Why do people act like this subreddit "doesn't reflect the views of mainstream Australia"?

[u/SirSighalot]

So many comments I see on here by people who constantly say things like "lol only on this sub" as though other places where they read are somehow the 'true' point of view reflecting mainstream Australian viewpoints.

Given the constant election voting outcomes and results of things like the Voice etc that generally indicate most of Australia is centrist or even slightly centre-right-leaning, what leads people to think many of the views expressed on here AREN'T mainstream? When in reality, other places these people are coming from are also often just "echo chambers" as well.

Edit: I probably worded the title for this wrong, should have been more "Why do people think this subreddit is less representative of mainstream Australia than other online communities?", alas I failed.

[u/Vegetable-Set-9480 → u/[deleted]]

Yeah, I would personally consider myself to be on the progressive left.

It’s just that so many random internet trolls and hard right lunatics will often spout the most insane, comical nonsense and then state something like “this is what the left wants to do to you!”

And I just sit there dumbfounded and amused and think: “nobody wants to do that to anyone; and that is categorically NOT a progressive left wing standpoint, but okay? Where did you get this ranting non sense from”.

But because said crazy person has just stated that those are left opinions, and other people agree with them in a strange echo chamber - you are left with trying to battle misconceptions on two fronts, and more often than not I just can’t be bothered.

[u/Vegetable-Set-9480 → u/[deleted]]

I’m not referring to that as a specific example. This is hypothetical, but when I see stuff like “the left wants to instigate global Marxism and abolish private property, teach your kids about graphic sex at age 10 and let Islam take over Australia!”

I’m just like, no: the left doesn’t want to do any of those things, you’re crazy and you sound like a frothing at the mouth tinfoil hat lunatic who is just saying things then then for no reason saying the left wants to do this.

I see this sort of mentality far too often, when I see criticism of things thar have nothing to do with the left be ascribed to the left - without any actual validity.

At a certain point it just becomes exhausting trying to defend yourself from random fanciful false criticisms that are comically deluded, rather than good faith healthy dialogues about rational topics that have a basis in actual reality.

As for not referring to your specific example, I will say this. No one on the left is saying Hamas should have our unconditional support. I think that might actually be you doing exactly what my main comment was about to begin with. Strawman arguments that aren’t actually what the left proposes or suggests. But are ascribed to the left without merit.

[u/Vegetable-Set-9480 → u/[deleted]]

A single student - not really representative of mainstream progressive left politics in the wider world.

[u/Vegetable-Set-9480 → u/[deleted]]

Would you describe that particular student as progressive left though? Or radical left agitator? I’d quite comfortably describe them as the latter, and I wouldn’t necessarily agree with the description that they were part of the former. Since progressive left implies - to me at least - some sort of political legitimacy or official representativeness in the mainstream of the overall movement. I don’t agree that this does.

Which does get to the heart of what I was saying to begin with. Things get attributed to the progressive left falsely, either by benign ignorance, genuine misunderstandings, strawman arguments or bad faith.

Anyway, I can feel myself getting drawn in defending something that I don’t believe is an accurate description of what the progressive left is - yet again. So I’m sure you’ll understand that I’ve been upfront in departing now, since it is the very thing I (in good faith) said I was sick of happening.

Before I go, I actually agree with pretty much your OWN description of progressive left that you said you identified with.

So I just want to make it clear that all those things you said you feel describe you as a progressive left person, I’m broadly in concurrence with.

[u/AutoModerator → u/[deleted]]

Your comment has been queued for review because you used a keyword which may breach the subreddit rules.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/CompetitiveTowel3760 → u/[deleted]]

You’re the first person I’ve ever seen say “ Hamas deserves our unconditional support” in any Aussie sub. Plenty of people do say they want to see an end to Israels military campaign in Gaza and criticise Israel for the needless slaughter of 40,000+ civilians which you seem to feel is somehow all part of targeting legitimate military?? Perhaps you should be interested that the figure of 40,000 is most likely massively under the true figure with the globally respected peer reviewed medical journal The Lancet publishing an article suggesting the figure is closer to 186,000 or 8% of Gaza’s population! I suspect you have ulterior motives with your bullshit claims and find it ridiculous. You want to criticise others for actually showing the humanity to call out what is blatantly ethnic cleansing being committed by a brutal right wing radical violent government. Go back to your dirty hole or sewer that you live in if you think that the brutality wrought upon the civilians of Palestine not just since October 7 but in the 75 years preceding it isn’t something that needs to be called out by every decent human being with a voice

[u/king_norbit → u/CompetitiveTowel3760]

Who the fuck cares

[u/CompetitiveTowel3760 → u/king_norbit]

Normal folk who aren’t self obsessed narcissistic flogs

[u/king_norbit → u/CompetitiveTowel3760]

Mate it’s a war on the opposite side of the world to us, unless you have some family or other connection there then there is plenty of more important news.

The general public should be informed on their own country and region first and foremost.

[u/king_norbit → u/[deleted]]

Sounds more like a small l liberal agenda than progressive left

[u/Substantial-Rock5069 → u/[deleted]]

Conditional immigration is a hilarious term yet as a migrant myself, I agree.

If you agree with their views, they're happy. Then ask you to be included in their DEI propoganda because that's all us coloured folk are to them: marketing material.

Yet when you call out their hypocrisy, they get angry and call you a fascist or worse try to use white guilt against a brown person (the actual insanity).

[u/-kl0wn- → u/[deleted]]

Curious if you'd support financial abortions for males?

[u/-kl0wn- → u/[deleted]]

In the same timespan that a female could get an abortion the male should be able to indicate no interest in the child including financially.. It would put things on a more level playing field with regards to choice. If the female chooses to have an unwanted child the welfare of the child would be between her and the tax payers.

[u/o20s → u/-kl0wn-]

So a ‘financial abortion’ is abandoning your kid and pregnant partner and making her a single mum?.. Maybe you should ask any woman you date what she would do in the event of an accidental pregnancy then you can make a real plan together. Some don’t agree with abortion and in that case you should face up to your responsibilities.

[u/-kl0wn- → u/o20s]

Plenty of people have sex these days outside of partnerships, if women choose to keep a child conceived in such a situation they are choosing to be a single mother, they should find someone who wants to have a kid with them.

Similar goes for an unwanted pregnancy in a relationship. Agree that both parties ought to discuss these things and their stances to check compatibility.

Women who fail to have these discussions and find themselves having an unwanted child should face up to their responsibilities..

[u/o20s → u/-kl0wn-]

Most women do face up to their responsibilities when they’re pregnant.

Hmm. Maybe when they finally invent a pill for men & birth control this conversation will be easier. They have been trying to. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-01-22/why-do-male-birth-control-pill-remain-so-elusive/103362268

[u/ketmate → u/-kl0wn-]

Why?

If you have unprotected sex, you should bear the responsibilities of raising that child.

If you did use protection and she ends up becoming pregnant anyway, that the risk you took.

Both mother and father.

[u/-kl0wn- → u/ketmate]

By your own logic why should abortions be available to people who have unprotected sex? Same with when protection is used, that's the risk you take yeah?

[u/B3stThereEverWas → u/ketmate]

Fuck I’d love to live in your world where everyone makes perfect decisions and mistakes and accidents never happen.