Preamble Looking back over the last ten years of my activism, there's a definite theme emerging. Namely, having to deal with absolutists who are so wedded to their beliefs, they cannot tolerate the thought of anyone disagreeing with them, let alone challenging them. Their response to anyone who has the temerity to question their beliefs is to blank them and refuse to engage at any level. Seemingly all too often, it goes beyond blanking into abuse and worse. To clarify, I've no problem with someone having strong beliefs and convictions if they're prepared to defend them and to engage and debate with their critics. It's when the blanking, cancellation, abuse and sometimes threats start that my tolerance for those with absolute beliefs starts to wear pretty thin.
It’s frustrating when they just shout slogans at you and will not look at any data or debate. I get “conspiracy theorists” a lot and “Trump loving MAGA far right extremist” for my troubles (I don’t even vote, nor am I in the US?). But I’m starting to realise these people don’t matter. They’re just defending a world view, that if punctured, will bring their mental house of cards crashing down. So they fight on blanking and insulting. Fortunately for me these people DONT matter, that is they have no impact on me or my life and so cutting them off is easy but when these absolutists have real world power - then it’s a problem. Ultimately I suppose, if they won’t come to the table, we must simply move around them. If that’s possible. What is one to do if they won’t even engage in good faith?
It must also be borne in mind that many of the 'awake' have now become just as absolutist as the 'woke' if you question anything that they agree with, or if they maybe have their priorities wrong. One example being all the fuss that the 'awake' are making about vehicular traffic management issues, LTN's etc, whilst ignoring the WHO Pandemic Treaty and its totalitarian implications.
The goal of living is to never be wedded to any ideology. They are all created by man and therefore you have the exact reason why you may look beyond society for your beliefs.
Fantastic. I wonder if this kind of intolerance to more reasonable and considered discussion is more prevalent in today's generations? I blame social media.
It’s frustrating when they just shout slogans at you and will not look at any data or debate. I get “conspiracy theorists” a lot and “Trump loving MAGA far right extremist” for my troubles (I don’t even vote, nor am I in the US?). But I’m starting to realise these people don’t matter. They’re just defending a world view, that if punctured, will bring their mental house of cards crashing down. So they fight on blanking and insulting. Fortunately for me these people DONT matter, that is they have no impact on me or my life and so cutting them off is easy but when these absolutists have real world power - then it’s a problem. Ultimately I suppose, if they won’t come to the table, we must simply move around them. If that’s possible. What is one to do if they won’t even engage in good faith?
It must also be borne in mind that many of the 'awake' have now become just as absolutist as the 'woke' if you question anything that they agree with, or if they maybe have their priorities wrong. One example being all the fuss that the 'awake' are making about vehicular traffic management issues, LTN's etc, whilst ignoring the WHO Pandemic Treaty and its totalitarian implications.
Being ‘absolutist’ automatically means you are insecure and have a weak cause…
The goal of living is to never be wedded to any ideology. They are all created by man and therefore you have the exact reason why you may look beyond society for your beliefs.
Fantastic. I wonder if this kind of intolerance to more reasonable and considered discussion is more prevalent in today's generations? I blame social media.