Thank you for taking the time to reply to my comment thoughtfully. I understand our disagreements better now, and I apologize if I came across as arguing in bad faith. I’m sure you understand my perspective better now, and I appreciate you addressing it with respect.

Peace to you and all those you care about.

What makes you think I’m incapable of caring or that i assume others are?

Ermm… should i post pics of my unibrow? My post history is 90% spanish. My entry point is from a chilean server in which I actively participate… Why is this even relevant though?

The only water I’m carrying is the one that nurtures universal empathy. Maybe you should take a sip. It’s very healing.

Ok, non-friend. I’m sorry for attempting to extend consideration towards you.

Then we can agree on something, at least partially. Have a nice day and I’m sorry if I upset you.

Do you believe in the universality of human rights?

I’m not a white male, friend.

Maybe, but I don’t feel particularly invested in any war thing.

Polarization does get to me sometimes, but I feel like my contributions regarding that issue constitute legitimate efforts.

The blue genocidal party lost just as I told them they would if they didn’t listen and stop doing genocide. So I guess I’ve been vindicated in my demands they stop.

Do you think this will have an impact on the actual genocide, though? Do you feel like you’ve done enough? Can you fairly and honestly say this is something you care about if this is your only action regarding this problem?

Are you really going to debate bro me on whether I assumed you to be a white male or not?

Yes, this is definitely what I want to do with my afternoon (this is actually not sarcastic). Did I remove any relevant context? Please elaborate if you care to continue this surreal tangent.

You placed “white males” as a standalone group in your comment.

I did.

white males are not seperate from other groupings of people

dismissing the struggles of other groups

Any chance on giving that statement second thought? I think you’ll find something interesting.

Oh, you just are a debate bro

I’m unfamiliar with the term. Maybe if you clarify I can tell you if I feel identified with the definition.

this is when you, sarcastically, pushed the white male victimhood narrative.

Erm… So by me suggesting their vote was lost, i implied they were victims? I’m sorry but I disagree.

my rebuttal of the white male victimhood narrative signals to you that I support white males being victims

No. I think you may have a fixation with victimhood and its implications on the value and humanity of people, and I think you’ve pushed this fixation in every point during this exchange, projecting it into my arguments.

rank white males at the top of a victimization totem pole.

This is another example of the former. You seem to be under the impression that victimization is a ranking system.

Maybe I should clarify. Under my perspective, everyone deserves to be listened to, have their humanity accepted and treated with respect (even in situations of conflict and mutual destruction). You, me, white males, bolivians, jews, palestines, fundies, tankies, billionaires, criminals, war criminals, nazis, hitler, genghis khan. Everyone.

The reason behind this is that without that basic extension of empathy, all possibilities of consensus are lost before a conversation even begins. Do I always extend these basic forms of empathy to everyone? No, sometimes I’m a dick, but I do try.

My original point was about the consequences of the lack of willingness to convey these basic forms of empathy to white males in the election (this doesn’t imply i consider them victims. I don’t.)

What I’m currently trying to convey now is that victimization is not a ranking system, friend. And voting or not voting for someone is not an effective course of action to solve anything you truly care about.

I’m sorry people you care about are suffering. <3

Edit: I don’t think I did, and I honestly have no use for information regarding your sex, gender or ethnicity.

Maybe do some self reflection and growth

This is universally good advice.

The most basic thing I’ve done was demanding the genocidal party stops doing the genocide if they want my support which I’ve done since oct-8, their refusal to listen doesn’t change my demands or how serious I was in those convictions.

How’s that been working for you?

Did I?

I believe you did. You referred to me “doing it to them (other people)”. I’m other people.

You pushed the white male victimhood narrative

Did I? I didn’t, in any way, make a judgement on the value or ethical implications of the dehumanization of white men (even the poor ones). I didn’t imply it was right or wrong. I merely suggested, sarcastically, that it was a big factor in losing the election.

You seem to be under the impression that this dehumanization is warranted, though. Do you think this mindset helps the problems that our societies and democracies are currently facing?

Do you think ranking people regarding their levels of assumed victimization due to ethnic, sexual or identity backgrounds is something desirable in general?

Food for thought, my friend.

Who cares about genocide and actual demonization of immigrants.

I mean… Do you? What things are you doing to address these issues?

Edit: Also, did you assume I’m a white male? I’m not.

It does, doesn’t it? My font has betrayed me!

Maybe your pixelz were trying to minimalize it even more.

Removed by mod

Thank you for this.

I see the spirit of your position now, and appreciate you taking time in explaining it to me. I hope you’re right, too.

Vietnam and Afghanistan may like to have a word with your first argument. I understand your second point, but i don’t see supporting arguments backing the clear trend of authoritarian governments eroding their military forces by their very nature you are so convinced about.

A bad economy will definitely weaken military strength in the long run,just like the diplomatic and trade sanctions that often are imposed on authoritarian or anti US/West regimes will. However, do you really think if we isolated these effects, the war efforts of an authoritarian government with full control over its population and production is inherently worse off than a functional democracy with broad civil rights? You may argue that this effect isolation is a hypothetical fiction, but then we’d just be talking about economies vs economies… which wasn’t my point.

Look, friend, I’m in no way saying “therefore China wins the arms race”. I’m saying authoritarianism, in the short term, by its nature has the possibility of assigning and coordinating way more resources to war efforts than a democracy. Given 2 identical counties neighboring each other, on any given day, put a totalitarian regime on one, and a democratic government on another… Which do you think has the advantage?

I hope you understand I’m presenting my position and arguments from a place of good faith and respect.

You seem to be under the impression that a stronger army will succeed in invasion of foreign territory by default. Also, are we not going to address how the west has been preparing Ukraine for such invasion for the same period of time? The only reason why Ukraine is NATO is for exactly what’s happening. Buffer warzone between Russia and the west.

I can appreciate your arguments, but I think complete conviction is unwise.

You sure about that? China and Russia hiked their way up to the top 3 in what… 15 years?

Agreed. The economy and well-being of countries definitely suffer from authoritarian regimes in the long term, but…

What about their armies?