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submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by DrPop@lemmy.one 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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[-] Zoift@hexbear.net 68 points 1 year ago

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.

[-] DrPop@lemmy.one 20 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

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.

[-] Zoift@hexbear.net 51 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

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.

[-] DrPop@lemmy.one 30 points 1 year ago

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

[-] Zoift@hexbear.net 36 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year 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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[-] UlyssesT@hexbear.net 11 points 1 year ago

Still waiting for you to block this instance.

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[-] xapr@lemmy.sdf.org 35 points 1 year ago

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?

[-] yukichigai@kbin.social 24 points 1 year 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.

[-] PM_ME_YOUR_FOUCAULTS@hexbear.net 18 points 1 year ago

They don't and they never do

[-] ikiru@lemmy.ml 26 points 1 year ago

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.

[-] Franzia@lemmy.blahaj.zone 15 points 1 year ago

They do a lot of harassment and say some hateful shit. It's not all jokes.

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[-] Ranvier@sopuli.xyz 25 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

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.

[-] Astroturfed@lemmy.world 11 points 1 year 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.

[-] PM_ME_YOUR_FOUCAULTS@hexbear.net 23 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)
[-] DrPop@lemmy.one 10 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Edit: Yeah I see your point.

[-] Zoift@hexbear.net 27 points 1 year ago

I assure you, racists have not forgotten.

Really, you don't have to defend it.

[-] PM_ME_YOUR_FOUCAULTS@hexbear.net 22 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year 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

[-] LaBellaLotta@hexbear.net 17 points 1 year ago

Racist tropes don’t have an expiration date what are you talking about

[-] UlyssesT@hexbear.net 11 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

It has more lasting relevance than your "my wholesome freeze-gamer buddies totally were just talking about a caveman video game from the 90s that never actually says Unga Bunga in it" claims.

EDIT: Seems a 90s video game may have had a racist dogwhistle in it. Which absolves all uses of a racist utterance forever and ever!

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[-] Ho_Chi_Chungus@hexbear.net 9 points 1 year ago

The N word had its first documented use in the early 17th century so it's clearly okay to use nowadays

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[-] WoofWoof91@hexbear.net 20 points 1 year ago

skill issue

[-] Nemo@midwest.social 17 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year 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.

[-] Ho_Chi_Chungus@hexbear.net 17 points 1 year ago

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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[-] forcequit@hexbear.net 16 points 1 year ago
[-] Washburn@hexbear.net 9 points 1 year ago

we do a little trolling

[-] flan@hexbear.net 16 points 1 year ago

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

[-] Gormadt@lemmy.blahaj.zone 15 points 1 year 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.

[-] iridaniotter@hexbear.net 15 points 1 year ago

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

[-] kratoz29@lemm.ee 13 points 1 year ago
[-] Zoift@hexbear.net 16 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

https://live.hexbear.net/c/movies

Playing now in fact!

Tonight is "The Craft"(1996) & "John Wick:Chapter 4"(2023)

Tomorrow is Anime night & Sundays are Cheesy Slop Night. Not sure whats been queued for those tho, not my current wheelhouse.

[-] kratoz29@lemm.ee 14 points 1 year ago

The heck, this sounds dope as fuck haha.

[-] iridaniotter@hexbear.net 14 points 1 year ago

We watch movies together online 🤫

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[-] Veraticus@lib.lgbt 14 points 1 year ago

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

[-] hsl@wayfarershaven.eu 14 points 1 year ago

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

[-] aebletrae@hexbear.net 12 points 1 year 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 it—even though the goal often seems barely possible—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!

[-] CARCOSA@hexbear.net 9 points 1 year ago
[-] Vendetta9076@sh.itjust.works 9 points 1 year 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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this post was submitted on 26 Aug 2023
27 points (68.0% liked)

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