“the adults in the room” angle doesn’t even encompass you considering your defense for western “democracies”, fucking ageist.

It's more that the take being espoused, that there's no difference between a state that disappears journalists and citizens compared to a Western democracy is a childish take, and to argue it makes you seem a child.

It's like when my friend's adorable toddler asked why she can't have ice cream "an a broccli" every meal (as she understands vegetables are important.) It's a reasonable question for a child as we don't expect her to understand all the nutrition etc that makes that a terrible plan. If she asks it, no worries. If a teenager or older asks, I immediately assume they're kind of a child.

Arguing a place that locks up journalists and 'suspected' citizens is in the same realm as a western democracy with some laws you don't like, is a childish position, that you expect from someone with little to no understanding of the role/importance of a judiciary, checks and balances between branches of government or the fourth branch. They likely know and understand little about the many regimes where this has happened and the horrific tragedies that ensue. And fair, not everyone has time to read or the fortune of knowing people who have come from those places. But it is still childishly ignorant.

Let me guess, GenZ/Y drawing a hard red line on and being vocal about genocide and western interventionism is attributed to their “youthful fervor” that will wane away in time too?

Huh, where are you getting this from?