General Discussion

Stinky The Clown

(67,808 posts) Wed Apr 26, 2017, 09:06 PM Apr 2017

The "alt-left" is it? Since when? Why? Really.

Am I missing something? Is there now an alt-left to balance the alt-right? Is there someplace I can go to see it? Hear it? Taste it? Join it?

Where does it fall on the span of leftitude? More or less left than "left"? More or less left than "liberal"? And by the way, is "progressive" more left than "liberal"?

Or is all of this yet another way to divide the left into ever more small, disjointed bits?

If you're going to fuck with our unity, at least find an original label.

Mkay?

17 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

The "alt-left" is it? Since when? Why? Really. (Original Post) Stinky The Clown Apr 2017 OP

Jackpine Radicals Forum. LexVegas Apr 2017 #1

LOL -- You beat me to it! NurseJackie Apr 2017 #7

"Or is all of this yet another way to divide the left into ever more small, disjointed bits?" demmiblue Apr 2017 #2

Hmmm. What would you call a self-defined 'progressive' who voted for Trump? emulatorloo Apr 2017 #3

I dunno either, probably seriously misguided Tom Rinaldo Apr 2017 #4

Horses don't call themselves horses yet we label them horses. emulatorloo Apr 2017 #6

Sure, and we can call them what we want also Tom Rinaldo Apr 2017 #8

Clarified a bit in an edit. emulatorloo Apr 2017 #10

Ha!! :-D NurseJackie Apr 2017 #9

Nope, far as I can tell we pretty much already used it up. n/t Tom Rinaldo Apr 2017 #11

... emulatorloo Apr 2017 #12

A liar ornotna Apr 2017 #5

"Not sure why this has arisen now? " Stinky The Clown Apr 2017 #13

Oh ok. emulatorloo Apr 2017 #14

The alt-left melman Apr 2017 #15

Do you have anything to support that idea? emulatorloo Apr 2017 #17

There's no real Left in the US to begin with leftstreet Apr 2017 #16

LexVegas

(6,071 posts)

1. Jackpine Radicals Forum.

Reply to Stinky The Clown (Original post)

Wed Apr 26, 2017, 09:22 PM

Apr 2017

NurseJackie

(42,862 posts)

7. LOL -- You beat me to it!

Reply to LexVegas (Reply #1)

Wed Apr 26, 2017, 10:15 PM

Apr 2017

demmiblue

(36,865 posts)

2. "Or is all of this yet another way to divide the left into ever more small, disjointed bits?"

Reply to Stinky The Clown (Original post)

Wed Apr 26, 2017, 09:33 PM

Apr 2017

Yes, this.

I even saw the old 'emoprog' chestnut dusted off earlier today.

emulatorloo

(44,133 posts)

3. Hmmm. What would you call a self-defined 'progressive' who voted for Trump?

Reply to Stinky The Clown (Original post)

Wed Apr 26, 2017, 10:05 PM

Apr 2017

And cites Breitbart with a straight face? Would you call them progressives? Are the liberals? Are they leftists?

Dunno there was some article about alt-left several weeks back by an author I dont remember that I didn't read. Not sure why this has arisen now?

Why do DU'ers always get their panties in a bunch about names that nobody is calling them?

Tom Rinaldo

(22,913 posts)

4. I dunno either, probably seriously misguided

Reply to emulatorloo (Reply #3)

Wed Apr 26, 2017, 10:11 PM

Apr 2017

The alt right is a real "thing", they call themselves that. I haven't heard anyone self label themselves alt left though.

emulatorloo

(44,133 posts)

6. Horses don't call themselves horses yet we label them horses.

Reply to Tom Rinaldo (Reply #4)

Wed Apr 26, 2017, 10:12 PM

Apr 2017

I think folks have been known to analyze movements and give them a name without the movement naming themselves that.

At any rate is this gonna be the new pointless flaimbait topic? You sure we wanna waste time on this?

Tom Rinaldo

(22,913 posts)

8. Sure, and we can call them what we want also

Reply to emulatorloo (Reply #6)

Wed Apr 26, 2017, 10:15 PM

Apr 2017

I'm just pointing out that unlike the "alt right" term, I haven't seen anyone proudly wear "alt left" themselves. I would rather they were known as alt left than letting them hog the term progressive

emulatorloo

(44,133 posts)

10. Clarified a bit in an edit.

Reply to Tom Rinaldo (Reply #8)

Wed Apr 26, 2017, 10:18 PM

Apr 2017

Do you predict this is gonna be our new ridiculous topic to create endless divisive threads over? I sure hope not.

NurseJackie

(42,862 posts)

9. Ha!! :-D

Reply to emulatorloo (Reply #6)

Wed Apr 26, 2017, 10:15 PM

Apr 2017

Tom Rinaldo

(22,913 posts)

11. Nope, far as I can tell we pretty much already used it up. n/t

Reply to emulatorloo (Reply #6)

Wed Apr 26, 2017, 10:20 PM

Apr 2017

emulatorloo

(44,133 posts)

12. ...

Reply to Tom Rinaldo (Reply #11)

Wed Apr 26, 2017, 10:21 PM

Apr 2017

ornotna

(10,803 posts)

5. A liar

Reply to emulatorloo (Reply #3)

Wed Apr 26, 2017, 10:12 PM

Apr 2017

Speaking of getting their panties......

Stinky The Clown

(67,808 posts)

13. "Not sure why this has arisen now? "

Reply to emulatorloo (Reply #3)

Wed Apr 26, 2017, 10:26 PM

Apr 2017

Because there are posts here on DU right now using the term and today is the first time I noticed it.

emulatorloo

(44,133 posts)

14. Oh ok.

Reply to Stinky The Clown (Reply #13)

Wed Apr 26, 2017, 10:38 PM

Apr 2017

Have a good night

melman

(7,681 posts)

15. The alt-left

Reply to Stinky The Clown (Original post)

Wed Apr 26, 2017, 10:44 PM

Apr 2017

is what the 'actual' left is called by conservatives.

emulatorloo

(44,133 posts)

17. Do you have anything to support that idea?

Reply to melman (Reply #15)

Thu Apr 27, 2017, 12:28 PM

Apr 2017

I've seen the term alt-left used by genuine progressives as a useful way
to describe folks who self-identify as 'progressives' but don't actually subscribe to progressive principles and core values .

The most obvious examples are 'progressives' who voted for Trump and advocated for others to do the same.

They also have no problem whatsoever with using egregious right-wing sources and false memes to smear actual liberal and progressives and liberal and progressive politicians.

I'm sure you've seen people like that in the bowels of Reddit etc. they aren't progressive or leftist.

You obviously aren't one of those people,nor am I. No one on DU can be described as alt-left.

leftstreet

(36,109 posts)

16. There's no real Left in the US to begin with

Reply to Stinky The Clown (Original post)

Wed Apr 26, 2017, 11:34 PM

Apr 2017

Can't fathom what the ridiculous term 'alt left' even means

Reply to this discussion