Read on Twitter
I’ve been thinking about this.
I think Twitter has a bunch of high school cafeteria groups. None of them are absolute - the “in” to a social set is rarely explicit or specific.
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I think Twitter has a bunch of high school cafeteria groups. None of them are absolute - the “in” to a social set is rarely explicit or specific.
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But I think “the left” (not the left) is characterized mostly by not being right wing + focused on dragging the Democratic Party. I think “neolibs” are characterized mostly by not being right wing + focused on supporting the Democratic Party.
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“The left” has taken up some slogans (M4A, GND) but when I speak to individuals in the left, many don’t really know what those mean - and disagree with each other on what they mean. 3/
Many call themselves socialist when they really support social democracy. Many call themselves socialist but don’t really know what that means. The edgier ones call themselves anarchist. 4/
There’s another table near “the left” of serious left, including socialists, communists, those still thinking. But “the left” is really loud and other kids tend to to bunch the two together 5/
(which “the left” enjoys because they think the serious left are the really cool kids but in truth they really don’t have that much in common TBH). 6/
“The left” calls the mass of kids who aren’t edgy outsiders “neolibs”. These kids of course are divided into many subgroups. Some are hard-core rule-following and enforcing class president types. 7/
Some have a lot of the same aggro about school as “the left” but don’t get off on being an outsider and don’t think it’s useful and frankly think “the left” comes off as people who can’t cope. These people might get along with the socialists if they ever talked to them 8/
But they don’t because they associate them with “the left” and assume they are jerks too.
Ultimately, over time, some of the table groupings will change. Some of “the left” will grow up to hang with the socialists, some will stay “the left”, some will end up going jock. 8/
Ultimately, over time, some of the table groupings will change. Some of “the left” will grow up to hang with the socialists, some will stay “the left”, some will end up going jock. 8/
Some of the “neolibs” will end up with the jocks, socialists, or in 12th grade suddenly drop out, get a gazillion piercings, and hang out downtown in the pit with the most “left” of “the left”.
some will just stay class president through life. 9/
some will just stay class president through life. 9/
My point here is that a lot of political posturing on twitter has more to do with what social scene you gravitate to than really considered politics - I have found.
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I’ve learned - just in arguments about #M4A - that there’s a really small set of people who really understand the basics of health care policy or what M4A is, yet just about everyone has a passionate pro- or anti- position on it.
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Twitter is a platform for everyone, not just for policy thinkers, or for philosophers, or for serious politicos.
But it’s also a place where people start talking politics and based on snippets of convos commit to “a side” - a gang, a social set.
But it’s also a place where people start talking politics and based on snippets of convos commit to “a side” - a gang, a social set.
Good insert for above. https://mobile.twitter.com/MelaKatie/status/1337441646519054338
Personal addendum here.
I identify mainly as a Democrat. In US politics I see no purpose in not picking one of the major two parties and working within it - they are the only two vehicles to policy.
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I identify mainly as a Democrat. In US politics I see no purpose in not picking one of the major two parties and working within it - they are the only two vehicles to policy.
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But in ideology I am strong social democrat, leaning toward market socialism, with the caveat that liberal institutionalism is a necessity as a buffer against aggressive hegemonism by a cultural majority.
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I do not have animosity against the Democratic Party because I realize that for a party to succeed in the US it must constantly be trying to reach 51% of votes and I know that 51% of the population does not share my ideology. Broad coalitions are needful. 10/
This is why I sit with the “neolibs”. But I after I eat, I’ll go sit and chat with some socialists.
I really really hate it - it’s embarrassing - when my “neolib” friends walk by the table while I’m talking to them and spit out insults. 11/
I really really hate it - it’s embarrassing - when my “neolib” friends walk by the table while I’m talking to them and spit out insults. 11/
And it helps me see why the socialists don’t have many “neolib” friends and why they feel more comfortable with “the left”.
I also, have the experience of being denounced as a “neolib” regularly by “the left”. Because to them “supports the Democratic Party” or “talks rationally about policy options in the US” = “neolib”.
The irony of ironies: got blocked by someone from the “neolib” tables *because of this thread* because saying I’m a social democrat apparently means I’m a class reductionist racist like “the left”.
It’s like...that’s what you got out of this brah?
It’s like...that’s what you got out of this brah?
