This is exactly why I always roll my eyes when people complain about "identity politics". Uh, you mean civil rights? You know, the rights of people who have been marginalized outside the dominant culture of white male patriarchy? It's so annoying to me that centrist Democrats and the right weaponize these communities as "circular firing squads", and then they do exactly nothing to be more inclusive. Dudes, you're more powerful WITH these different groups than without them. Why should they continually have to support to your entitled vision and get nothing in return? (See black women voters, for example, and the Democratic Party.) At some point, they are going to get the message you're only using them to get elected.
when I think of Freddie, I perform that stock black & white movie character chomping his cigar behind the newsstand: "that nutty wild mixed-up kid, he's got heart I tell ya"
I guess, if I think about it, I've seen some instances of insincere virtue-signaling. What I've found a lot more striking, though, is its use as a meaningless epithet by unprincipled defenders of the status quo.
Sometimes I do this in my own head, and so don’t comment. Because I have nothing to add, or all I’m doing is saying that I have the “correct” opinions. I mean that’s okay, I don’t need to comment on everything. But having this conversation in my head- that I’m “signaling” no matter what I say, does keep me from jumping in. I don’t write on Substack, but I think it’s probably better for writers if people comment. Is that assumption correct?
This is exactly why I always roll my eyes when people complain about "identity politics". Uh, you mean civil rights? You know, the rights of people who have been marginalized outside the dominant culture of white male patriarchy? It's so annoying to me that centrist Democrats and the right weaponize these communities as "circular firing squads", and then they do exactly nothing to be more inclusive. Dudes, you're more powerful WITH these different groups than without them. Why should they continually have to support to your entitled vision and get nothing in return? (See black women voters, for example, and the Democratic Party.) At some point, they are going to get the message you're only using them to get elected.
when I think of Freddie, I perform that stock black & white movie character chomping his cigar behind the newsstand: "that nutty wild mixed-up kid, he's got heart I tell ya"
I guess, if I think about it, I've seen some instances of insincere virtue-signaling. What I've found a lot more striking, though, is its use as a meaningless epithet by unprincipled defenders of the status quo.
Sometimes I do this in my own head, and so don’t comment. Because I have nothing to add, or all I’m doing is saying that I have the “correct” opinions. I mean that’s okay, I don’t need to comment on everything. But having this conversation in my head- that I’m “signaling” no matter what I say, does keep me from jumping in. I don’t write on Substack, but I think it’s probably better for writers if people comment. Is that assumption correct?
I mean, it's nice to feel like someone is reading!