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When someone makes a crude joke on the internet (lemmy.world)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

There is no common ground on these definitions.

Yes, they've spent trillions on propaganda machines to make sure no clear meaning can be ascribed to rather simple political concepts. That doesn't stop us from discovering their actual meanings at all.

We both know that different people use these terms differently.

Yes. See above.

The German political education ministry for example defines extremism

Sooo... power will attempt to "define" political concepts in a way that protects itself?

On the other hand, the ADL defines extremism as any belief outside of the mainstream

So, again... power will attempt to "define" political concepts in a way that protects itself?

Meanwhile, the British government considers extremism to be anything opposed to “British values”,

And... more of the same?

fact is that they do not have clear definitions

That's because "definitions" are utterly useless. What isn't useless is the meaning without which these political concepts cease to serve any purpose - and no amount of "muddying the water" will be able to rob them of that.

[+] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

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[–] [email protected] -1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

But you don’t have the authority over words.

I have said nothing about authority. You, on the other hand...

their meaning is defined by usage

...ascribe those with the deepest pockets and vilest agendas the power to "define" the meaning of terms for you. Fox News gets to "define" the usage of the term socialism as "gubment doing stuff" (or whatever white supremacist nazi crack-pipe logic they are peddling these days) - but that doesn't rob the term socialism of it's actual meaning in any way or shape whatsoever. Fox News doesn't get to wipe away hundreds of years of socialist theory - that's why their ilk are resorting to burning books. They have failed to strip meaning from ideas despite all the trillions they have spent on their propaganda - so now they are resorting to the age-old tactic of simply attampting to prevent people from coming into contact with said meaning in the first place.

The exact same goes for what is "left" or "right," or that which is "radical" or "reactionary" - usage does not dictate meaning. The distance between the usage and the actual meaning of a term merely demonstrates the intelectual integrity (or lack thereof) and/or understanding (or lack therof) of the user.