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1. drewbu+(OP)[view] [source] 2018-02-15 12:55:33
I've seen this sentiment from former fans of left leaning fiction, and I have to ask: are you sure it's not the culture that's stayed the same and you who drifted right?
replies(2): >>js8+W3 >>merpnd+66
2. js8+W3[view] [source] 2018-02-15 13:38:38
>>drewbu+(OP)
> Are you sure it's not the culture that's stayed the same and you who drifted right?

As a leftist, yes. I understand to be on the left means to strive for equality of power among people, economic and social. To be on the right means, at best, not to care about power inequalities between people.

I cringe every time when other people think that feminists and SJWs (I would prefer to call them by different terms but I don't know any) are leftist. They are only in a certain very narrow sense, which makes them often to be on the right, paradoxically. They often do not care about oppressed white males. But if you do not care about some oppressed group, then you don't stand for equality.

Feminism became to be included in the left, because in the past, all women were oppressed. It's no longer the case, and some feminists do not actually care about equality of other groups.

Some biologist put it nicely in a discussion: The left (as a broad political movement) might suffer from a predatory problem - being joined by someone who is oppressed, but doesn't actually want equality, only power. But that's the nature of the game.

And this conflict is nothing new, either. Noam Chomsky, a giant of the left, has been affected by it in the 70s, when he defended free speech of a Holocaust denier.

replies(1): >>drewbu+E4
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3. drewbu+E4[view] [source] [discussion] 2018-02-15 13:45:12
>>js8+W3
I'm not sure that actually answers my question (which was admittedly rhetorical), if this has been going on since the 70s, (and longer!), what's changed that it is such a problem to you now as part of the left, while say 10 years ago it didn't bother you?

Reply to reply, so I'm out.

4. merpnd+66[view] [source] 2018-02-15 14:00:36
>>drewbu+(OP)
If you look at the actual issues in US culture you’ll see if the left that has drifted further left. As an example you don’t have to go far back to see Nancy Pelosi advocating keeping immigrants out, Hillary taking a moderate stance on abortion or even Obama being to the right of Trump on some social issues like marriage equality.

I’m for all of those things but there is zero doubt society has moved left fast.

replies(1): >>Slansi+Rk
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5. Slansi+Rk[view] [source] [discussion] 2018-02-15 15:45:26
>>merpnd+66
> I’m for all of those things but there is zero doubt society has moved left fast.

Definitely factions of society have, though I wouldn't say society as whole just yet. Those factions have thought-leaders who are unusually viscous and aggressive (e.g. heaping abuse on those who disagree with them, calling them "garbabe-people" etc.). I'd wait for things to settle down before making the final call.

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