How would you approach persuading a far extreme liberal toward center? What would you set as a realistic goal for a productive discourse? Would it be better attempt to do so in person rather than online?
Wow I did not interpret the term “liberal” at all in the same way that you have. Liberalism as an ideology is centrist at best, right of center at worst if you consider the overton window in developed nations other than the US.
“Deprogramming” makes sense in the sense for the far right because there is a lot of misinformation and fake news and outrage bait and all that kind of stuff. Getting people out of those trappings is good because it allows them to see how things really are, rather than what people want them to think.
That isn’t really a problem with the left. I mean, I’m sure you could find some extreme subreddit somewhere where people want to bring out the guillotine to kill all capitalists or cut everyone’s genitals off in the name of gender equality… But ultimately they’re much rarer than the equivalent alt right spaces.
Extreme conservatives are very common and an existential threat to many groups. Extreme liberals are a mild curiosity that need to go out and touch grass.
That should hopefully explain the votes, saying that you need to deprogram “extreme liberals” brings up questions about what you actually mean by “extreme liberal” given that it really isn’t that big an issue in society.
… Or maybe all this is just my biases.
It’s just your biases.
That isn’t really a problem with the left
Of course it is. Since the terms left and right were invented (during the French revolution), left-wing extremism has been as much a problem as the right-wing variety. The ideology of equality and fraternity is a story of bloody revolutions, purges, famines, even genocides. Depending on definitions, the body count of left-wingery is arguably even higher than that of fascism.
Of course, what Americans call an “extreme liberal” (i.e. a woke progressive rather than a liberal) is not typically a murderous Stalinist. But the habit of fetishizing abstract ideas, and seeing everything in terms of group power struggles, and the obsession with ideological purity - I hardly need to cite examples, at least from abroad we can see that these things are alive and well in America and having bad outcomes.
Not as bad as the opposite extreme though, on that I will agree.
Your tone here is not assisting constructive debate.
Do you Stalin think was an extreme liberal?
Of course not. An extreme liberal would be a neoliberal or ultraliberal, so basically the opposite of Stalin.
This is just America’s weird misuse of the word liberal to mean “progressive” or “socialist” or something.
Arguably true. But personally I prefer it when words mean something over time. The fundamental concept in liberalism, since the beginning, is a concern for individual rights. That was the revolutionary idea. Looked at this way, the word ultraliberal means exactly what it looks like: an obsession with individual rights taken too far.
The neoliberal etymology is murkier because it’s really an economic term.
In any case the vernacular American usage is of liberal to mean “left-wing” is just wrong, or at least unhelpful. I wish you guys would drop it and find a more appropriate word! Progressive being the obvious candidate.
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How are you defining “far extreme liberal”?
Someone who cares about others. It’s a terrible affliction to go through life like that.
I think privatising social security is a terrible idea and medicare for all is a good idea. So I’m basically a communist.
/s
Anyone who isn’t in a cult worshipping one of the most overtly corrupt con men the world has ever seen.
I think giving an example of an extreme liberal would help answer the question. Did you have some public figure in mind? If not, what are some examples of their beliefs that you’re wanting to push them to the center on?
Objectifying people is never a good look.
When I encounter an extreme right or left person, I back away slowly and avoid eye contact.
Firstly, I would say, hey, I respect that you don’t think people should die hungry in the streets. Yup, that’s about it.
I’m curious as to why someone would want to “deprogram” progresivism. Seems like it would be for the worse.
Eugenics and prohibition were both progressive social movements.
Progressive doesn’t necessarily mean good.
Interesting point.
Didn’t you post a somewhat opposite yesterday using “Republican”?
Those two terms aren’t even close to equivalent in this context.
You need to define what you mean, a LOT. At least start with equivalent labels.
The title may be edited, idk, but the other post you’re referring to says “conservative” today
Edit:Looking at the profile, the wording of both posts are identical, except “conservative” is swapped for “liberal”
I bet this is going to be some sort of gotcha about how people didn’t feel the need to “deprogram an extremist liberal”, so obviously everyone is out to get the poor poor conservatives who just want to be vile in peace
Make them live in Downton Abbey
Very simple. You just need to explain how guys like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos have clearly always had all the best ideas and should be given completely free reign to do anything they want with our country, with no checks whatsoever, for however long they want. This will clearly make all of our lives much, much better in every way.
Deprogram them from what, exactly? From not being hateful little shits that wanna get rid of everything and everyone that isn’t exactly like them?
deprogram an extreme liberal
Read Das Kapital to them
towards center
They’re already in the “center”
OP asked the same question about extreme conservatives yesterday but it’s not the same question, and doesn’t have the same answers. Much of the right has gone further right, then looks at the left and says “they are farther away than they used to be”
You can’t go wrong just asking questions.
