Cowboys of the "Left" and Cowboys of the "Right"
Related and recent: Focusing on What People Have in Common Instead of Killing and Cancelling One Another | 'Cancel Culture' Isn't About Enforcing Ethics (and It's Done by People on the Right, Not "The Leftists")
| So-called 'right' (aka "fascists", "MAGAts", "nazis", "Conservatives") | So-called 'left' (aka "libs", "social justice warriors", "woke") | |
| Cancel people they disagree with | ✔ | ✔ |
| Justify violence against political opponents | ✔ | ✔ |
RMS brands himself "freedom fighter", but he only ever fights with keyboards, placards, and buttons. I find that rather inspirational. I never saw him demand some online brigading campaign against individuals rather than corporations (which is not the same thing at all).
Cowboys are not the same. An online cowboy is more like the above-mentioned "social justice warrior", which can be akin to what's called "nazi" when it's right-leaning. Cowboy-type person typically fancies some aggression, or at least a threat thereof. I've seen some self-acclaimed "social justice warriors" who fancy themselves "punchers" and "stabbers" of the "Baddies". Don't worry, it's OK; they're the "Good Guys". I wrote about this several times earlier this month [1, 2, 3, 4]. I find this deeply distasteful.
Don't believe the lie that this is some "leftist" thing. As recently as hours ago Microsoft Lunduke gloated about the Cheeto's violence against so-called "blue states". Literally violence.
Remember that the military is trained to kill; little else.
Don't entertain and don't hang around people who glorify violence. You may end up being held accountable for other people's actions and even be persuaded to participate in their violence.
In general, violence does not solve issues. It leads to more violence. Ceasefires are one way to stop violence. Peace deals - where they're feasible - can also suspend violence. The war in Ukraine isn't ending because Russia has long been governed by a cowboy; he recently went on holiday in Alaska (after he had been invited by Cheetos). He seems to be longing for another visit there. Scorpions and cowboys can't help it. █
