zlacker

You have to be careful not to confuse a misuse of an idea for the whole idea itself.

When life sucks and things go wrong we often look for something to blame on days when we're not at our best.

People who have experienced mistreatment because of some general characteristic have an easier time finding targets to blame "racists!" "sexists!" "-phobes!" unreasonably for their problems. We're all unreasonable sometimes.

If I'm having a shitty day day and I'm not a racist myself... I don't really have easy generalizations to blame for my problems so I have to find more nuanced ways to be unreasonable. (and yes, I have had bad days full of unreasonable accusations to blame for my problems, they just weren't towards some hot topic issue).

There is this issue where movements to empower and unify have a tendency to shit to blame and divide. It's a tough situation.

>>colech+(OP)

  *You have to be careful not to confuse a misuse of an idea for the whole idea itself.

Exactly what I'm saying! You have to be careful to not do that, indeed.

Alot of people seem to confuse them, to the tragedy of both the people believing the misuse is the idea, and to those trying to genuinely use the idea to be heard or to spread good.

  *When life sucks and things go wrong we often look for something to blame on days when we're not at our best.

Exactly. You have to be careful not to blame your stuff on others or things, because that doesn't help you or them. But it's so easy and compelling to do so, which i think in part explains why these notions are so prevalent: they're addictive. Indeed you do really need to be so so careful to not get hooked. It's such an easy trip to fall into.

  *There is this issue where movements to empower and unify have a tendency to shit to blame and divide. 

You have a really concise and clear way of saying these things. I'm so appreciative of that, thanks!