At What Point Does Activism Become Assholism?

[Catholic_Lady]

Applause!!!!!

---

So, I'm fairly convinced there is an area to either extreme of every issue where people turn into total dicks, even if they have the best intentions. You see it with vegans and their bullshit, "you hate the Earth" and "you don't care about living things." You see it with LGBT rights activists, "You don't know all the pronouns or choose to use what you grew up with because language, so you're homophobic." You see it with pro-lifers, "You should go to jail because I disagree with you." or worse, "you should die because I disagree with you." You see it with Republicans and Democrats. You see it with Libertarians and Liberals. Every group has a sub-group of people who have just turned their cause célèbre into an excuse to denigrate others. No matter how valid the cause, these people make it look like a heaping pile of shit.

For me, it's clear when activism takes the plunge into assholism. When you start declaring people homophobes, snowflakes, racists, libtards, etc. without either A. taking the time to consider the other person's side and reason with them politely or B. having heard them say anything that proves your claim against them, you are an asshole, not an activist. You don't care enough about your cause to be patient and try to change people's minds. You only want people to know you're on what you think is the right side. You couldn't care less if other people join you there. If you want to kill or hurt people who don't agree with you, you're an asshole. If you think people shouldn't have the conversations they are having because there are poor people suffering. If you think your obese kid should finish his plate because kids are starving in Africa . . . you're an asshole.

We're on the Internet. We see this shit all the time. Just don't get pulled into it. Don't hate all vegans because some are twats. Don't start thinking everyone who supports the LGBT community is an asshole. Don't hate all Republicans because some are actual racist homophobes. Remember, some of them are just fiscally conservative or grew up in a Republican area. My point is, if you let a vocal sub-group on the Internet make you feel like everyone who calls themselves "XYZ" believes "ZYX," you're going to see enemies around every corner. Get to know people. Maybe you'll find they think more like you than you thought or that you're okay with what they think because they have a good reason for being that way. People are made up of countless experiences, memories, feelings, etc. It's never as simple as you think.

You don't have to be so shrill and strident about making your point.

I love the way she writes lol. I'm often too polite. I wish I could just let go sometimes and raise hell the way she does. Give them mofos a piece of my mind haha.