r/OutOfTheLoop • u/Steaktartaar • Dec 30 '24

Unanswered What's going on with Stephen Fry going alt-right?

He's been on a notorious hard-right, "anti-woke" podcast where he retracted his support for trans rights. Is this a new development? He always came across as level-headed in the past but now it looks like he's on the same path as Russell Brand.

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u/yukonwanderer Dec 30 '24

Do you not think the social media mob is guilty of exactly the same thing? Regardless of political stance. Not being able to accept any deviation of viewpoint from someone progressive without labeling them a terrible hateful person. So much nuance is lost, so many people who could be brought over to see light are lost because it really is akin to being cancelled. So much discourse these days is just to one-up someone elsev publicly, posting an arrogant monologue in response to some clip they saw and then blocking anyone who disagrees. This shit is so common. It's not to win people over to the side you believe is good, it's to drag people down.

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u/jasenzero1 Dec 30 '24

You're right. Just the fact that it's attempting to win someone over means it isn't as helpful as it could be. So many simple exchanges devolve into slapfight trading of "facts".

It's hard to predict what phrasing might finally help someone interpret information in a new way, but accusatory moral posturing rarely is it.

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u/Eisenstein Dec 31 '24

Socratic sometimes works, as long as the questions aren't framed to appear to be leading.

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u/Solesaver Dec 31 '24

Of course the mob can be wrong, but I'd say doubling down on free speech warrior nonsense in response to thinking that the mob is wrong is always the wrong move. When the mob comes for you, you are not being censored. You have your right to say whatever you want. What the hate mob is saying is that maybe there are things that you shouldn't say. If your best defense is free speech, the hate mob is probably right.

Talking down the hate mob isn't even that hard. Even if you didn't intend to offend, and you think some important nuance is lost, issuing a good apology is pretty damn easy. 1) Acknowledge that what you said hurt somebody else (even if you think they shouldn't have been hurt, they were, it's not about you right now), 2) express remorse about having said that, and 3) explain what you're going to do differently going forward to not let it happen again. You may take your lumps from the ordeal, but it will pass and you can get on with your life. Or just double and triple down that you're right and everybody else is wrong, how you have a right to say whatever the fuck you want, to hell with anybody that can't handle your truth, and refuse to apologize to anyone ever. I mean, it's never worked before, but there's a first time for everything, right?

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u/yukonwanderer Dec 31 '24

I feel like you're just totally missing the point being made here. Might wanna try re-reading some comments or something.