Ian Danskin

Ian Danskin of Innuendo Studios on how and when to talk to the right.

[harmsc]

"How many times have your core beliefs changed because of your conversation with a stranger on the internet?"Exactly once. It was disorienting.

[jbill]

26:43 "Everyone on some level feels this pressure to be normal, to be acceptable; in fact the Right feels this even more strongly than the Left."

Holy shit. This has just been proven extremely correct. As I'm writing this, we are about to have the 2024 Harris/Trump election and it has incidentally also just been discovered how much conservatives hate being called "weird". On some level, it's an amazing discovery. I've been "weird" in some way or another for most of my life and eventually came to be a thing that I embraced. And over the past decade we've seen that when you call the Right "deplorable" they wear it like a badge of honor. When you point out that their policies are cruel, they just smirk. When you tell them that aren't showing any empathy for their fellow man they just call you a snowflake. When you say that the effect of their abortion policies essentially treat women like birthing-pods instead of people, they just shrug. ... But you call them "weird", and for some reason *that* gets under their skin.

[nonnayabuzzness]

Your angry jack series got me to change my views. So that's atleast one more

[tylerasuncion]

Regardless of politics, I feel he’s a really good orator and has a great understanding of rhetoric. As an avid debater, I very much respect this aspect of his essays.

[azureknight]

I was totally expecting a group chuckle after you said "the right's militarism is one of the things we're trying to combat" ;)

[kerycktotebag]

Witness in the comments as several ppl fundamentally demonstrate how pointless it is to "debate" the right in public. Call their bluff and move on. I've never encountered a rightist that didn't completely lose their train of thought when I said "I don't believe you and you're not entitled to my trust."

[Alianger]

The left tried this "don't debate them" tactic here in sweden and the most rightwing party in decades is now one of the biggest parties, also being one of the youngest parties. So good luck with that.

[jasongutekunst]

Brilliant and insightful analysis. Danskin follows in a lineage of public intellectuals like Noam Chomsky, Cornel West, and bell Hooks. Few others bring such clarity to the bewildering experiences and often ugly exchanges that so many people habitually engage in, within modernity's arena: i.e. online. Videos like these exemplify good critical thinking practices, and keep me asking questions long after the videos end. Thank you for your vital work!

[azureknight]

Validity check: "The left is sometimes to frequently reactionary. The right is reactionary by definition"

[joshuahafer]

I've returned to this video series multiple times. Could you please make more?

[normallyerratic]

Ian Danskin, thank you for noting your flaws. I have seen this for some time, but I still like your videos because they compartmentalize my thoughts/observations well, and it helps to know I see the same things.

As to approaching the Alt-Right?... Well, do it the same way everyone else in Right media does; don't address directly as politics, address them as a human. Be relational. People are often offended by directness, not indirectness. Talk about problems with humanity, question any rhetoric they spout that sounds political, but listen. Only keep referring to humanity in general. There's no division or "us vs. them" if you don't acknowledge it and keep trying to relate with someone (which involves asking a lot of questions and listening; not pointing out facts unless it is absolutely necessary and knowing exactly when, where and how to do it). Don't address the politics; do address complexity of humanity and validity of all humans' feelings. If they're still spouting racists, sexist stuff, ask what they would do if they were that person and had all the exact same things happen to them on a regular basis. It might not do much at first, but if you keep getting them to think about it to the point where they're askingthemselves, they might try to relate with others more. Give them the option to listen to the left, don't tell them they're stupid for not. Say, "Some of us lefts are here to listen and still see you as human." State facts, but give them the option what to believe (this is how they change anti-vaxxers' minds).

[CBGx]

Two years later and this a solid footnote and reference for the Alt Right Playbook

[CHUNGAandNANOOK]

Very nicely said Ian. I love your work with IS. Keep up the amazing work because I love hearing your ideas

[TapDatK]

All I take away from videos like these... Is that beleifs are a very scary thing. People Fight for them extensively, to the point of attacking others... That to me is still wild. Now to tangent, I think what Ian does well, is highlight what the actual root of both any discussion and any problem actually is. Now his views maybe right or wrong to you, but I feel that the actual problem never gets adressed by mass media, especially in politics. For example, the problem is not global climate change and natural preservation happening. The problem is "Lets asume that if the earth could one day run out of resources, and we had both the ability to prevent it and make an emergency plan, what could we do?" And then asking "is it worth it?". But I know, someone somewhere could stil derail the debatr about it.

[andream]

Im working on educating my friends, the persuading part was very helpful!

[DarkPrject]

What do you think is the difference between a conservative spouting fascist rhetoric and a fascist anyway? I fail to see any.

[Solarn]

I have never realized just how much Ian looks like Quill18.

[montanamvk]

Please don’t hate me. I’m a white conservative. But I am also a dv survivor, which has led me into a whole world of controversy I never could have imagined.
What I have learned is that things are so very often NOT how we perceive. That I really don’t know diddly until I step into and walk around in another’s shoes. I absolutely loved what you articulated along the lines of ‘hating another’s ideals, vs hating the person themself.’ I have perceived many on the left to be hateful & angry, and I was wrong; thank you for showing me different. And thank you for showing me how the right (or alt right?) is perceived (I wanted to know, which is why I am here.). AND thank u for encouraging those with similar ideals as yourself to hold space for empathy/trust. I will continue to do the same with those having similar ideals as my own. We are all integral pieces to the same puzzle; not one more important nor valuable than another.
As far as racism, etc., for now I perceive these as I do my own & other victims/survivors’ experiences: no one is TRULY going to understand until or unless they have also. If only those NOT traumatized would have reached out, perhaps my babes would not still be being used to continue hurting me/being kept from me, their mama. It is apparent no one but other protective mamas (or dads) understand my desperation AND inability to fix this. But bc they are in the same/similar position, they cannot help or lift me/my babes up, either. Likewise, I do not know what it is like to be a black woman. But I hold space and love for her, and I can arouse the empathy that is related to other pain & oppression. I can zip it but keep my ears open, and always my mind. And I am willing to have ANY privileges I have received pointed out so that I might share them with her. And apologize for not having the same experience to know what they are; and especially that all has NOT been fair. I AM sorry for that. I desire to be part of the change; in a LARGER way than I was of the silence. I will reach my hand out to her, lifting her to those privileges and above; that through her adversity she might press on further than I.
We have to put in the work to not be divided. Thank you for doing that, it encourages me to do so, also. And on the days we cannot, we can allow others to; in whatever their work and experience’s voice sounds like. 🤗💜

[joearnold]

Huh. There’s an Indivisible group in Somerville?
I have family in Somerville. I hung out there when I was younger. It’s right down the street from me.

[BreakfastmanMIC]

This man saved my life before I stumbled upon him I was fat, ugly disgusting I lost my car my job my family, and the first time I stumbled upon him I almost did not want to end it.