I was blocked yesterday by a man who would not be honest.

I do not understand these people. He began by accusing the current sitting president of treason. When I asked him to provide evidence of his accusation, he deflected by demanding evidence that Donald Trump had committed illegal acts.

I allowed the deflection, because I welcome the opportunity to show such persons what evidence actually is. This person refused to look at any of my evidence, because he did not like the source. I provided raw video footage of the now former president inciting the insurrectionists on January 6th. I gave him multiple sources, because he would not look at the full uncut video as provided by the Washington Post.

Why are certain individuals like this?

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ShadowSister · 46-50, F

I had a few incidents with friends on SW last week. I work really hard to keep my friendships on here. I don't want to get myself into an echo chamber, so I like having conservative friends. And yet the moment I mentioned that I probably hold most of the views she associates with "woke" people, the entire interaction just fizzled. I never once confronted her, told her she was wrong, or in any way hassled her. It honestly really affected me. I felt like I was judged as an enemy regardless of what I actually said.

The best I can come up with is that people have certain narratives and are unwilling to have those narratives challenged. "Woke" people have been so consistently portrayed as villains, as anti-white racists, and as wanting to tear down the moral fabric of society, that we can't even have a conversation about my actual beliefs. I work really really hard to be non-confrontational. But apparently my existence is controversial enough for some people. Or maybe the fact that I am an outspoken LGBTQ person, and I appreciate that Target sells pride merchandise. I don't know. The whole interaction just really left me feeling sad. I thought she was friends with me. 😢

For what it's worth, the left is not exempt from constructing narratives where we cast conservatives in the role of villain. I hope we don't do it often. But I know we do it, I've seen it happen.

bijouxbroussard · F

@ShadowSister I’ve come to a point where I interact with ultra-conservatives as little as possible. Anti-black racism is a "trigger" for me, I experienced enough that I don’t want to encounter it if I don’t have to. And folks who use the term "woke" disparagingly are usually the worst in that regard.

Maybe if I were younger it would be different, but I just don’t trust anymore and I know I don’t need that ugliness in my life. I won’t be unkind, but as soon as I hear those familiar right wing buzz terms, I’m headed for the door 🙁

ShadowSister · 46-50, F

@bijouxbroussard Thank you for your perspective. You're not wrong. I would like to use my white privilege to engage them and try to move the dial. If folks with privilege don't, who will? And yet, those discussions feel so fruitless. And I need to constantly remind myself in those conversations not to position myself as one of the "good ones." I benefit from systemic inequality the same as other white folks. So figuring out what to say and how to say it feels both overwhelming and necessary. But then I read your comment and I remember how much more you have on the line with those people than I ever could. Thank you for causing me to rethink the stakes. I appreciate you a ton.