• FiniteBanjo@feddit.onlineEnglish
        24·
        3 days ago

        The exception is that there exist threats that will grow larger over time and persistent hunters such as Fascists and other Authoritarians who must be fought.

        • SuperNovaStar@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
          6·
          2 days ago

          Well that wouldn’t be a scenario where you can avoid fighting.

          However, while it’s important not to give fascists what they want, if you can stall you absolutely should. Functioning countries gain more out of peacetime than fascists do, so if you can wait them out they do eventually crumble from within.

          Now, if you’re in the same country as the fascists, “waiting them out” looks more like non-compliance or malicious compliance - the fascists are usually demanding more than they can reasonably enforce, and expecting fear to get them their way. You can accomplish a lot by just silently gumming up the machinery of the state.

          And if they aren’t in power yet? Don’t give them more attention than absolutely necessary. Ignore them whenever you can safely do so.

          Obviously in all these cases you should stand your ground whenever there is a confrontation and you have a decent chance at winning. But there usually isn’t a lot to be gained by starting fights with fascists, since that’s what they want you to do. They want an excuse to be violent and they’ll be sure to spin it to their advantage if anyone starts anything.

          • FiniteBanjo@feddit.onlineEnglish
            2·
            2 days ago

            That absolutely is a scenario where you can avoid fighting. You, hypothetically, can see Neonazis in the streets and keep walking, a moose bull can find a young wolf or small cougar at the start of winter and choose to leave it alone, but both of those options can lead to the worst outcome.

            • SuperNovaStar@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
              1·
              20 hours ago

              I’m using the word “can” in a strategic sense here. In other words, if you can achieve your goal (safety and an equal society) without physical violence, you should do that, because fighting is risky and in any fight, both parties lose something. Violence is, by nature, destructive.

              When they aren’t in power, though, what fascists typically want is attention. They want to spread their views and foment the moral panics that give them political power. In that stage, honestly refusing to give them attention and a platform is a really good strategy.

              In the US, and in many other places in the world, we are no longer at that stage and other tactics are required. Including, but certainly not limited to, confrontation and violence.