our present, it’s hard not to wonder. I don’t think there is good documentation for it, but the rumors floating around the periphery of the internet seem to suggest that foreign agents have been using AI powered bot farms to sow political division and erode trust in institutions. There are also networks of well funded right wing political operators using similar networks to divide the left exactly like you are suggesting.

      But there are definitely “true believers” out there that are real live human beings acting in good faith, even if their methods and messages may be bad. My guess is it’s probably something like 30% true believers who get platformed and amplified by the other 70% of sock puppets, AI bots, and cynical actors.