The only problem with your statement is you didn't include women, the disabled, gays, any trans person, or any other newly conjured victimized group in your 100% business attitude. It is simply too politically incorrect to deal with people in these groups as critically thinking beings even if they are so best to just avoid any conversation that isn't absolutely necessary. The best bet is to pretend to be a hapless robot and make the interaction end as soon as possible, much in the way minority groups attempt to minimize their interactions with the police. It is a useful survival mechanism in a no win scenario. Stray into victimization territory and you'll either be asked to self-flagulate or be accussed of an '-ism'. I waiting for the word 'conversation' to be redefined by the intersectionalists much like 'racism'.
It sucks, too. I am super progressive but rather critical of solutions. Which is to say, i agree with an assessment of almost all problems and want to discuss solving them. BUT, discuss, is the key there. I'm interested in peoples views. On what actually can solve the problems. Racism for example i believe as a series of mitigation strategies and a core principle of education and standard of living.
Yet, i don't discuss this stuff with anyone interesting. Just my core group, and my core group has had this conversation to death.. nothing to be gained anymore.
So i don't grow on these subjects. I don't feel more progressive. I don't feel like i understand the problems better, or the solutions, and certainly don't know which areas i'm motivated to help in.
Because i want to discuss, to critically analyze the problem space and try to question and verify solutions, i'm terrified of being labeled an -ist.
This isn't a "woe is me" post. Rather, this is my explanation that in my eyes i am _less progressive_ as a result of this culture. I _act/help less_ in this culture. This culture shuts me - a self identified very progressive liberal - down.
Purists of any ideological bent have a tendency to alienate potental friends and excite their adversaries due to their overwhelming emphasis on argument by authority and appeals to shame. They are divisive by definition and generally lose their struggle because of it. Your comment is an excellent reflection of how the purists cut off their noes to spite their face.
