REPUBLICANS AFTER LOSING AN ELECTION: You communist groomers stole the election and I'm going to murder some cops and politicians in a violent coup about it
DEMOCRATS AFTER LOSING AN ELECTION: You dipshits elected a fascist serial-rapist and I'm going to meekly hand over the reins of power about it
CENTRISTS: These are the same thing.
No centrist, I've ever heard of, thinks both sides are the same (since one side is clearly more extreme than the other).
Perhaps you really meant: nonvoters.
@setsly No True Scotsman fallacy
i'm no expert, but my own understanding of centrist politics is that it is the prosecution of an agenda that satisfies the majority of people on both sides of the centre, being neither far left nor far right, appreciating that, inevitably, society is served best by combining the best of centre-right and centre-left political and economic strategy.
it's why Tony Blair was so successful.
what it isn't, is treatment of 𝘢𝘯𝘺 opposing political position, regardless of their respective extremes, as equivalent.
as in:
Dem: the same legal rights should be afforded to all citizens, regardless of their sexual orientation etc.
(this is a moderate position, and many on the right would agree)
Rep: homosexuals are deviant and shouldn't be allowed to work in schools etc.
(this is an extreme right-wing position and many on the right would disagree)
centrist: both sides make valid points etc.
which, in my opinion, misrepresents centrists, who would unequivocally support the left's position in this example, and vehemently reject the right's extreme position.
i guess some folk, lana included, have a different idea of what centrism is, though.
@ozof @anubis2814 @setsly you are literally making a No True Scotsman argument in your example. Good lord
i'm not, lana
it's not a matter of 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺, but definition.
if we always disagree on definition, so be it, but centrism 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 seem to be 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 more in terms of moderate policy rather than an indifference to any left- or right-wing position
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centrism
https://chambers.co.uk/search/?query=centrism&title=21st
https://www.oed.com/search/dictionary/?scope=Entries&q=centrism
No True Scotsman is literally a fallacy about excluding examples which don't fit your narrow definition.
Example:
Me: Centrist says "These two are the same."
You: That's not a centrist. A centrist wouldn't say that.
Me: Centrists have said that.
You: That's not what a centrist would say.
the fallacy just doesn't apply.
my definition is narrow, because unlike Scotsmen it is necessarily defined by a basic idea, (and why i included the Chambers and OED definitions), while Scotsmen are obvioulsy not wholly defined by their inclination to sweeten their porridge.
you're not even defining centrists. you're just characterising them, and in a way that contradicts 𝘢𝘯 accepted definition.
As far as I can tell, you employ a "narrow definition"—as you put it—based on your assertion "Centrists have said that."
I'm glad you cite empirical evidence but I question your sample size because most DON'T say that, as far as I know.
Both nickesc ("the ones I see") and I ("ever heard of") cite empirical evidence too. So if any of us is using a "no true Scotsman" approach...including maybe you...it sure isn't intentional. Seemingly everyone's being empirical here.
Um, where did everyone go—?
This was potentially a fruitful conversation. Why did everyone suddenly stop?
Now that I've eliminated the red herring "no true Scotsman" accusation, this conversation may proceed in full force. On the merits.
Okay; I'll take a look.
no worries.
but what word would you use to describe a person whose politics were 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 just to the left or right of centre?
fair enough.
language, eh? :blobcatsmilehappy:
i have the same problem with the US definition of liberalism as a perjorative.