Right on cue, a sea lion trying to “both sides.” Look, my opinion is based on years and years of interaction with people holding right-wing views online, and observations of their political messaging. Here’s a non-exhaustive list of the people that I have seen them indicate that they consider degenerate, evil, and not deserving of human rights:

• Trans people
• Gay people
• Women
• Liberals
• People of color
• Muslims
• Other non-Christians
• Disabled people
• Foreigners
• Journalists
• Democrats
• Educated people
• People who live in cities
• Politicians
• Librarians
• Teachers
• Judges
• Poll workers

Now, an a decent application of the scientific method is to formulate a hypothesis based on observation, and then seek evidence that would invalidate the hypothesis. I have yet to see evidence contrary to that hypothesis that right-wing ideology is axiomatically based on in-group and out-group dynamics. What would change my mind, then, is evidence. Evidence of empathy, demonstrations of actually asking questions of people and sincerely hearing different viewpoints. Evidence of being able to see the difference between the leftists, the trans communities, the Marxists, the femcels, the anarchists, the furries, the hornyposters, the solar punks, et cetera, not just as a monolithic Them. Heck, even something as basic as taking some personal responsibility for the rhetoric, and understanding that when you attack people, they’re going to be mad, and that doesn’t make you the victim.

But, instead, the right-wing stars and influencers are out there calling empathy a weakness, and the greatest mistake of Western civilization. And I’ve tried to ask questions of people with right-wing views for years, seeking to understand their viewpoint. And every single time my questions get too pointed, or hit on an internal contradiction, they disengage either by going silent, or sometimes hurling abuse.

Every. Single. Time. But I keep trying, so I’ll ask: What qualities does everybody on Lemmy exhibit that coheres us into a non-pluralistic, monolithic group?