WatDabney

even if it’s not quite as open as the alternative social network Mastodon, another decentralized X rival.

Mastodon can’t be “another” decentralized X rival, since it’s the only one of the two that actually is decentralized. BlueSky just pretends to be.

It can be - certainly.

One of the basic dynamics of partisan politics, and one of the main reasons that parties decline, is that people wear a party label as a substitute for more meaningful action.

In this case, people who want to project an image of progressivism without actually doing anything practical to advance the cause adopt (or adopted - more so in the past) the “Democrat” label as a way to signal their progressivism. The fact that they wear the label is then folded into their self -image - they can be proud that they’re progressive, because after all, they’re Democrats, which proves it.

One problem though is that that only works as long as the Democrats are seen to be progressive. If they’re no longer seen that way, then by extension the party faithful are themselves no longer progressive either.

So effectively, a criticism of the party is a criticism of the individual, so they have a vested interest in defending the party from criticism.

Example:

“Republicans are corrupt weasels.”

“Democrats are the same.”

I see only three options there. Either:

1. You understand and admit that they mean “the same” in the sense of “also corrupt weasels.”
2. You’re a liar
3. You’re a moron.

I’m so fucking tired of this argument.

It’s the same fucking bullshit loop every goddamned time. Somebody will say that the two parties are “the same” clearly meaning "the same in [this] particular sense, and then the pedantic assholes will all come swooping in and start nattering on about how that’s completely wrong because they’re not absolutely 100% identical.

Here’s a fucking news flash for all you binaristic pinheads - there are more than two possibilities. We aren’t just limited to “they’re 100% the same” and “they’re not the same at all.” It’s not only possible but certain fact that they ARE the same in many, many ways, and the fact that they’re not the same in ALL ways doesn’t change that.

Anyone who can’t envision more than two diametrically opposed possibilities is a fucking moron, and I’m sick and tired of this argument being driven by fucking morons.

Musk is that kid in middle school who went out of his way to act smug and edgy in a desperate attempt to impress the other kids but it was all so cringey and irritating that it just made everyone hate him, but he was so dysfunctional that all he could do was try even harder to be smug and edgy, which just made the other kids hate him even more, and 'round and 'round it went until finally somebody decked him and then his mom complained to the administration because the other kids were bullying her baby.

A government that can ban social media sites is going to base their choices of which ones to ban on their preferences - not yours.