Liberal Facism

I think crystal123 has taken a bit of a pasting here. The book that she is referring to by Jonah Goldberg is given a favourable review by the Guardian's left-wing commentator, Nick Cohen www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/feb/08/goldberg-liberal-fascism-review

And yet you bandy the word around freely to describe other people

I'd describe myself as libertarian leaning - I also think I'm pretty tolerant of views that differ from mine, unless they involve hating or hurting anyone else. Does that make me a fascist then?

It's FASCISM not facism. Ffs.

Having said this I think George W Bush was correct on you are either with us or against us. When it all comes down to it, are you on the side of socialism or fascism?

Personally I think all these people who post on the net spouting cliches like liberal facism Zanu liebour sheeple etc are just modern fascists. Post-fascist if you like, or neo-fascist (open to misinterpretation) but still just the kind of people who backed up fascist regimes around the world until so recently.

They can't get away with wearing uniforms and rounding up whoever it is they want to round up these days. But if it came down to one or the other they would rather live in Franco's Spain than Zapatero's Spain...

Sooo....

You're posting on the Internet, where speech is probably freer than it has been at any time in human history.

Furthermore, you're on Mumsnet, one of the least censored, filtered or moderated sites around.

...who exactly do you think is denying you free speech?

If it's the case that you've posted something and a lot of people disagree with you, you might want to consider two options:
a) you need to argue your point better, or;
b) you are, in fact, wrong.

it's surprising how many people dismiss b) out of hand , so if you're unwilling or unable to go for a), and it upsets you to be disagreed with, maybe you should find a site where people do agree with you?

(and can I just mention that your last post just attempts to insult animula, without addressing any of her points. Want to re-read your OP and reflect on the irony?)

I think its the same as anything. Some people are rude and intolerant. Some liberals are rude and intolerant. Some conservatives are rude and intolerant. Some breast/bottle feeders are rude and intolerant.

Its just people really isn't it? Lots of people who happen to fall into those categories are lovely.

Anyway; if I understand it correctly Liberals belive in freedom from not freedom to. So anyone denying others freedom of speech perhaps isn't as liberal as they'd like to think? Although how one would do that on an anonymous internet forum I'm not actually sure - can they actually stop you from having your say just through the words they type?

liberal facism (sic) = massive internet cliche.

Why do right wing people think free speech is them saying whatever they want without reply?

I know what you mean in that sometimes liberals can be surprisingly intolerant. Sometimes this is irritating - BUT basically I agree with Animula - real fascism is much much worse and trivialising it through accusing people who don't want you to say certain things of fascism just makes it sound like you don't appreciate how seriously horrible actual fascism was. (/is/could be again.)

You know, you can't clean up nasty, real fascists by calling liberals "fascists", and people who request others to conduct themselves in public life in line with the law of a democratic country "politically correct".

It doesn't wash, I'm afraid.

Sorry if you feel hard done by.

Democracy and free speech can be such a pain.

I think you may have shot yourself in the foot with the "real fascism lies in ... stifling free speech through political correctness".

No. Real fascism is about stifling political contest in public life through a variety of means, though force is usually in the background to ensure it stays stifled.

If people are name-calling somewhere in this site, or refusing to engage in debate, perhaps because of limitations of informedness, debating ability, or just basic good-will, that's not very nice. And is sometimes indicative of a poor mindset to bring to a debate. But it's not, necessarily fascist.

Sorry, haven't seen the posts you refer to, so am only going on what is here.