[Go Make Things] Shut up, you're being an asshole

By rahmat hidayat

Sunday, April 13, 2025

​ Yesterday, I watched a Thought Slime video on how fascists waste your time. The big takeaway from the video, at the 32:10 mark, is that your response to any fascists saying anything anywhere should always be… Shut up, you're being an asshole. Anything else results in lots of circular arguments and goal shifting. When fascists do any of their bullshit online, they're not trying to win an argument. It's to get you to debate them indefinitely, because doing so legitimizes their perspectives as valid and worthy of consideration. Are trans women actually women? Are immigrants inherently more violent? Isn't math naturally harder for women? None of these are serious ideas. They're abhorrent, as are the people who say this shit. And yes, there is a ton of research to dispel all of this. But sharing it won't dissuade a fascists or change their opinion, because "truth" is not facts for them. It's a vibe. For a really practical example of this, jump to the 39:54 mark, and watch Ben Affleck make Bill Maher look like the absolute piece of shit he is by refusing to debate him on whether "Islam is inherently violent," and simply call him weird and hateful over-and-over again. I have had so many of these kinds of discussions, with both international folks and local assholes in my own town. Debate has always been a fruitless waste of time. I need to switch this approach, which is in hindsight so fucking obvious. Fascists should not feel comfortable being fashy in public. They should feel embarrassed. They should feel gross. Shut up, you're being an asshole. That's the phrase. Like this? A Go Make Things membership is the best way to support my work and help me create more free content. Cheers, Chris ​ Want to share this with others or read it later? View it in a browser.​ ​

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