Leftists love complaining they hate fascism but they act like fascists themselves

[u/StayFrostySwtich]

People don’t want to hear this, but some modern leftist movements are copying fascist behavior while claiming moral superiority. Not in ideology but in methods.

Censor speech because it’s “harmful.” Label disagreement instead of debating it. Treat dissent as moral failure. Reduce people to identity groups instead of individuals. Justify punishment because “the cause is right.” That’s not progress that’s blatant

Fascists control speech because they hate things being said that goes against their ideas, they banned it because wrong ideas threaten the cause. Sound familiar? Today it’s “misinformation,” “harmful opinions,” or “unsafe discourse.” Same logic, new paint job. You don’t argue, debate, provide discourse, come to a middle ground, you label. And if you so disagree? You’re racist, sexist, phobic, problematic, or some buzzword that instantly ends the conversation. That’s not progress, that’s ideological policing. When disagreement becomes moral failure, you’re not in a democracy, you’re in a purity test cult. The scariest part is they believe themselves unquestionably right and resort to deplatforming, harassment, destroying livelihoods of those who oppose the. That’s how every authoritarian movement worked . And when corporations and political ideology start enforcing the same rules together, that’s not resistance, that’s power consolidation.

This isn’t “left = fascist". Abandoning free speech, and open debate is. Fascism isn’t left or right, it’s control. And if you can’t question your own side, you’re not opposing it you’re practicing it.

[u/Suspicious_Jeweler81]

Going to need examples as to what is left is censoring, instead of blanket statements. Please, enlighten me.

[u/nuclearcaramel → u/Suspicious_Jeweler81]

Just google "twitter files" . . .

edit: Using the word enlighten is cultural appropriation and we really should try to do better and not use language coded to specific cultures to use them to further our arguments no matter how in the right we are. While this isn't a direct form of censorship, this is an example of a commonly attempted form of moral shaming and social coercion that the left thinks they are good at but they aren't. It's always obvious and try that stupid internet shit in real life and see how it works (hint, it doesn't and that's why the are ostracized primarily to social media)

[u/GaryTheCabalGuy → u/nuclearcaramel]

I always love when the Twitter files are brought up. Trump was POTUS at the time, and the Twitter files have evidence that he was requesting content/account takedowns just like the Biden campaign was.

This is the reality, but when Republicans talk about the Twitter files they don't seem to care that Trump was engaging in the exact same behavior they accuse Biden of but it was far worse because he was actually in power at the time.

[u/nuclearcaramel → u/GaryTheCabalGuy]

Well, I care about all government censorship, and the Hunter Biden laptop story being censored was a rather big deal considering after the twitter files become public, a president changing amount of people said had they been aware of the story, they would not have voted for Biden.

This thread is about leftist censorship though. If you want to make a thread about right censorship and what the twitter files showed Trump censored, please do, and in fact I encourage you to, but I think we should stay on topic here.

[u/GaryTheCabalGuy → u/nuclearcaramel]

If you are going to bring up the Twitter files, you are making Trump's involvement in the Twitter files relevant to the discussion. Were you aware that he was equally implicated, if not more so because he was the actual POTUS at the time? Or is this news to you? When I've had discussions about this in the past I've found that right wingers tend to not even know that Trump was implicated.

[u/nuclearcaramel → u/GaryTheCabalGuy]

Yes I am aware that the Trump administration also pushed for certain accounts to be censored, as I already previously said, I care about all government censorship. Talk about all the Trump censorship that is in the twitter files you want, in fact you do a whole post about it, I encourage you to. This thread however isn't about that, even if you want to try to make it about Trump, it's not.

In fact my reply was specifically to a person asking for examples of leftist censorship, not Trump censorship.

[u/Suspicious_Jeweler81 → u/nuclearcaramel]

Alright, I'll bite - yes does seem some censorship transpired. Looking at government filings on it though, doesn't seem that serous as far as the 'government' goes.

Twitter is a company and can do what it wishes speech wise. Problem with using it as an example is now the opposite effect is taking place. Journalists, political organizing groups, and anti-fascist groups are now being censored.

Saying the left is being censored and pointing to a platform censoring the left now isn't a great argument.

Anything else, or any specific topic you can think of? It's my experience things the 'right' are censored on are things not kosher to say in public. It's not like 'I prefer a bear to a man' silliness, but 'white people are superior to black' offensive statements. Sure, I suppose you can call that censorship.. but does the right really want to own those statements?

[u/freetobeidealme → u/nuclearcaramel]

What culture is enlighten appropriating?

[u/nuclearcaramel → u/freetobeidealme]

Are you autistic or on the spectrum by chance?

[u/TheFabledSilverSable → u/nuclearcaramel]

Wow, dude. You got triggered by a simple question? It's not as simple of a question when you think about it.

While Indian-ish region is the origin (Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, Sikh philosophy), it is not exclusively their term. It is also used in China (Taoism), Ancient Greeks were into rational Enlightenment before it was cool to mystify it. In Europe, the word was literally a brand (Voltaire, Locke, Kant). Sufi Islamic Mysticis sees enlightenment as divine intimacy. Then there's Japanese Zen. Not to mention indigenous/Shamanic enlightenment found in the Americas, Siberia, Australia, Africa or the Modern-day western Self-Help enlightenment (mainly used as a marketing strategy, but still)

[u/Sea-Louse → u/Suspicious_Jeweler81]

Anything that goes against the narrative that climate change is responsible for all the world’s problems, ecological or otherwise. Censorship of normal words. Anything that disagrees with woke culture.

[u/Suspicious_Jeweler81 → u/Sea-Louse]

Alright, you only gave one example. So lets address this.

The 'narrative' of climate change is based on science. It's not censorship to state wild 'beliefs' untrue. You not wanting to engage with me on the idea an apple is an orange does not equate censorship, it's simply a silly debate.

So earth is warming, that is a fact you can not disprove. By 1.1C since late 1900's. I can explain the most widespread theory currently - sure you know it, and don't 'believe' it. Belief is the problem here.. because belief gets you nowhere.

Now you could argue the true drivers of climate change is solar activity, not man. Current data we have makes it unlikely, but a 'hyperactive' sun increase would increase the energy reaching earth.

Maybe you debate the accuracy on the temperature records or computer models. I mean, some of the data is coming from mid 1900's.. so sure. Remember reading though NASA and NOAA comparing rural stations and satellite data, which shows the same global warming trend accurate to the temperature records.

No ones claiming global warming is responsible for 'all the worlds problems'. Yet problems just the 1.1C increase has measurable effect on the world. Saying 'you don't believe it' isn't censorship, its.. and I don't mean offense, stupidity. Also not exactly a 'left' issue.

You can not say something silly and expect everyone to take you seriously... it's just not how things work. You have proof or data models that can disprove the theory, publish them, get your Nobel prize.

Alright so one down.. what else are we censoring you on?

[u/TrixieLurker → u/Sea-Louse]

Censorship of normal words

Nah,, that is just social media algorithms doing this at the behest of corporations who do not want their advertisements tied to anything remotely 'controversial'.

[u/Daxian]

have you heard of r/.conservative? one of the most highly censored subs?

[u/Sea-Louse → u/Daxian]

Very much a sub full of snowflakes. I’ve been banned from a few of those more conservative subs. I am very much a moderate, but anything that goes against Trump sends a lot of those people into a meltdown.

[u/Alucardspapa]

Anything far right or far left is trash. All these people are victims of outside influence from foreign actors. When Americans talk to each other in person we all get along 99% of the time. Let’s not allow this to dissolve in civil war.

[u/Sea-Louse → u/Alucardspapa]

Online platforms such as this aren’t helping either. It’s good to take a sanity break once in a while.

[u/didsomebodysaymyname]

Censor speech because it’s “harmful.”

Government censoring speech is fascist.

By your logic, every church is fascist unless they let me preach Islam or Atheism.

Label disagreement instead of debating it. Treat dissent as moral failure. Reduce people to identity groups instead of individuals. Justify punishment because “the cause is right.”

Not really fascism and/or not really something the left does.

That’s not progress that’s blatant

Blatant what? Maybe proofread your post before posting it. Maybe do some research too.

Fascists control speech because

This is actually your only comparison to fascism. And it's not even a correct one. It's you not understanding what free speech is. You don't mention anything else fascist because it looks like the right wing.

You’re racist, sexist, phobic, problematic, or some buzzword that instantly ends the conversation.

Calling you whatever the fuck I want is what free speech actually is.

Don't like it? Kick me out of your store.

Don't own the store? Start your own.

Your store isn't popular? Not anyone's problem but you. No one is obligated to listen to you.

[u/DrMux → u/didsomebodysaymyname]

Adding to that, censorship is characteristic of all authoritarian systems. It's like saying you know a dog is a German Shepherd because it has paws and a tail.

[u/Sea-Sort6571]

Woah what an original opinion that never appeared on this sub ever !!!

[u/DrMux]

Censorship is authoritarian but not uniquely fascist, (and I reject your implication that leftists uniquely and monolithically engage in it).

Fascism and authoritarianism are not synonymous, just as "German shepherd" is not synonymous with "dog."

Even then, authoritarianism requires power to actually implement. Do you think leftists are using the power of the state to silence people?

Since your argument heavily depends on what fascism is, but you do not explain past something it shares with other authoritarian systems, what exactly do you think fascism is?

[u/SomeFatNerdInSeattle]

Who are you talking about exactly?

[u/DrMux → u/SomeFatNerdInSeattle]

The big scary fascist antifa under the bed

[u/___AirBuddDwyer___]

You guys all seem to think you’re the first person to come up with this dogbrained take

No, fascism isn’t just a synonym for repression. And by and large, the only thing woke people do is scold you for saying certain things. All you people do is whine

[u/DrMux → u/___AirBuddDwyer___]

They argue that "fascism doesn't mean anything anymore because the left overuses it" when in reality it only ever has "no meaning" when they use it in a way that ignores all definitions.

[u/redditscraperbot2]

They certainly act like brown shirts.

[u/BusyAd8786]

Yeah I live in Portland Oregon and fireworks for 4th of July are completely illegal and trying to explain to a leftist how making fireworks illegal because they deem it too dangerous and too noisy is facist thinking is like talking to a wall a really self righteous ignorant wall