Internet Chat Excerpt: How We Define Bigoted and At What Cost

I have to confess that I would have so much more energy to write blog entries if I didn’t use up so much energy debating people on the internet. Then again, that is how you influence hearts and minds.

People will likely be surprised (but will likely not in this polarized era, to know that) this has spilled over to discussions about the entertainment world.

In this case, I stepped into defend a commenter in the debate over whether Dave Chappelle should be on SNL despite bigoted views. I’ve written about the topic here.

Watch and learn a rhetorical master try to split the difference.

Message Board User 1:

The only people who don't see the value of pushing back against bigotry are bigots, and/or people who've had a very easy, very privileged life.

My Response:

Dumbest thing I ever heard. If you don’t acknowledge space for people who are democrats or liberal people to disagree with the identity politics crowd, then you’re chasing them away to the other side.

I’ll report once more that I travelled to swing states on five trips between 2020 and 2024 to campaign for democratic candidates. Yet, I don’t have a vested interest in fixing racism and am critical of the black lives matter movement.

And are there entire European nations who are now bigots because they treated various trans issues with nuance and…