submitted 3 years ago* (last edited 3 years ago) by to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml
 

The few conversations I've had there have been unproductive and inflammatory. While even in other instances when I've said something someone disagreed with they would at least support their statement. Also no one would tell me why the "Confused Unga Bunga" meme is racist but they keep accusing me of it. I'm all for open discussions but even the comments there are so angry and toxic.

Edit: I'm reading every comment and taking everything people said and considering all sides. My stance on the phrase has changed but I am still hesitant about giving hexbear a chance. I'll sleep on it though.

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[–] 68 points 3 years ago (2 children)

Unga Bunga is racist because of this shit.

The phrase has a long history as a racist dogwhistle, and is deeply tied with "Race Science" horseshit.

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  • [–] [S] 20 points 3 years ago* (last edited 3 years ago) (3 children)

    Yeah I saw that but only after I added terms like racist and offensive to my search result, meaning if I just type that phrase by itself into Google nothing. I also don't watch any of that shit because it's like you said, horseshit.

    I will not use the phrase in the future though.

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  • [–] 50 points 3 years ago* (1 child)

    Yeah I saw that but only after I added terms like racist and offensive to my search result, meaning if I just type that phrase by itself into Google nothing.

    That's the point of a dogwhistle. If they didnt want to whistle, they'd just yell a slur. The whole point of its racist usage being able to signal racist ideology to those in the know, while hiding behind people like yourself who insist on it being fine.

    The preferred response to learning of a dogwhistle for the first time is to go "Oh shit, my bad, i wont use it again." It costs you nothing and removes camo for actual detestable people.

    When you argue to the effect "It not that racist", you provide screening for racists, and are doing their work. Normalizing crypto racist shit attracts racists. For this reason, you will be dunked by bears.

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  • [–] [S] 30 points 3 years ago (2 children)

    I'll chock this up to ignorance then. I will be adding that to my list of things not to say.

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  • [–] 36 points 3 years ago*

    rat-salute

    It happens to all of us at one time or another. We all live in societies scarred by hundreds of years of brainworms; Grew up with them, internalized them. It takes effort to just see the scope of these brainworms, much less change them.

    Most of Hexbear is hyper-vigilant against this sort of thing because we've spent a lot of time deprogramming ourselves and others of these particular ideological blinders. We can get pretty defensive when our fash-detectors ping. I'm sorry if we've hit you with undeserved ire.

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  • [–] 23 points 3 years ago* (last edited 3 years ago) (8 children)

    Hey mate, I'm glad that we can agree that it's racist. Whether it's dated (replaced by other slurs) or not is a moot point, since its current usage as a term meaning 'backwards' calls upon the same racist tropes of barbarism and tribalism amongst black people.

    If you've been able to avoid seeing the term used explicitly in this way til now, consider yourself fortunate, and now you are aware of its racist origins and current usage, please reconsider your advocacy of the word.

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    [–] 35 points 3 years ago (2 children)

    Interesting, I haven't personally had any run ins with Hexbears, but everything I've read from them in non-Hexbear communities has generally looked fine to me. Sure, they argue hard and in detail when it comes to anything political and they can also be a little edgy, but I haven't seen any of them be assholes, abusive, argue in bad faith, etc. So far I have appreciated their contributions. It probably helps that I generally agree with (many of?) them politically as far as I can tell, but despite that, if I saw them being assholes I would make notice because I don't believe in defending the people in your team even when they're doing wrong. I would be more likely to call them for taking the wrong approach instead. Do you have any example threads that demonstrate what you're describing?

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  • [–] 24 points 3 years ago

    What I've personally seen is that the moment they're mentioned they descend en masse on a thread. Most comments are fairly innocuous but there's always a few that are overly aggressive, and if nothing else the sheer volume can be overwhelming.

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  • [–] 26 points 3 years ago (2 children)

    I don't understand all the hate. They're just fucking funny. I have a great time there.

    Maybe if you're not a Leftist then there's no appeal.

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    [–] 25 points 3 years ago* (1 child)

    Not really. Since we don't have the ability to instance block ourselves yet I changed instances to one not federating with them to avoid them and similar authoritarian instances like lemmygrad and exploding heads. I swing pretty far left on the political spectrum myself, but there's a difference between that and simping for dictators, genocide denial, and other problematic things. I don't even get it, China and Russia can hardly be described as leftist by any definition but they'll bend over backwards to defend anything they do, and try to change the subject to another country instead if they can't.

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  • [–] 11 points 3 years ago

    I really don't understand the defense of Russia. Like if you are claiming to be communist, it's arguably the worst example of exploitative capitalism going right now. Or they claim it's because of colonialism while ignoring Russia's history of conquering and controlling any nation near them.

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  • [–] 23 points 3 years ago* (3 children)
  • [–] [S] 10 points 3 years ago* (last edited 3 years ago) (7 children)
  • [–] 22 points 3 years ago* (last edited 3 years ago)

    Edit: removed the snark because you do appear to be taking criticism, which is something someone with terminal reactionary brainworms does not do. Self criticism helps us grow and get better opinions, and I hope you'll reevaluate Hexbear differently now that you see where we're coming from

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    [–] 20 points 3 years ago

    skill issue

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  • [–] 17 points 3 years ago*

    I subbed !urbanism@hexbear.net and honestly, it's too much image and not enough text for my druthers, but the kids are all right.

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  • [+] 17 points 3 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 child)
  • [–] 17 points 3 years ago (3 children)

    We have my hampter. His name is Biggs. His favorite hobby is biting my fingers and calling me a virgin on the internet

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    [–] 16 points 3 years ago (1 child)
  • [–] 16 points 3 years ago

    this thread is on the front page of hexbear now, it will be a fun one

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  • [–] 15 points 3 years ago (2 children)

    Yes, we have the best emojis and also movie nights shinji-froggy-chair

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  • [–] 13 points 3 years ago (2 children)
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    [–] 15 points 3 years ago

    In my experience? No.

    There's nothing productive from over there

    Literally during the time they were federated with Blahaj I ended up blocking almost 4 dozen of them for their absolute toxic behavior including being dismissive of genocide, simping for dictators, and who could forget their stance on Ukraine. Their stance basically boils down to letting Russia steam roll them.

    There's nothing productive from being federated with them.

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  • [–] 14 points 3 years ago

    The question itself is inflammatory but there has generally been a good discussion. Locking instead of removing.

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  • [–] 14 points 3 years ago

    No, they're bad people. Their whole point with federation was to troll other instances.

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  • [–] 12 points 3 years ago

    Uh, the XiBucks, obviously.

    Look, I get it. Hexbear is a demanding place to be. It expects you to not be a complete asshole almost all the time. You're regularly tested on knowledge of an emoji system so complex, it's been known to make London cab drivers cry. If you unthinkingly parrot talking points, you'll be pounced on with annoying facts and aggressive reasonable concern for the value of other people. And if you emit the slightest Hitler particle, you'll be outright banned. How authoritarian! Honesty, sometimes I wonder why I signed up, never mind stay around.

    But then I remember that the folks there are a deeply caring lot, who see the problems in the world and actually want to do something about itβ€”even though the goal often seems barely possibleβ€”and, in spite of everything, retain a sense of humour and try to make improvements for each other, even if, for now at least, it can only be a :meow-hug:.

    Oh, and the XiBucks, of course. Some of us even get roubles, too!

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  • [–] 9 points 3 years ago

    Nope. Its about as useful as any extremist population of users. Full of holier than thou bullshit to excuse their own prejudices and generally garbage world view.

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