Why I Started Following Republicans and Conservatives on Twitter
Retaining my Democratic Party Allegiance and Progressive/Liberal Ideology While Becoming a Better Citizen
Recently, a Stanford University student was punished for having read Adolph Hitler’s Mein Kampf.1 Apparently, it is part of a larger system at the university for “bias response” where a student can be penalized merely for reading certain materials if the material is deemed too controversial or is considered bigoted in some form. This is troubling on many levels, not the least of which that one of the nation’s most elite universities is curbing learning because of the fear of offending others.2
The censorship policy here suggests the mere expression of a viewpoint is dangerous in and of itself. So dangerous that it cannot be read, watched, or listened to because that view will be automatically corrupting. It presumes we are susceptible to agreeing with anything we hear and are incapable of making independent judgments.
But it got me to thinking about my own censorship of views I dislike, our greater tendency as Americans to isolate into our own political bubbles, and my own recent social media thought self-experiment.
What do we miss when we avoid hearing voices that are contrary to our own?
Starting in late 2020, I began doing something new on Twitter (where I altogether waste too much time). Previously, when it came to following those who expressed political opinions, I had only followed Democrats like myself (generally moderate and progressive Democrats) or non-Democrats who were left of center. I saw no need to follow Republicans or conservatives.
As far as I was concerned, they could not present me with anything of use or value. I wanted to use Twitter for fun, and I saw no reason to stress myself out listening to views I knew I’d disagree with. And while I’ve not been perfect, I generally don’t like getting into spats with others on Twitter. Not following Republican and otherwise conservative accounts helped me avoid the temptation to do that.
Consequently, I stayed within my own little bubble.
This was fine. No one has any obligation to listen to a speaker or point of view they don’t want to. However, as the pandemic hit and I increased my time on social media, I realized I was only seeing one side of the political spectrum. Moreover, I was only really interacting with one group of people, people whom I was likely to agree with on politics.
The political developments, especially around Trumpism, had absolutely flummoxed me. The only thing that surprised me more than the 2016 election outcome seeing Trump become President was the 2020 election that almost saw Trump win re-election. After his disastrous COVID19 performance, it shocked me that he could get even more people to vote for him. But it made me realize the change I needed to make in myself. If I wanted to understand why others supported candidates and political positions I didn’t, I wouldn’t learn by staying in my own little bubble.
So, I began following Republicans and conservatives on Twitter. This includes some large accounts with large follower bases but mostly smaller accounts like mine. Republicans and conservatives who generally think and vote differently than I do but who are genuine in their views. I have also followed some dissident Democrats, who are still Democrats but have profound disagreements on issues like youth sex change medical procedures, law enforcement, or COVID19 vaccines.
With those who are willing, I engage in polite and non-troll level discussions about public policy, law, and even politics (usually from a birds eye view). It’s been refreshingly enjoyable. With some, I have even struck up genuine friendships, meeting up with some people as life returns to new normal and we once again come out of our houses.
Now before anyone gets too worried about me, I’m not becoming a Republican. I’m not even becoming a Conservadem. Simply following conservative and Republican voices on Twitter and reading what they have to say doesn’t mean I am becoming one. Listening to someone or reading what someone writes does not mean you automatically agree with them.
So why do this?
First, it’s educational. Listening to alternative voices helps you gain other people’s perspectives. When someone does not agree with you on an issue you find important, shutting them out entirely is easy. It’s very easy to declare that someone is stupid, evil, bigoted, and ill-intentioned. But it’s really not helpful to understanding the source of opposition.
Instead, it’s better to ask why that person disagrees with you. What is their perspective? Why do they see something differently than you do? Why do you see something differently than they do? If you never hear the voices of opposition, you will never understand that.
Second, it’s important for political persuasion. How do you persuade someone of your point of view if you are not willing to listen to them? In our democracy, we achieve our desired political aims by building coalitions and convincing a majority of the public to go along with what we want. That can only happen if you are able to persuade other people who may initially be skeptical of your position.
There is a philosophy that people who disagree with you should simply be drowned out. But for the most part, that doesn’t really work to enact policies. It doesn’t persuade people of your position (even if you can get them to shut up). If you can understand the perspective of someone who opposes though, you can seek to persuade them to see it your way. However, you will never have that opportunity if you do not ever hear their opinions.
Third, it forces you to better defend your political positions. How can you argue for your position if you don’t know how to respond to the arguments the other side makes? Those who might be persuaded to listen to you will not hear a rebuttal of an opposition argument. And in many cases, they will assume your non-response is a concession of a point.
The truth is, you can’t respond to arguments against your position if you don’t even know what they actually are. Following those who hold different political beliefs and belong to a different political party is helpful in learning those arguments.
Fourth, it can provide insights. Following Republicans and conservatives, I’ve followed people who are often from different backgrounds, from different parts of California, and from different parts of the country. They often face issues or know about issues that are generally foreign to you.
But in addition to bringing you knowledge of things you might not know about, it can provide insights into larger societal trends. Most right wingers deplore cancel culture (most on the left deplore cancel culture too but we don’t find it to be the most pressing issue we face). However, there are right wingers who will call out their own side on critical issues.
When a conservative Republican commentator called out Kanye for his anti-Semitism and slammed fellow right wingers for defending him, I found it fascinating to learn that this commentator learned about the Holocaust in their fifth grade elementary school class. The education left an impact, making them aware of the terrible atrocity committed against the Jewish people. Thus, anti-Semitism was not some strange abstract concept to be minimized and joked about, it was a reality. A reality for which a proudly right wing commentator felt the need to call out Kanye and others defending him. It reinforced my view that learning about the Holocaust needs to be mandatory in every public school. If I did not follow that user though, I likely would not have seen that.
Fifth, it’s good for creative policy ideas. Often, people across the political spectrum will share a similar goal, but we will differ on how to accomplish the goal. In politics, interest groups on either side will support and fight for one method of accomplishing the goal and oppose an alternative method. Compromising between those positions is often what wins the day.
But in listening to other voices, you can often think up new methods that might be acceptable to the other side. This can sometimes be far better than simply pushing for a method that others steadfastly oppose. Why? Because you understand the concerns of the other side, and instead of dismissing those concerns, you think of something you still support that alleviates their concerns. However, if you are unwilling to listen to others, you won’t even know what those concerns are. Following Republican and conservative accounts is a way of doing that.
Sixth, you might find unexpected allies in other causes you did not know you had. If you never listen to Republicans or conservatives, you might never know that a person who you believe to be the polar opposite of you shares your view on a key issue. I have actually found this several times.
Seventh, perhaps most importantly, it’s a reminder to humanize your fellow American and human being. In these times, it is very easy to demonize those who disagree with you.
Going back to Mein Kampf, why is it so vital to teach people about the Holocaust?
We teach the because we don’t want this kind of atrocity to ever happen again – to Jews or any other group. We can never forget because if we do, this could happen again. But moreover, we teach this because it is important to open minds and get people to rethink their biases, stereotypes, and discriminatory attitudes. The Holocaust demonstrates the ultimate path that simple bigotry can take and how unchecked anger against those who are different from you can lead to unspeakable horrors. It reminds us all of the importance of not demonizing entire groups of people and judging everyone as an individual.
When we shut each other out, we help aid in the demonization process of entire groups of people. Following those who don’t think or vote the same way that you do reminds you that those who don’t vote like you or think like you are still human beings and still your fellow Americans. They have strongly held beliefs, just like you do. You are no more the enemy of society than they are. When you’re in your own bubble, it’s easy to forget that.
Now, to be sure, some voices are in fact offensive and bigoted. Some of the people who complain about university censorship frequently present bigoted views and while they should not be censored, they are rightly called out. And no one is required to listen to any speaker who they do not wish to listen to.
But if you’re a Democrat or progressive who spends time on social media and you tend to only follow those who share your own political views or are also Democrats, go ahead and push your own boundaries. Find some conservatives and Republicans and give them a follow. It will (not change your own political views. But you might find it broadens your own mind and helps you become a better citizen.
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