Why is there hostility towards centrists on social media?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119753506#Comment_119753506

And why do you think that that would be by those in the centre?

Centrists sometimes have liberal views, sometimes conservative views, sometimes neither. They will, if necessary, examine all perspectives in a debate. Don't know where your definition came from. And "woke" describes being slaves to ideology and castigating those who disagree. Why would any centrist endorse that?

Overheal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119753537#Comment_119753537

And "woke" describes being slaves to ideology and castigating those who disagree.

Wow, who wrote that definition and where can I read it?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119753506#Comment_119753506

Seriously all in your head. To make that assessment of one really short post? Anyway, your idea of centrist is completely bizarre and wrong. Saying that centrists would admonish "anti woke" people... wtf?! No, woke people would.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119753552#Comment_119753552

I dunno. That's the definition that Calamari is referring to.

One eyed Jack

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119753488#Comment_119753488

I’m guessing @CalamariFritti is referring to ‘radical centrism’ -

Radical centrism (also called the radical center, the radical centre or the radical middle) is a concept that arose in Western nations in the late 20th century.

The radical in the term refers to a willingness on the part of most radical centrists to call for fundamental reform of institutions. The centrism refers to a belief that genuine solutions require realism and pragmatism, not just idealism and emotion. One radical centrist text defines radical centrism as "idealism without illusions", a phrase originally from John F. Kennedy.

Radical centrists borrow ideas from the left and the right, often melding them together. Most support market-basedsolutions to social problems, with strong governmental oversight in the public interest. There is support for increased global engagement and the growth of an empowered middle class in developing countries. In America many radical centrists work within the major political parties, but they also support independent or third-partyinitiatives and candidacies.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radical_centrism

In fairness to your earlier observation about those who display hostility towards centrists, I’m not even going to pretend I have given the idea of radical centrism any serious consideration, but fundamental reform of institutions, would be well up there in terms of woke 😳

https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2021-09-19/woke-movement-is-global-and-america-should-be-mostly-proud

Overheal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119753608#Comment_119753608

What post did they state that definition in?

Overheal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119743261#Comment_119743261

A centrist is someone who isn't constantly a slave to left or right. 

It doesn't seem like anyone else's definition of woke, @[Deleted User]. Rather it seems to be your own definition of 'woke' overlapping with your definition of a 'centrist' ie. your position as stated is that woke people are slaves to the left or right, and a centrist is the non-slave. Seems like a self-serving and self-validating position to take, but not one which is grounded upon any firm basis.

Yours are the only posts in the thread which brought up slavery as an ideological theme.

Overheal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119753721#Comment_119753721

Cancel culture certainly exists. There's a large pile of burning Nike Shoes and Keurig machines that can attest to that.

Heck if you went on Twitter last night many personalities in the Republican party and MAGA were celebrating the reported 'cancellation' of Jim Acosta from CNN.

Bizarrely though, 'cancel culture' is seen as something exclusive to the left.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119753751#Comment_119753751

Oh it's definitely not exclusive to the left.

Larbre34

The other day, Carla Lockhart MP (DUP) wrote to Birmingham City FC, employers of a few of the Ireland Women's team, who unfortunately were naive enough to sing that infamous chant after their match.

Lockhart wanted them to be disciplined by their Club and employer over this infraction which took place on international duty. I can't speak as to her motives, but I can only guess that she wants them to get the sack.

So no, cancel culture is not the preserve of the left.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119753973#Comment_119753973

Yeah saw that. She was also very vocal about the "Kill all Taigs" signs on the Twelfth bonfire pyres, and the Michaela Harte mocking... oh... wait.

One eyed Jack

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119753721#Comment_119753721

That’s examples of ‘culture wars’ nonsense though, not politics, and certainly not international politicians, which is who @Larbre34 was first referring to, who were more influential on the world stage and international politics than Macy Gray or any of the hundreds of people in Western society who are considered public intellectuals -

I think of myself as a centrist, in the Blair, Macron, Clinton, Lapid mould.

And @CalamariFritti responded with -

The people you listed think nothing like you. What's sold to us today as 'centrist' is globalist, neo-libcon, expansionist f*ck everything for hail the markets in a fake goody-two-shoes, woke, climate, let's all be sensible disguise.

As much as to say - the politicians Larbre is referring to aren’t centrist, or moderate, but rather they are ‘globalist, neo-libcon… let’s all be sensible disguise’, which is basically saying that while they portray themselves as centrist, what they are is woke, let’s all be sensible sorts, but that archetype would meet your earlier standards of how you characterise a centrist - intelligent, critical thinkers capable of taking a broader objective views of everything, and anyone who says otherwise is only jealous.

Which, invoked IMO a fairly hostile response -

How dafuq could centrists be woke?

Not exactly characteristic of a centrist who is capable of taking a broader objective view and engaging in critical thought which implies an analysis of the idea being proposed, just outright dismissal of anything which doesn’t fit with how you decide a centrist is defined and what being a centrist means to you.

That’s why centrists are so frustrating - it’s impossible to know where they stand on anything or what they stand for, when everyone has their own ideas of what it means to be centrist or moderate. It stands to reason that they imagine their own political views are eminently sensible and common sense stuff.

The fact that other people are hostile towards them, is no different than the way anyone can be hostile towards other people who don’t share their political views.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119753982#Comment_119753982

Centrists don't take extremist positions. I mean that's why they're centrists.

Larbre34

Of course its possible to know where centrists stand on particular policies. Ask them about the policies!

I'm fiscally conservative and socially liberal, generally speaking. Thats usually enough to make someone a centrist. But I don't fudge any topic, I have a position on everything.

blanch152

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119741965#Comment_119741965

Have to agree with most of this. The problem is that bringing people with you is less and less possible in our modern world.

Social media is the latest disruptor, it follows the printed word, radio, television etc., where the extremists gain control. The algorithms ensure that you only hear what you want to hear, a bit like Humphrey Appleby guiding Bernard Woolley through opinion polls. People end up where they never intended to be.

Those of us who favour centrist positions are a dwindling minority.

Larbre34

We are, until there's a decent sized war over extremist positions, which will end with the realisation that no extreme has ever endured and we'll be back at the helm again for another 70 years until the next generation of extremist fools think they have it cracked.

Social media, in its current form is, like everything else, destined to disappear when its had its day.

joeguevara

i think one of the main issues is people who want to classify themselves and/or others with a label le.g far left/centrist etc which in most cases determines their opinions on things.

More time is spent arguing about political mantra rather than the issue itself. Peoples opinion or stance on economy could be centre right and immigration far left but the actual labels are just a distraction to the actual details,

I don’t think any other time has so many lists of determining dates identities that are worn like medals.