Are You An Activist Or A Reactionist?

[Deleted]

Activists are inspiring. Activists are revolutionary.
Activists are necessary for the harmony of this planet.

But activists can also be elitist and bigoted.
Activists can be emotionally misguided.
Activists can be dogmatic and forceful.

While the activist movements that exist in our world today are
undoubtedly valuable and worthy, there is also a very real and
very obvious “dark side” of activism that we’ll explore today.

Read on: lonerwolf.com/activist-or-reactionist/

[Ayla]

Arin

In all honesty I am probably a little too reactionary, but this, like most things is changing.  I think it is a function of maturity and time.

Like the website, thank you for sharing this.

safe travels

Aisla

[Deleted]

There's a difference between unkind words and clever words. The unkind messenger wants to cause chaos hoping everything will all fall into some kind of magical, quantum order. The clever messenger wants to precipitate action by stimulating critical thought and amplifying a fading ambition for genuine change. The only war here is a war on consciousness. Muddying it up further with hostility and anarchy will only make tensions worse and defensiveness fiercer. But... that's my point of view. Take it or leave it. The last thing I care to do is slap people in the face with it who aren't currently on my sentient frequency. If you don't agree with me, or if you even hate me for my views, it doesn't bother me one bit. I'm not here to pander to your sensitivity. I'm just here to speak my mind freely, because liberty grants me that right, and the people here are lovely (at least 99.5% of them) and we don't slander each other like ungrateful, angsty children.

[Deleted]

Live truth.

All have a part to play.

We got drafted.

[Ativan Prescribed]

The strength of convictions can muddy up the flow sometimes.
Often times when looking past the differences, you can find a sameness hidden away.
Just like looking behind the sameness and realizing there are differences after all.
Sometimes, it's not so much what you are doing, as to how well you are accomplishing it.
It doesn't matter what or how you throw it against the wall, what matters is if it sticks or not.
What does stick is what people will see as they walk past.
Finding the right consistency that sticks to the wall is more important than what sticks on others.

[Deleted]

Count me with the OP's comments, as for me I have a life beyond trying to force others to think as I do or agree with me about anything.

[Deleted]

I actually lost a friend a while back because she was so absorbed in her brand of activism and convinced she was right that she was willing to become violent over it. I had to cut ties with her. If there's one thing I stand against, it's violence to achieve a person's goals, and people who try to force their views on others through it. There's no such thing as a utopian world. One person's utopia is another person's hell. I've grown to have a very dim view of activists in general. So many of the ones I've encountered are young, arrogantly believe they've worked out all the complexities of how society and psychology functions, and that they're "saving the world", but I often think they're doing more towards destroying it, and I often worry about what sort of world they're leaving for my children. It's something that scares me a lot when I think about it.

That being said, I am somewhat of an MRA (I'm sure Dread Faery is about to explode at me upon reading those three letters). I'd say I'm more of an advocate than an activist.

[Ativan Prescribed]

DF, your opinions are just as valuable as anyone else's.
I get and understand your point of view and more or less agree with it.
I also respect Arins as well, I can see the point of the OP, but also see past portions of it that I disagree with.
If you need to leave this, then just leave the thread.
I know how strong your convictions are, don't let them frustrate you.
It's an explosive topic, difficult to converse in, it can be very polarizing.
In the long run, many, if not most or even all are happy to have you back again.
That hasn't changed.

[Deleted]

DF we should be able to have diverse and sometimes opposing opinions without running away. Best just to ignore the thread if it sets you off. 

[Deleted]

Apr 26, 2015 3:15:22 GMT 8 @dreadfaery said:

I'm not going to explode, I'm just going to leave. It's probably easier in the long run.

Stay please.  I was heartbroken last time you left.

I avoid the trigger threads for me.  I need to do that. 

Some I read, some I avoid.  Most occult threads I avoid.  Political too.  Its ok I enjoy the other threads instead. 
 
I know your feelings about it all are very strong, this topic.  But so are our feelings about you.

I would strongly prefer you stick around.  Just personally, just saying.  Not telling you what to do or anything.

Just telling you my feelings.  I was so happy when you came back.  I am not the only one either.
 
Trin.  Fairy.

[Ayla]

Passions run deep. Views as to how how best to deal with issues, affront, hurt and prejudice differ. But we have a common challenge, and common foes. I value each of you. Your hurt, your struggle and your understanding are also mine.

Safe travels

Aisla

[Deleted]

Apr 26, 2015 3:15:22 GMT 8 @dreadfaery said:

I'm not going to explode, I'm just going to leave. It's probably easier in the long run.

DF, the only reason I mentioned you in that post was because I expected, based on your earlier posts, you would probably feel some form of hostility towards me for holding the views that I do (and you clearly did, given that you've had to walk away from the thread to avoid saying something). I wasn't going to start some sort of ideological debate with you, even if you had exploded at me. Believe me, I'm used to that reaction by now. I was simply stating my feelings, the same way you have done. I have many friends (some very close friends) who I could not disagree with more when it comes to this issue and others. We've never had any problem getting along or respecting each other. They know we don't see eye to eye on gender politics, so we simply don't discuss them and agree to disagree.

Don't leave simply because someone on the board has a different opinion about something. People here care about you. I'm sure you don't like me, but I actually do like you fairly well, even though I feel we couldn't be farther apart when it comes to how we see the world. I like rebel types.

And hey, if you can't stand the sight of me, don't worry. I'm hardly around these days anyway. Just skip the few posts I make and go about your day. Anyway, don't leave.

[Deleted]

Apr 30, 2015 1:22:27 GMT 8 @dreadfaery said:

There a undoubtably individuals campaigning for mens issues, who may even call themselves MRAs, but are actually working towards finding solutions for issues affecting men, like how male victims of rape and abuse are unable to access the support they need, and understand the source of these ills - which are the narrowly defined and heavily policed gender norms created by the patriarchy.

However nearly everyone I've come across who claims the label of MRA is bitterly misogynistic, blaming women and feminism for every ill that befalls them, be it the concept of the friendzone, or the fact that because patriarchal thought deems women to be the primary caregiver they're more likely to get custody of children in divorces. MRAs got involved in gamergate, which of course was about ethics in gaming journalism and totally not about publicly shaming and hounding female devs over their sex lives and the fact that they had the courage to point out how sexist gaming actually is.

I'm not saying you are the second sort... you've never come across like that. Yes there are issue facing men today, but they are all rooted in how the patriarchy defines men and male behaviour, not in some feminist conspiracy designed to relegate men to second place

Pretty thoughtful conversation, some of this I had never considered before. Guess this old dawg isn't too old to learn something new.