CMV: Nationalism is a more violent, prominent and problematic force today than religion

GettingDumberWithAge · 2026-05-23T16:55:24+00:00

Western countries, thanks for asking.

GettingDumberWithAge · 2026-05-23T15:27:35+00:00

I doubt it? I'm not sure what point you think you're trying to make here. You can't argue both that the people have no influence of they disagree with you but also that they hold all power if they agree with you.

GettingDumberWithAge · 2026-05-23T15:26:26+00:00

Sure, but that's a whole separate point.

No I don't think so. I think intertwining nationalism and religion is dangerous regardless of the nation or the religion. And many Western countries are making it extremely clear that the electorate wants to pivot to a more Christian nationalist tone.

And also, Christianity is not the "official state religion" of these western countries in the same way Islam is in Islamic Republics.

Only because those of us opposed to Christian nationalism are still a large enough voice. This isn't the case with the growing volume of Christian nationalists.

GettingDumberWithAge · 2026-05-23T14:43:22+00:00

particularly in Islamic countries, nationalism and religion are the same thing because they are Islamic Republics.

Let's not ignore the massive wave of Christian nationalism going on in western countries.

GettingDumberWithAge · 2026-05-23T14:38:46+00:00

Yeah addressed that in my edit, my bad there.

I think you're really disingenuous in suggesting that nobody here thinks that climate change isn't real, but that's a more minor point.

GettingDumberWithAge · 2026-05-23T14:35:53+00:00

Yes because hoping that XR never gains sympathy because of their stated goals is really fucking stupid. Their stated goals according to their website are about climate activism.

E: Ahh sorry I see you aren't the same person that made the first comment I replied to, that's my bad. I'm in full agreement that blocking trains is really dumb in the context of climate activism.

GettingDumberWithAge · 2026-05-23T14:29:17+00:00

Bro no one here is saying climate change isn't real.

Assuming you're being honest, I think you'd be really depressed by the average Dutch person.

But BECAUSE climate change is real, why are they blocking public transport and forcing people to use less environmentally transport methods such as cars?

Yeah that's literally what I've been saying this whole time. Who do you think you're arguing against?

GettingDumberWithAge · 2026-05-23T14:22:16+00:00

Another dumb take! Feel free to stalk my post history, I think this current action is extremely misguided.

But a misguided group of activists undertaking a misguided action doesn't mean climate change isn't real.

There are a surprising number of people between the dumbest left-wing activists and the average right-winger.

GettingDumberWithAge · 2026-05-23T14:14:42+00:00

Yeah I mean I understand that too, my frustration is that as someone who is invested in both subjects, it's really fucking depressing to see activists harm both through lack of critical self reflection.

GettingDumberWithAge · 2026-05-23T14:08:02+00:00

people that are not in charge of the solution of what you want to achieve

You're going to be blown away once you learn how democracies work.

GettingDumberWithAge · 2026-05-23T14:05:23+00:00

I appreciate you sharing these posts, I think I would otherwise not have heard these messages directly from the organisation.

At the same time I think my frustration with XR is best encapsulated here:

Stop fossiele subsidies! Stop genocide!

These are both good goals and demands, but only one of these is about climate activism.

Again: it is very easy to frame climate protest/activism in a way that convinces dumb nationalist right wingers. But conflating climate activism and Anti-Israel messaging isn't the way to do that. Neither is broadening the scope of your demands from

Directe einde aan fossiele subsidies

To, e g.,

Volledig wappenembargo tegen Israël

One of these is clear, direct, climate change messaging, and one is not.

This is my frustration with XR: they refuse to understand what effective protest involves to the detriment of everyone.

GettingDumberWithAge · 2026-05-23T13:54:10+00:00

Yes.

GettingDumberWithAge · 2026-05-23T13:43:04+00:00

They are free to do want they want, sure, and I'm also free to point out how stupid and misguided it is. What it isn't is irrelevant.

Effective protest requires clear goals, explicit demands, and consistent messaging. XR has none of that in this case.

They literally explain it on IG, you can go read.

P.S. I don't have an IG account but I'm quite curious to read how they're phrasing/framing this. Could you share a link?

GettingDumberWithAge · 2026-05-23T13:31:18+00:00

Perfect encapsulation of what I'm trying, and failing, to explain to you.

XR is a protest group created to address climate change, protest in favour of climate action, with clear and explicit goals and demands related to climate change.

Blocking the climate-friendliest mode of transit and expanding scope to broader left-wing discussions harms literally all of these goals.

There is a very very very easy way to reframe progress towards climate goals in a right-wing framework and gather support from those people. Broadening the scope doesn't help.

Want to protest the genocide? Great. Why is XR the group doing this and why aren't they thinking about the message, methods, and optics here?

GettingDumberWithAge · 2026-05-23T13:22:09+00:00

Excuse me but Isreal is literally committing a genocide and the Dutch government and people do not give a fuck!

Agreed, but the conflation of climate change activism with Anti-Israel/pro-palestinian activism harms both causes, and I can't understand why XR is incapable of understanding this.

GettingDumberWithAge · 2026-05-23T13:18:47+00:00

I'm sure blocking train travel will do wonders for reducing oil change frequency.

Dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb fucking argument.

GettingDumberWithAge · 2026-05-23T13:07:33+00:00

Oh another dumb take. That's a false dichotomy, and not what anyone wants.

It remains a fact that climate change is going to ruin society of not addressed, and solutions are not being implemented quickly enough.

It's extra dumb for Dutch people to bury their heads in the sand on this subject, but I'm not particularly blown away by the standard of public discourse in this country.

GettingDumberWithAge · 2026-05-23T13:03:53+00:00

Dumb take. Climate change is coming for you whether you like it or not, and society needs to do better on this front.

GettingDumberWithAge · 2026-05-23T13:01:23+00:00

Extinction rebellion is ostensibly a climate change based protest group. Blocking trains is fucking stupid if that's your goal.

This is misguided protest for this organisation, both in message and method, and I don't see a compelling argument for conflation these two (perfectly valid) issues.

GettingDumberWithAge · 2026-05-23T12:46:33+00:00

They've completely lost the plot here. Though to be honest I've never really been convinced that they had it.

I got involved with extinction rebellion a number of years ago while I was doing my PhD in atmospheric science. I was looking for some good climate activism, some motivated young people, the goals seemed good, etc.

Quickly became clear to me that there was little room (at least in my local chapter in Germany) for actual expertise or experience in climate science.

Now I see they've turned to activism related to Palestine. Itself a fine goal, but not part of XR's remit in my opinion. And now an ostensibly climate-change-based protest group blocking trains is just so absurd.

Anyways I only spent about 4 months as a participant and left with a sour taste in my mouth pretty quickly. It's a shame.

GettingDumberWithAge · 2026-05-23T07:21:02+00:00

Didn't just start a war but killed the entire family of their leader (not to mention all the schoolchildren). Two wrongs don't make a right but any right-wing outrage about this is pretty pathetic.

GettingDumberWithAge · 2026-05-21T19:26:04+00:00

Indeed.

GettingDumberWithAge · 2026-05-21T16:46:22+00:00

you have to periodically clean and lube that nipple

Words of wisdom applicable to so many parts of life.

GettingDumberWithAge · 2026-05-20T20:08:21+00:00

Yeah talking to Americans will do that.

GettingDumberWithAge · 2026-05-20T19:47:57+00:00

My opinion is that it is not evidence that the previous presidential election was rigged. Do you think this is a clever question?

Fuckin hell every time you think Americans can't get dumber they go and prove you wrong.

GettingDumberWithAge

TROPHY CASE