Yesterday's meeting with the "far-right curious" person I mentioned went better than expected.
He's of the "it's only fascism if it refers to an Italian state policy of workers bundled into guilds" persuasion, but using the 1940s film I wrote about a few weeks back, I actually got him to realize that even fascists of the era had a range of buy-ins to various forms of the movement - just like the range of "everyday conservatives" he worries are stigmatized unduly for liking extremists today. 1/3
From there, we talked about how that fear of being seen as a bad person leads people (usually men, in my experience) to rush to defend someone who's done wrong: racist, nationalist, sexist. They're so afraid of being called out themselves one day, they'd rather fight society's criticism of another than interrogate their own actions and pursue change.
And that fear shapes so many problems in our society. I know plenty of people I consider to be deeply in the wrong wrt political morality - 2/3
but worse is seeing them with no idea how to off-ramp from extremism, so they just info-silo deeper & defend even more staunchly views they *should* be able to let go of via new data as it arises.
Seeing how quickly humans can and do become apologists for terrible acts, it's hard not to empathize with those who are now slowly coming to realize that their views were wrong, but who don't have the tools to walk back to decency yet, because they've been caught up in the propaganda for too long. 3/3
The intrapsychic origins - That propaganda is similar to the sometimes toxic expectations on boys as they’re socialized to behave a certain way - to BE a man. I’m only an observer this lifetime of their growing up processes, but through my son I see a lot of tender/emotional boys on desperate emotional lockdown, suffering a lot with depression, social anxiety & alienation. They are so ripe for the picking - haven’t yet developed a mature worldview. I think it’s really hard for them.
💔
As an aunt to five boys, three teens, I sorely agree. They will say I love you with full hearts, and face worlds that mock and diminish them for it. And when they struggle with complex topics, only to be condemned at the first fumble, it's hard not to fall further down terrible internet rabbit holes feeding on their initial anger, fear, and shame.
Thank you for being a steady guide and safe port for those around you. ♥️
@MLClark
And you. It’s awfully hard to give space when watching them suffer. I’m glad yours have full hearts. Mine does, but it’s buried deep for survival. Perhaps that’s their onboard compass meant to guide them back to wholeness.
Let’s hope. 💛