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So I just watched this TikTok that was about coexisting with N*zis in prison, which included a daily interaction between him and them, and a lot of comments were angry that he was humanizing them.
I had like, a thought or two on that.
I had like, a thought or two on that.
It's inane to me to say "don't humanize them" when you're sharing real experiences you've had with someone who is a N*zi.
That IS who they are. A human being who has both good traits, and REALLY horrible views that aren't deserving of respect.
That IS who they are. A human being who has both good traits, and REALLY horrible views that aren't deserving of respect.
What I hear, when I see those comments, is "I'm uncomfortable with the fact that people who hold evil views can have good traits and normal lives. I don't wanna see them like that, because that means anyone could be like them."
CORRECT. ANYONE COULD.
CORRECT. ANYONE COULD.
I had a friend from high school. We had a lot of similar interests, we hung out a fair amount, we had the same struggles, and we were fairly close.
He's a complex human being.
He's also N*zi-adjacent and hates immigrants.
Hence why we aren't friends anymore.
He's a complex human being.
He's also N*zi-adjacent and hates immigrants.
Hence why we aren't friends anymore.
I'd be lying through my teeth if I described him as an evil, dyed-in-the-wool racist who was born evil and always will be. He's a normal dude, with struggles, with hobbies, with friends. There was nothing inhuman about him. He didn't need to be inhuman to be what he is.
That ex friend and I are both disabled young men that can't get white collar jobs, and can't work blue collar jobs, with shitty disability payments and no hopes of cures.
He went in the direction of blaming immigrants for his lack of a job. I blame my disability.
We're similar.
He went in the direction of blaming immigrants for his lack of a job. I blame my disability.
We're similar.
When you distance yourself from bigots and try to frame them as cartoon monsters, you just make it harder to recognize bigotry in your neighborhood, your home, and yourself.
Because it's hard to admit that people can be like you, and still be monsters. It rattles us.
Because it's hard to admit that people can be like you, and still be monsters. It rattles us.
It makes me VERY uncomfortable at times, how many hobbies and interests and traits I share with bigots. How likeable many of them that I know are. How I could easily be their friend, if I could get past their hate.
And I don't look away from that. I acknowledge it. I have to.
And I don't look away from that. I acknowledge it. I have to.
Learn to recognize them, and counter their BS, instead of just saying "stop humanizing them, they aren't like us".
Sorry. They are. Bigotry is subtle and insidious like that. It's easy to teach and hard to unlearn. It doesn't warp a person into an inhuman. Bigots are humans.
Sorry. They are. Bigotry is subtle and insidious like that. It's easy to teach and hard to unlearn. It doesn't warp a person into an inhuman. Bigots are humans.
And if it makes you uncomfortable that someone just like you could be a horrible bigot, perhaps it's time to examine what might have led them to that belief, because you could be susceptible to it too.
Lord knows I was.
Self-examination is good shit. Do it often.
Lord knows I was.
Self-examination is good shit. Do it often.
