cw: TERFs and general transphobia
For the most part, I avoid Reddit like the plague, but when I'm feeling sad, I find myself going on r/terf_trans_alliance, and then I feel worse.
I don't know what drives them to participate, but the minority of trans posters are ridiculed, subjected to abusive comments, and mass downvoted for any attempt to get through to them in a way that isn't absolute self-flagellating placation. Some things I noticed after just a minute or two of scrolling:
spoiler
- The term "TRA"
- Accusations of male socialization, with some gaslighting when trans people try to discuss their personal experiences about their upbringings that do not fit the narrative
- Accusations of "mansplaining"
- Assumptions that trans women are predatory
- Assumptions that trans women have an entitlement complex
- Accusations that trans women conform to rigid misogynist stereotypes, but also that trans women are too masculine to embody what they identify as
- Assertions that trans women defending themselves need to accept male privilege, comparisons to white fragility
- The comparison of being trans to a cultist religion
- The insinuation that upvotes or kind words "shields trans people from reality"
- Casual references to trans women, whether indirectly or directly to trans commenters/OPs, as men or males
- The likening of trans women to white supremacists
There's this stereotype that Reddit is this liberal echo chamber, but I seem to know all of the many places where it's not, and I seek out those places when I know they'll hurt me.
For those of you just on Lemmy, what are your strategies not to stray back to Reddit?
I don't know if I should talk but I think I may add something to the other comments.
First of all, TERF_teams alliance feels like it should not exist, they are not the first. Godwin point: it is like Chaim Rumkowski or some others Jews that help Nazi germany (I can't find back the name of a jew who agreed with Hitler on the existence of a problem with Jewish people). I can't explain the psychological mechanism other than a form of selfharm (this can be psychological as other mentioned), I could add an example of 4chan, but no necessary in my opinion.
Also, debate a la Charlie Kirk are stupid and counter productive. You do not talk with the far right. Ask Wallonia (french speaking Belgium) their technique to not have far right in power : block them everywhere, and never work with them. If you go open minded, know that they won't, they will only use rethoric stuff to make you look like a fool, cut an micro interview with the same objective. Did turning point do anything other than stupid debate in universities with students? They are stupid, and people that agreed with Kirk should not be sad about his death as he died for what he stood for (gun violence is a necessary sacrifice for 2nd amendment), but here they are. All in all, don't talk to fascist, punch'em (at least, block them for your own sake).
Also, uninstall reddit from smartphones (old style is better I think), install block leech on your browser (which should be firefix to have ubo on android) and put reddit in the list. I once find it nice to have it blocked as needing to modify it was to much for my casual lazyness (flemme in french)
If it is not clear (I am not good at writing my thoughts) sorry, I will gladly try to answer any questions.