Why is there hostility towards centrists on social media?

Is it because they appear to be devils' advocates? Fence sitters? Bothsides-ers?

NSAman

Could it be they know their own minds and stay quiet?

instead of being loud mouth shouters from either side of the fence?

Larbre34

I think of myself as a centrist, in the Blair, Macron, Clinton, Lapid mould.

I don't think its about fence sitting at all, its more about building concensus, pragmatism, bringing people with you.

I would also approve of different ideological elements from both left and right; conservative fiscal policy, pro-enterprise and minimal regulation, making work pay.

But also a significant welfare safety net for when its needed, free healthcare, free education right up to third level, State built and owned housing etc. Also social liberalism around womens healthcare, personal rights and secularism.

The two aren't contradictory. A successful tax policy to benefit from the former pays for the latter, in my opinion.

Its about keeping everyone moving forward and ensuring opportunity for everyone who will take it.

Ubbquittious

They're out of fashion in today's polarised world

Larbre34

I wonder then why more are returning to power in the democratic World just now, than leaving it.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119741973#Comment_119741973

Yeah, some people can't stand it if you're not strictly aligned with one "side" and have no tolerance for extremists on the right or left. Whereas it's surely healthier to stand back and take a broader view (obviously within reason - there are times when of course you'll only take one view).

Real Donald Trump

Centrist's are dying out, it's all one side of the extreme now

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119741975#Comment_119741975

Yeah people are saying centrists are dying out, but I think most people are in the centre - it's just the extremists who are the most vocal on social media.

John Doe1

Centrists are usually former leftists in their youth who after getting some life experience re-evaluate their political opinions. Unfortunately the modern leftists regard anyone not in their mould as racist transphobes but they are very foolish people.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119742013#Comment_119742013

Centrists are usually former leftists in their youth who after getting some life experience re-evaluate their political opinions.

Totally untrue.

Studies have shown that political beliefs remain remarkably constant across time.

The notion that people get more conservative as they age is just that, a notion.

Overheal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119742013#Comment_119742013

the modern leftists regard anyone not in their mould as racist transphobes

These are incredibly lazy generalizations.

Being in the centre is a difficult spot because you naturally anger both extremes. And there's a lack of maturity and a lack of ability to control emotions that has resulted from people expressing most of these types of opinions online. It's often easier to just not bother getting involved when it comes up in real life.

I think you all have a rather narrow view of what being a centralist might entail.

You don't have to stick to the centre all the time. Most centralists that I know, myself included, tend to swing left or right on certain issues. I'd be rather strongly on the right side of things in terms of criminal punishment, and swing to the left regarding disability benefits under a welfare system. Being a centralist simply means that you don't consider yourself fixed into a left/right mentality on issues.

You're applying the same Black/White fixed position mentality that the extreme left/right social groups employ.

It's often easier to just not bother getting involved when it comes up in real life.

I'd second this, because people have become remarkably intolerant of others having opposing views on issues, and take offense that others won't agree with them. Considering how much "effort" has been expended in promoting a more fair and equal society, the various groups have ensured a less tolerant, patient, or openminded society. It really isn't worth the bother of engaging with people in real life on most issues. Which is why, thankfully, we have boards. 😁

xxxxxxl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119742091#Comment_119742091

I think that's what annoys the hard left and moderate left so much. There are slim picking in finding actual raving Far right they had to cast the net to Issues that could be far right like immigration. Ofc Far right will not want Johnny foreigner but most centrists I know would be for a point system or actually skills needed to come via visas.

I supported gay marriage equality but not the alphabet stuff. Again far right would be against both. I think social housing is the sign of a functioning wester society. Far right again would not. I supported genuine refuges from Ukraine but at this stage were getting swamped the only viable solution is a cap. Far right against all immigration. Not to be mistake with cheap labour that right leaning business men like.

I blame the likes of Twitter. It polarized option on the fact you could only use so many characters. That's bread people into just being black and white.

I like to think my left and right views balance out in the middle. Rehabilitation for first-time offenders but repeat violent offenders must fight to the death and their organs be harvested. That sort of thing.

ancapailldorcha

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119742013#Comment_119742013

And by the same logic, modern rightists are slackjawed, mouthbreathing Nazis.

The thing with centrism is that left and right see things as a false dichotomy where you're either friend or foe. The UK Labour party is a great example. The Corbynistas and the Blairites loathe each other though the latter at least has the justification of knowing that the far left just got the worst electoral result since the 1930s.

I think the main problem people have with centrists is that they insist on dealing with reality

Hodors Appletart

Ideological Purity is the scourge of the left really, people in the centre aren't "left enough" and are therefore castigated and labelled as right wing.

I don't think this phenomenon exists as much on the right, indeed it is mostly left, moderate left and far left wingers who have the real issue with Centrists, resorting to name-calling

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119742343#Comment_119742343

I don't think this phenomenon exists as much on the right

Really, they don't go labelling everyone who doesn't ascribe to their own particularly c*ntish brand of politics as "libtard", "Woke", "leftist", "Cuck" or whichever other puerile adjective they are using on that particular day?

Tombo2001

What are we talking about?

If its supposed to be a serious political discussion then a bit of a red flag when you put it in this forum.

donaghs

In order to get your attention Social Media is designed to amplify controversial and more extreme sides of a debate.

Tombo2001

What is the deal with someone who starts this thread and also this thread....

The inevitable next question — boards.ie - Now Ye're Talkin'

Is this on a commission basis?

Come on boards.ie what is happening here.....

Hodors Appletart

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119742377#Comment_119742377

Yeah, really. I think the right find it easier to coalesce and "put up with" differences to enable them to take power. Sure, they use those labels but I don't think they aim them (as much) at centrists. They prefer to embrace the centre than push it away, in my opinion.

Hodors Appletart

I may as well fly my own colours here - 100% left on issues like LGBTQ, soft drug legalisation, pretty much social issues. Also on social welfare, I think it's a good thing but I think it should be more targetted to people who want to work instead of lifers.

I'd be more centrist (or to the right, if you like) on things like crime, especially for repeat offenders and people who commit heinous crimes.

I usually take time to digest any issue and make my mind up, rather than take ideological cues from others.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119742377#Comment_119742377

I had this experience with my American friend recently, the same one I've mentioned plenty of times over the years. In the middle of a drunken rampage, he called me a Nazi who is sucking Putin's d*ck because I had the audacity to disagree with his repeated statement that all Russian people deserve to die. I was also called a sexist racist by two other Americans for preferring Bernie Sanders over Hillary.

When people talk about the mental left who label everyone who doesn't agree with them, that's the type that's being talked about. They believe they have a monopoly on morality and anyone who falls outside of it is the spawn of the devil. It's a small minority, but they're very loud, and unlike the far right, they and their beliefs are socially acceptable.

I never use the term woke but I've come to think it means the zeal of the convert. That guy used to be generally right-wing, but because of a relationship, swung so far left that anyone who hasn't gone as far as him is a sinner. Like how narrow does your world view have to be that you have to agree that all Russians deserve to die or you are a Russia-sympathiser.

osarusan

Is there a problem with centrists on social media?

What is it specifically?

Scoundrel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058267389/whats-the-problem-with-centrists-on-social-media

They are the most condescending smug pr1cks you will ever come across. If I were in a room with a centrist a fascist and a loaded gun with 2 bullets I'd shoot the centrist twice. They provide a cloak to fascism they are the acceptable face of neo liberalism.

They are the melts you see with Ukrainian flags and EU flags in their bios anything that is popular they will support. They support the Ukrainian proxy bomb attack on the bridge in Crimea yet pretend to be horrified by the IRA proxy bomb attack in Derry. They belt out Ireland's call but are horrified by Celtic Symphony and they are obsessed with respectability.

They constantly advocate for NATO's wars but would never join up themselves oh no the actual fighting and dying is to be done by working class young men none of Jason O Mahony's or Brigid Laffan's or Keith Mills or Cllr McManus's etc family will die in the dirt of Eastern Ukraine.

Jim2007

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058267389/whats-the-problem-with-centrists-on-social-media

You are the one with the problem so explain yourself to us. Why do you feel the need to live in a world where people must either agree with you or not. What insecurity makes you unable to deal with people who are indifferent to your opinions? We can’t laugh at you if you don’t open up.

astrofool

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119742343#Comment_119742343

It's happening on the right too, see the GOP with their RINO's.

Both sides (heh) have their complete hypocrites as well, for every Herschel Walker there's an Andrew Cuomo.

The left tends to be quicker to get rid of the hypocrites while slower to drop electoral losers.

foxsake

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119741965#Comment_119741965

Blairs war in Iraq and all the dead kids isn't that centralist.

I find they take each issue as it comes without any overarching direction.

centralists are fence sitters for the most part as they hold little opinion other than consensus.

people who go with the herd. Irish Times devotees.

ancapailldorcha

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119742635#Comment_119742635

So you think being a herald of fascism is bad but actual fascism is fine? Odd way of thinking.

Glaceon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119741943#Comment_119741943

As a centrist myself, I tend to get it from both extremes so it's easier to just say nothing a lot of the time.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119741991#Comment_119741991

This is pretty much it.

It's effectively a new kind of puritanism. Both sides on the extremes shouting the odds, whilst the reasonable people in the middle - who speak the most sense and who are the most pragmatic - get drowned out and ignored.

Centrists aren't the problem.

It's the extremes at both ends, pulling society apart - tearing asunder any kind of meaningful dialogue and reasoned consensus.

It's the kind of idiocy that sees anyone with any kind of leaning to the right grouped together under the banner of "fascist / far-right". You cannot engage with someone like that. They've made their mind up who the enemy are. They've lost all sense of proportion and balance.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119742478#Comment_119742478

To the reactionary right traditional compassionate conservatives are adjacent to the radical left. So when their view of the centre has moved so far right, of course they embrace the centre, as long as its their centre

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119742750#Comment_119742750

It's reasonable to think one side, in America anyway, is driven by religion, and the other side's extreme end has had that religious void filled with this need to morally superior and virtuous.

ancapailldorcha

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119742786#Comment_119742786

I don't think it's religion so much as a desire to be the cultural hegemon. Diversity of opinion is a direct threat to that and in a country with such established protections for free speech, the resentment leads to extremism as we saw on the 6th January terrorist attack.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119741965#Comment_119741965

That about sums up my view as well. The only thing missing is that I'd be more in favour of stricter control on the asylum seeker system. I feel like asylum seeker legislation is a bit obsolete, it was created in a different time, and rather than providing a lifeline for those in desperate need, I feel like it's being manipulated by some people who are plain old economic migrants. Nothing wrong with being an economic migrant. Just be honest, apply legally through the system and have your case heard.

With everything else I kind of agree. Having got married, had a kid and bought a house, I now have something to lose from ripping up the system and starting anew. If you have nothing to lose, then you are more likely I think to want to choose radical solutions. But evolution rather than revolution might be the most sensible way forward.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119742381#Comment_119742381

What we are talking about is explained in the title. Numerous posts in now - others know what I mean. I'm not sure I believe your question is genuine. What red flag?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119742393#Comment_119742393

What is your problem here? You're weirdly hostile for no reason. Explain to me what's suspect about this thread? It's not an issue for the numerous others responding.

Yes, take that one stupid joke thread (without knowing the context - it was parodying other threads asking about people's hygiene habits) and ignore all my other contributions.

Very strange, paranoid take. So many others doing far worse, yet you pick on me for a non reason. Bizarre.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119742635#Comment_119742635

In fairness Irelands Call and Celtic Symphony are both pretty horrific.

And a bridge built by an occupier to both enable the occupation and to transport military supplies to the front lines is a legitimate military target, bombing a pub because there might be soldiers drinking in it, less so

One eyed Jack

I’m in two minds about centrists really - on the one hand they lean towards the political right, and on the other hand they lean to the political left, I just never know where they stand on any given topic. Pick a siiiiiide dammit 🥵

https://youtu.be/YgFjc8uQyo8

Boggles

I firmly believe if you have to align your opinion through the prism of some archaic political spectrum you are a fúcking moron who badly needs to revaluate your life choices.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119742670#Comment_119742670

What on earth...?

What problem? Where did I indicate - even slightly - that I feel the need to live in a world where people must agree with me or not, or that I'm unable to deal with people who are indifferent to my opinions? Where are you getting the latter from? It's totally bizarre, and apropos nothing.

What's this "we" and "us" about? Others understand perfectly, and are posting away fine. I have also posted followup posts. There's no logic to your post, other than just being spiteful and nasty for no reason. You're the one who is clearly unable to deal with different opinions.

Why would you want to laugh at me? Do you enjoy bullying and ridiculing for no reason? (Seemingly yes).

Larbre34

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119741998#Comment_119741998

100%.

Larbre34

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119742710#Comment_119742710

Leaving Iraq aside, his politics were centrist. My sympathies with the policies that won him a landslide in 1997 still stand.

And by the way, concensus is the political holy grail. If you can get concensus, nothing will ever beat it! I get the feeling thats never occurred to you.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119742635#Comment_119742635

Those are people whose opinions you disagree with, not centrists. And the bit about the bullet is unhinged.

A centrist is someone who isn't constantly a slave to left or right. They have some views that are left leaning, some more conservative, some neither... they stand back and observe the full picture, they consider views across the board (when relevant - it's not always necessary).

And while I wouldn't put a Ukrainian flag in my profile, I cannot see what the problem is with disagreeing with Putin's invasion.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119742091#Comment_119742091

Well no, I said "Whereas it's surely healthier to stand back and take a broader view (obviously within reason - there are times when of course you'll only take one view)". I don't think anyone is contradicting that being a centrist means taking positions that can be to the left or to the right. There often isn't a centrist position.

CGI_Livia_Soprano

Centrists are simply people who won't admit they're right-wing neoliberal types, whether it be cowardice or they're just too thick to realise it. They're too slow to realise that the Blair/Ahern/Clinton neoliberal "end of history" era is over, and it's never coming back.

ancapailldorcha

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119743383#Comment_119743383

Utter drivel. Centrists are simply moderate people who just don't buy into the nonsense from either the right or the left. It's a harder term to define than Conservative, Liberal, Socialist, etc but it's no less legitimate.

TomTomTim

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119742635#Comment_119742635

They provide a cloak to fascism they are the acceptable face of neo liberalism.

I was going to write something similar sarcastically, but it seems that the clown show is already in town.

Scoundrel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119742950#Comment_119742950

The IRA's proxy bomb targetted British soldiers at a checkpoint and killed only one civilian the poor fecker they strapped in the van. The Ukrainian proxy bombing didn't target any military and killed nothing but innocent civilians and it achieved absolutely nothing as the bridge was operational within 2 days.