I hope that in publicly questioning the narratives I’ve been fed all my life I am not assumed to be advocating for China.

I just like to try to think critically, compare disparate sources, and not pretend that I’m somehow immune to propaganda.

It seems like people are quick to try to label me a tankie these days for engaging with the world in that way, but I don’t consider myself a tankie. It feels like a thought-terminating cliche.

Is there anything you could share that would shed more light on the Zenz thing? I’m not very keen on just “tuning out” my ideological opponents or dismissing them just because they don’t affirm my biases. I’d rather read up on it myself and decide.

Part of admitting that I’m not immune to propaganda, for me, is working to root it out wherever I can by reading and cross-referencing a wide range of sources. If my deepest beliefs and biases can’t stand up to that sort of scrutiny then I don’t want them anymore.

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/tipping-landlord-tenant-gratuity-tiktok-b2291327.html

It’s tough. Colbert is actually a great example in this case, because, while I also loved his schtick, a lot of conservatives didn’t realize it was satire. There was actually a study done about it, in fact!

The Irony of Satire: Political Ideology and the Motivation to See What You Want to See in The Colbert Report

You may be right, there. I do tend to excuse comedians, like Monty Python and their ilk, though. I guess it’s always contextual.

Exactly.

“Any community that gets its laughs by pretending to be idiots will eventually be flooded by actual idiots who mistakenly believe that they’re in good company.” - Jason Garrett-Glaser

Looks like someone forgot about the 3-2-1 rule. Teachable moment.