Identity Politics vs Othering

[Jolly_Penguin]

Ironic that you say that when political correctness itself is an attempt to halt thinking.

It does not throw light on anything.

It is a way to preserve the privilege of ruling elites.

I agree. Well said.

 

[Arctish]

I think the pearl clutching over 'identity politics' is just a ploy to keep political opponents weak and divided.

The core concept of identity politics is to keep people divided. That's what it is.

This isn't about left vs right. This is about recognizing people as individuals vs treating them as members of groups.

That's what the phrase means to you.

To me, identity politics is just the politics of forming and maintaining communities. It's as old as the concept of community itself.

It's a way to seek out and find common ground, to join others in pursuit of shared goals. It can be used to form exclusive groups or inclusive ones. It can be a means to oppress others or to uplift them, to identify 'people we want to help' and 'people we want to hinder'. It's a social tool, and how its used is up to the users. It's neither inherently bad nor inherently good. It's just a tool.

I think you're right that the core concept of 'identity politics' is to keep people divided, but not in the way you mean it. I think the current fad of denouncing 'identity politics' really is about keeping people divided which serves the purpose of keeping them politically ineffectual, just as the concept behind denouncing SJWs is to make people hesitant to advocate for social justice.

 

[repoman]

These are alt right guys who went to Charlottesville talking about identity politics at the 16 minute mark. He agrees with you, Arctish.

 

[Arctish]

These are alt right guys who went to Charlottesville talking about identity politics at the 16 minute mark. He agrees with you, Arctish.

Obvious observable behaviors are obvious. And observable.

 

[Emily Lake]

Trump very much engages in identity politics. It is a huge part of his schtick, even moreso than other Republicans. And yes indeed, white racism is historically the biggest identity politics when it comes to race.

Identity politics isn't just that though. It isnt one political side or race. It is a way of looking at things and is the core of prejudice and bigotry. It can and does happen all across the political spectrum and in all "race groups". And it prompts itself across such groupings.

White identity politics and othering of non-white "colored people", and the pushing of such people to be seen as a group very much seeded the identity politics we see today of "people of colour", themselves now insisting on identifying first and foremost as non-white and othering white people (by both that very label and by speaking of white people as a monolithic group). That in turn encourages what remains of white identity politics so we get the likes of Trump and white supremacists becoming more mainstream.

Identity politics, like hatred, isn't exclusive to any political view or to any group of people, but is cyclical and encouraged by itself across such views and groupings.

The cure for hatred isn't more hatred, and the cure for identity politics isn't more identity politics. The cure for identity politics is either individualism or broadening group identity to include everyone (ie, earthlings)

You've got some very good points in this post.

 

[Jolly_Penguin]

I think you're right that the core concept of 'identity politics' is to keep people divided, but not in the way you mean it. I think the current fad of denouncing 'identity politics' really is about keeping people divided which serves the purpose of keeping them politically ineffectual, just as the concept behind denouncing SJWs is to make people hesitant to advocate for social justice.

I think there are people who use "SJW" the way you describe it, but that's not what most people mean when they mock "SJWs".

"SJW" is supposed to be meant ironically, with an eye roll. The point is that these people think they are fighting for social justice, and clearly are not. Its about being a crybully and finding something to spew righteous indignation over, instead of actually doing something. SJW isn't the guy who is actually working at a soup kitchen because he actually is out to make a difference. Its the guy who posts on an online forum and makes a facebook post so he can feel morally superior. Its tied hand in hand with virtue signalling.

 

[ZiprHead]

I think you're right that the core concept of 'identity politics' is to keep people divided, but not in the way you mean it. I think the current fad of denouncing 'identity politics' really is about keeping people divided which serves the purpose of keeping them politically ineffectual, just as the concept behind denouncing SJWs is to make people hesitant to advocate for social justice.

I think there are people who use "SJW" the way you describe it, but that's not what most people mean when they mock "SJWs".

"SJW" is supposed to be meant ironically, with an eye roll. The point is that these people think they are fighting for social justice, and clearly are not. Its about being a crybully and finding something to spew righteous indignation over, instead of actually doing something. SJW isn't the guy who is actually working at a soup kitchen because he actually is out to make a difference. Its the guy who posts on an online forum and makes a facebook post so he can feel morally superior. Its tied hand in hand with virtue signalling.

Interesting. So, other than typing on an obscure message board about identity politics, is there some actions you take otherwise against identity politics? I wouldn't want to have to classify you as a virtue signalling social justice warrior.

 

[ZiprHead]

Okay, virtue signalling social justice warrior it is.