There is a third category. A lot of these people are legitimately edgy teenagers who haven’t studied any history or political science outside of a very tiny socialist (and I use that term lightly, these are mostly anti-west reactionaries) information bubble and simply do not understand the enormity of their own ignorance. It becomes incredibly obvious once you’ve spent a bit of time engaging with them.
Do you have any intuition where these kids come from? Are they mostly Americans?
I guess I can see how dissatisfaction with the state of democracy, welfare, and media in the US could lead to the logical fallacy that things must be better in Russia and China. I just struggle to understand how the degree of sheer stupidity they often project can be genuine.
At least the Trump supporters came across as genuine lunatics. These people just appear to be eating crayons.
US and EU based on when they are active. I recognize the thought process precisely because I used to be like this too. It’s easy to ignore nuance and tend towards extremism when you have no real stake in society or responsibility for others.
Snap out of it isn’t the right phrase. I would say a lot of my current views have similar origins, but what were once black and white ideas have been colored by experience and education. In particular, experience should naturally move most reasonable people past the easy, but simplistic idea that the modern era is so devoid of positive virtue that any evil is justified in tearing it down.
The problem isn’t socialism, it’s making socialism the absolute bottom of your moral well, and that’s what a lot of these people don’t seem to understand, no matter how much you explain it to them. Which to me, simply suggests “edgy teenager phase.”
I know socialism itself is not the problem - most of the opportunities I have had in my life I owe to socialism. I just find it strange that young Western people look to China and (especially) Russia and consider them to be even remotely aligned with socialist ideals. I would have an easier time understanding it if they were rambling on about Cuba and Yugoslavia under Tito. Back when I was young that was what the edgy Commie kids were all about.
There is a third category. A lot of these people are legitimately edgy teenagers who haven’t studied any history or political science outside of a very tiny socialist (and I use that term lightly, these are mostly anti-west reactionaries) information bubble and simply do not understand the enormity of their own ignorance. It becomes incredibly obvious once you’ve spent a bit of time engaging with them.
Do you have any intuition where these kids come from? Are they mostly Americans?
I guess I can see how dissatisfaction with the state of democracy, welfare, and media in the US could lead to the logical fallacy that things must be better in Russia and China. I just struggle to understand how the degree of sheer stupidity they often project can be genuine.
At least the Trump supporters came across as genuine lunatics. These people just appear to be eating crayons.
US and EU based on when they are active. I recognize the thought process precisely because I used to be like this too. It’s easy to ignore nuance and tend towards extremism when you have no real stake in society or responsibility for others.
What made you snap out of it? Age? Or did your curiosity about the subject eventually lead you to challenge your beliefs?
Sorry if I come across as pushy, I just find this genuinely interesting.
Snap out of it isn’t the right phrase. I would say a lot of my current views have similar origins, but what were once black and white ideas have been colored by experience and education. In particular, experience should naturally move most reasonable people past the easy, but simplistic idea that the modern era is so devoid of positive virtue that any evil is justified in tearing it down.
The problem isn’t socialism, it’s making socialism the absolute bottom of your moral well, and that’s what a lot of these people don’t seem to understand, no matter how much you explain it to them. Which to me, simply suggests “edgy teenager phase.”
Hopefully they’ll all get there with age.
I know socialism itself is not the problem - most of the opportunities I have had in my life I owe to socialism. I just find it strange that young Western people look to China and (especially) Russia and consider them to be even remotely aligned with socialist ideals. I would have an easier time understanding it if they were rambling on about Cuba and Yugoslavia under Tito. Back when I was young that was what the edgy Commie kids were all about.