Fascinating watching this website contort around the idea of reaching out to and converting far right leaning individuals as if the same 3-4 stances aren’t having a do-si-do while all being able to coexist
It’s like
Outreach to radicalized individuals needs to happen, because without it their numbers just grow
But also
Outreach is time consuming and difficult, not guaranteed to work, and put you or people around you in danger by putting you on a radicalized persons radar
But also
We know that compassionate, prolonged outreach is remarkably effective. We also know emotional appeals are astronomically more likely to change someone’s mind than factual ones when it comes to core beliefs
But also
most deradicalization works when someone who is close to the individual puts in the work to shift their perspective.
But also
You do not need to do this yourself/no one is obligated to do this thing that is difficult and dangerous and there is a ton of organizing work and also outreach work in our own political circle that needs doing and you should utilize your resources how you see fit
But also
You do not need to be nice to or coddle people who have done material harm
But also
Outright hostility only serves to reinforce the us vs. them mentality and makes it harder to deprogram people
But also
focusing on trying to win over radicalized individuals can’t come at the expense of work to help victims/our community/those marginalized/etc.
But also
People who are deradicalized need a community to reintegrate to or what’s the point.
But also
You don’t have to welcome someone who’s done harm into your community.
But also
Sometimes your desire to not allow someone who has reformed reintegrate into a community has less to do with harm reduction and more to do with punishing them for previous wrongdoing
But also
You never owe forgiveness to anyone who has harmed you.
But also
Outreach to radicalized individuals needs to happen, because without it their numbers just grow.
Just ad infinitum. Just a never ending ouroboros of “You’re an idiot for how you engage with this famously thorny issue”.
Just pick one of the bullet points above and work at it, and if someone else wants to work at one of the other ones, we’re all trying to make things better. Maybe be less snarky and self righteous.
amhrancas 