As a semi-regular reader of the PITT comment section, I have more or less lost belief in the existence of reasonable right wingers. Once upon a time I would have said hey, a lot of them are probably decent people whose core values aren't too radically different from my own; they can't all be Christofascists and conspiracy theorists. But …
As a semi-regular reader of the PITT comment section, I have more or less lost belief in the existence of reasonable right wingers. Once upon a time I would have said hey, a lot of them are probably decent people whose core values aren't too radically different from my own; they can't all be Christofascists and conspiracy theorists. But with few exceptions, the right wingers who comment here live down to the worst stereotypes of their sort, and I've started to suspect that the stereotypes track pretty well with reality after all.
I deplore gender ideology and I desperately want to see it unbundled from the leftist platform. But every time I read the comments here, I am reminded that even with all its gender voodoo and assorted other woke lunacy, the left remains the lesser of two evils.
I read the comments here too and for the most part it’s parents consoling each other. Where do you get Christofascist from? If you ran into one would you run away? Confront them? What would this boogey CF do to you? Convert you? Throw holy water on you? Scary scary scary!
I guess we haven't been reading the same comment sections. While I certainly see many parents sharing support and sympathy, there always seem to be at least a handful of vocal culture warriors who use the comments section as a pulpit from which to froth and howl about the dangers of vaccines, the sinfulness of sodomy, the lies of feminism, the leftist conspiracy of climate change, and so on. Not only is this kind of far-right soapboxing obnoxious, it actively harms the mission of PITT. Newcomers to the site will inevitably run across comments that seem to have been written by people wearing tinfoil hats and/or white hoods, and if these newcomers are anywhere to the left of Marjorie Taylor Greene on the US political spectrum, they may very decide to hit their back buttons. Trans activists like to discredit their opponents by painting them as anti-gay, anti-feminist, anti-science extremists—and the anti-gay, anti-feminist, anti-science extremists who routinely treat PITT comment sections like Speakers' Corner play right into this narrative.
As far as I'm concerned, Christian evangelists are welcome to make their pitch to anyone who is freely willing to hear them out, provided the venue is appropriate. What I object to is far-right Christian extremists who not only hold values that fundamentally conflict with my own values, but actively work to impose those values on everyone else. And yes, this actually is quite frightening. Women in many parts of America now lack access to safe and legal abortion—which, as far as I am concerned, is a fundamental human right—due to the efforts of people whom I would describe as Christofascists. You are of course free to believe as you see fit. However, if you are in fact an active supporter of a cause or causes that I ardently oppose, don't pretend that my problem with you is that I'm afraid you'll throw holy water on me. That's as disingenuous as a trans activist saying "what, are you scared that a drag queen is going to throw glitter on you?"
I really appreciate the time you took to comment. I can tell you are very bothered and want to help! Unfortunately I cannot be convinced that there are Christofascists (coined by media to manufacture fear in order to control you) who want to subjugate you. Ironically you sound like the people you don’t like but on different issues. You actually sound whack-a-doodle with that Christofascist comment! On the topic of science, the scientific method requires you to be epistemologically humble when it comes to vaccines/drugs/climate change/gender transition etc. Perhaps the people who talk about topics you don’t agree with are not the most artful or politic but they truly believe that these issues you mention are connected to the PITT topic. Their comments don’t bother me. I just ignore them and I don’t come across them as often as you have. Perhaps you should interrogate where and why you are so fearful of “Christofascists” and who put that thought into your head? If you came across one would you eradicate him/her? Have you considered that your obsession with Christofascists might have been manufactured by the same source that manufactured gender ideology? Maybe you have another version of the “born in the wrong body” social hysteria.
When people who disagree with you adopt a smarmy, condescending tone and accuse you of being paranoid and obsessed, are you inspired to reconsider your position? No? Of course not. So I assume you're not actually trying to persuade me of anything; you're just needling me because it makes you feel all smug and smart to sneer at a liberal. And far be it from me to stop you! Go ahead and bask in the warm glow of your screen as you pwn a lib or whatever it is you think you're doing here.
The only one who's talking about exterminating anyone is you. Right-wing blowhards really are right up there with the gender clowns when it comes to persecution fantasies.
P.S. "Epistemological humility"? I think you mean epistemic humility, and no, the scientific method does not prescribe any such thing.
PS no I didn’t. I meant epistemological. Also you are very ignorant if you do not understand that humility is the foundation of the scientific method. You are arrogant and an angry person. But you are also a person that is in a world of hurt.
UR you are hurting and you lash out in anger. There are no Christofascists running around trying to take your rights away. You have been scared by media for purposes not conducive to your best self. You are not doing well. Studies show that liberals (as you describe yourself) report the highest level of mental distress. And I meant it when I said I appreciate you taking the time to comment and that you are earnest in trying to help. How sad that you live in a world where you have been conditioned to receive thanks and gratitude as a twisted attempt to be smarmy and condescending. No wonder youbhave not doing well and your stress levels come though in your paranoia.
As a semi-regular reader of the PITT comment section, I have more or less lost belief in the existence of reasonable right wingers. Once upon a time I would have said hey, a lot of them are probably decent people whose core values aren't too radically different from my own; they can't all be Christofascists and conspiracy theorists. But with few exceptions, the right wingers who comment here live down to the worst stereotypes of their sort, and I've started to suspect that the stereotypes track pretty well with reality after all.
I deplore gender ideology and I desperately want to see it unbundled from the leftist platform. But every time I read the comments here, I am reminded that even with all its gender voodoo and assorted other woke lunacy, the left remains the lesser of two evils.
I read the comments here too and for the most part it’s parents consoling each other. Where do you get Christofascist from? If you ran into one would you run away? Confront them? What would this boogey CF do to you? Convert you? Throw holy water on you? Scary scary scary!
I guess we haven't been reading the same comment sections. While I certainly see many parents sharing support and sympathy, there always seem to be at least a handful of vocal culture warriors who use the comments section as a pulpit from which to froth and howl about the dangers of vaccines, the sinfulness of sodomy, the lies of feminism, the leftist conspiracy of climate change, and so on. Not only is this kind of far-right soapboxing obnoxious, it actively harms the mission of PITT. Newcomers to the site will inevitably run across comments that seem to have been written by people wearing tinfoil hats and/or white hoods, and if these newcomers are anywhere to the left of Marjorie Taylor Greene on the US political spectrum, they may very decide to hit their back buttons. Trans activists like to discredit their opponents by painting them as anti-gay, anti-feminist, anti-science extremists—and the anti-gay, anti-feminist, anti-science extremists who routinely treat PITT comment sections like Speakers' Corner play right into this narrative.
As far as I'm concerned, Christian evangelists are welcome to make their pitch to anyone who is freely willing to hear them out, provided the venue is appropriate. What I object to is far-right Christian extremists who not only hold values that fundamentally conflict with my own values, but actively work to impose those values on everyone else. And yes, this actually is quite frightening. Women in many parts of America now lack access to safe and legal abortion—which, as far as I am concerned, is a fundamental human right—due to the efforts of people whom I would describe as Christofascists. You are of course free to believe as you see fit. However, if you are in fact an active supporter of a cause or causes that I ardently oppose, don't pretend that my problem with you is that I'm afraid you'll throw holy water on me. That's as disingenuous as a trans activist saying "what, are you scared that a drag queen is going to throw glitter on you?"
I really appreciate the time you took to comment. I can tell you are very bothered and want to help! Unfortunately I cannot be convinced that there are Christofascists (coined by media to manufacture fear in order to control you) who want to subjugate you. Ironically you sound like the people you don’t like but on different issues. You actually sound whack-a-doodle with that Christofascist comment! On the topic of science, the scientific method requires you to be epistemologically humble when it comes to vaccines/drugs/climate change/gender transition etc. Perhaps the people who talk about topics you don’t agree with are not the most artful or politic but they truly believe that these issues you mention are connected to the PITT topic. Their comments don’t bother me. I just ignore them and I don’t come across them as often as you have. Perhaps you should interrogate where and why you are so fearful of “Christofascists” and who put that thought into your head? If you came across one would you eradicate him/her? Have you considered that your obsession with Christofascists might have been manufactured by the same source that manufactured gender ideology? Maybe you have another version of the “born in the wrong body” social hysteria.
When people who disagree with you adopt a smarmy, condescending tone and accuse you of being paranoid and obsessed, are you inspired to reconsider your position? No? Of course not. So I assume you're not actually trying to persuade me of anything; you're just needling me because it makes you feel all smug and smart to sneer at a liberal. And far be it from me to stop you! Go ahead and bask in the warm glow of your screen as you pwn a lib or whatever it is you think you're doing here.
The only one who's talking about exterminating anyone is you. Right-wing blowhards really are right up there with the gender clowns when it comes to persecution fantasies.
P.S. "Epistemological humility"? I think you mean epistemic humility, and no, the scientific method does not prescribe any such thing.
PS no I didn’t. I meant epistemological. Also you are very ignorant if you do not understand that humility is the foundation of the scientific method. You are arrogant and an angry person. But you are also a person that is in a world of hurt.
UR you are hurting and you lash out in anger. There are no Christofascists running around trying to take your rights away. You have been scared by media for purposes not conducive to your best self. You are not doing well. Studies show that liberals (as you describe yourself) report the highest level of mental distress. And I meant it when I said I appreciate you taking the time to comment and that you are earnest in trying to help. How sad that you live in a world where you have been conditioned to receive thanks and gratitude as a twisted attempt to be smarmy and condescending. No wonder youbhave not doing well and your stress levels come though in your paranoia.