But for all this, it's wildly arbitrary how all this "capitalism" gets applied. The fact of the matter is, we're only as good as our worst moment, and whether there are actual repercussions or not, there IS a chilling effect. Even here, in the NFL thread, I kept on with the discussion, but there were very clearly people who were uncomfortable with doing so because the very act of the discussion had (non-capitalist) baggage they weren't willing to carry. I've already been called a racist here, and while it hurt (deeply) it is what it is, and I know when I put my head on the pillow my conscience is clean in how I treat people, how I evaluate people, and how I include people in my life. These things we call "identity politics" are not a factor, and the topics that merit discussion don't change that. But I can't imagine a way I could convince EVERYONE of that, and not be subject at some point to the arbitrary whims of those with an axe to grind or a point to prove.
Bold 1 - There is a "chilling effect" no matter how you look at it. Each decision made by each player in this scenario is taking a risk of bad publicity and being thought of in a negative light. Even publicly ridiculed. Not just for Rogan.
Bold 2 - Curious statement. I mean I get that nobody wants to be called a racist or even thought of as a racist. But you yourself have repeatedly put forth your support for people being able to think for themselves and make their own decisions. So doesn't that include being able to have an "axe to grind" about whatever it is they feel strongly about? If someone is looking at all the data points on say Covid vaccine safety and opts to not get vaccinated, that is their choice. Just like if someone is looking at all the data points on Rogan and opts to believe he is racist and not want to be associated with him, that is also their choice.
What am I missing?
You're not missing anything, except that it's a slippery slope between "thought" and "action". We can, and should, think for ourselves, and allow others to think for themselves. We can't all and always ACT however we want. That's what laws and regulations, and social norms are for. Particularly in the race arena, there's this narrative subtext that to not act is to acquiesce. It's one thing to just quietly decide to forgo Joe Rogan; it's another thing to make that decision into something more. If I forgo Rogan, am I obligated to inform others? Convince others to do the same? To many, it IS an obligation. What if I don't forgo Rogan? Does that make me complicit in racism? To many, it does. You don't have to go far into the political field to find someone that believes ANY support of Trump - or really, any LACK of support for the Democratic challenger - is "supporting racism" (or whatever other evil misdeed you're attributing to him at that moment). Over the years, I've given a number of reasons why that's not true, but it persists.
And then there's the whole psychological game that gets played; it's toned down a bit over the last couple years, but for a while there, anything that wasn't in perfect time with the accepted narrative but that tried to find a middle ground was "gaslighting". As if it's impossible to agree in degrees. At another site I used to visit, there was one poster that couldn't go a week without accusing me of "gaslighting" him; it was as if he was actually SCARED of ideas that didn't conform neatly to his worldview. As if contrary ideas WERE an abuse, were an attack.
Even then, it's the dissemination of ideas; if someone thinks I'm a racist and wants to put it out there to debate, so be it. Let's go; impossible to prove the negative, but at least there's a counterbalance, and everyone ELSE can make informed decisions for themselves. But it changes subtly but definitively when it turns into a crusade, and the other side isn't given that opportunity in the crucible. With identity politics in general, and racism in particular, the discussions seem to morph very quickly away from actual debate and into action. That's the point I'm trying to make here.
Topic: Spotify (Read 8899 times)
