The "thug" style of activists can be so extreme and closed-minded that they lash out at fellow activists for merely *proposing* diplomacy. Most don't recognize that their thuggishness is itself the most dangerous liability, undermining solidarity and credibility. These days, it's sometimes hard to tell the difference between a bad-faith thug / troll / bot and a good-faith but thuggish activist.
I'll emphasize what I said before about the need for Restorative Justice approaches and attitudes. And a great resource for diplomatic activism: http://loveandradio.org/2014/02/the-silver-dollar/ and follow up http://loveandradio.org/2017/02/how-to-argue/ Thanks for emphasizing the language of diplomacy. I find that useful and will embrace that term going forward. On 2019-09-18 5:28 p.m., Leah Rowe via libreplanet-discuss wrote: > > there is a hidden 4th item on that bullet point list: > * empathy. understanding what the other is thinking, and seeing where > they are coming from. "know your enemy" > > Many activists fail on this aspect. They fail to understand what > they're opposing. > > On Thu, 19 Sep 2019 01:25:16 +0100 Leah Rowe > <[email protected]> wrote: > >> >> there are two types of equality activist: >> * diplomat >> * thug >> >> I'm of the diplomatic variety. The ones that you had a negative >> experience with are the thug type. >> >> It's the diplomatic ones that make the real change. People like me, >> who do real work rather than just shouting on twitter or on mailing >> lists. >> >> Real work involves: >> * befriending people, even if you despise them >> * listening to people >> * making them realize that you're not a threat >> >> This is what I mean by diplomacy. You simply make friends, and make >> people see your point of view. >> >> A diplomat does their best to convince people and to make allies. >> >> By comparison, the thug type simply complains and alienates people. >> >> On Tue, 17 Sep 2019 23:35:00 -0500 >> [email protected] wrote: >> >>> On Tue, September 17, 2019 7:59 pm, Leah Rowe wrote: >>>> >>>> meritocracy is silly in terms of advancing equality, because it >>>> implies an equal playing field - nothing is further from the truth >>>> >>>> women (and LGBT people, and black people etc) are routinely >>>> descriminated against, and less likely to get involved in tech. >>>> >>>> we need to spend more effort bringing such people into the >>>> movement. since you know, they actually form at least half the >>>> planet and have the same intelligence/potential. >>>> >>>> I say this as an LGBT person. >>>> >>>> If you have the choice between a more qualified male candidate and >>>> less qualified female candidate, hire the female candidate - and >>>> train/educate her. it's important. >>> >>> I do have a priority to support these groups. But I have decided to >>> stop support for women. I have been attacked by them 3 times because >>> I speak my mind out. (I know I should speak less.) The other groups >>> have taken my opinions as such, not as personal attacks. A couple >>> groups that defend women's rights have attacked me instead of >>> exchanging ideas and accepting that I do not have to do as they wish >>> unless they convince me. So I have decided to remove my support for >>> women unless one of these groups proves they deserve my support >>> again by being reciprocal in supporting my own values and the >>> people in our group instead of attacking us. >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> libreplanet-discuss mailing list >>> [email protected] >>> https://lists.libreplanet.org/mailman/listinfo/libreplanet-discuss >> >> -- >> Leah Rowe <[email protected]> >> Company Director & Libreboot developer >> https://minifree.org/ https://libreboot.org/ >> >> Do you know you have rights? >> The right to privacy, free speech, the right to read >> and the right to learn. The right not to be spied on >> and censored by the government. >> >> Defend freedom. Use free (free as in freedom) software. >> Spread freedom. Tell everyone you know about it! >> https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html >> >> Minifree Ltd, trading as Ministry of Freedom. >> Registered in England, registration No. 9361826 >> VAT Registration No. GB202190462 >> Minifree Ltd, 19 Hilton Road, Canvey Island >> Essex SS8 9QA, United Kingdom >> United Kingdom > > > > _______________________________________________ > libreplanet-discuss mailing list > [email protected] > https://lists.libreplanet.org/mailman/listinfo/libreplanet-discuss > _______________________________________________ libreplanet-discuss mailing list [email protected] https://lists.libreplanet.org/mailman/listinfo/libreplanet-discuss
