AIBU to think Zach Polanski is targeting neurodiverse voters online?

[Audhdgirl]

I’ve name changed for this as I’ve been commenting on social media but AIBU to think that Zach, the cultish leader of the Greens is targeting the neurodiverse community?

I’ve seen previously non- political channels which have been great for the neurodiverse community (eg Rory) suddenly swamping their SM with how great the Green Party is, Reddit ND feeds are awash with how terrible life will be - “ petrified/horrified/can’t stop crying/might as well die” posts if anyone but the saviour Zach gets in. It’s like they’ve been brainwashed. It’s like the targeting of the autism community by the TRAs all over again!

its like a cult! The man has no morals and is playing the ND community - it seems every area I now visit in the community has Zach Polanski all over it!

I don’t really see the problem to be honest.

Politicians/political parties have always targeted certain communities.

Maybe the Greens just appeal to neurodiverse people more than other parties? Maybe they are seen as more inclusive in general?

Why is that cultish?

It’s also a bit insulting to say the ‘ND community’ can be played.

Like they’re all one person with no minds of their own.

I mean YANBU to think the Greens are targeting potential voters online, but so is every other party. There's an election coming up.

Isn't that the point in elections and what gives ypu right to assume the 'ND community' as you put it cant think for themselves?

Eh? I don't see how this is different to any other politician garnering votes where they may. As for 'cultish' and 'no morals' -this feels like a reach, especially when you're not backing your opinion up with anything to support it. I'm not a Green Party member, but I disagree with you anyway.

It always gets called a cult if the voters actually like the leader of the party 😂

ie Jeremy Corbin - cult leader
keir Starmer - nope
funny how these people never think that reform are a cult

I think it's a little unfair to imply that neurodivergent communities are comprised of individuals who can't think for themselves, make their own decisions and express their own political beliefs without it being a symptom of "brainwashing". I think there's a lot about the Green Party which appeals to the average neurodivergent person, especially on the surface, so is it all that surprising to see a surge of support in the run-up to an election? Many neurodivergent people feel targeted right now with the growing narrative of scepticism about diagnosis rates and disability benefits, so a party who avoid such rhetoric is likely to garner support.

Equally, while there are a lot of autistic people who identify as trans or non-binary, I don't think that equals being "brainwashed". It's well-known that autistic people struggle with social expectations and roles, including gender and everything surrounding it. I'd imagine it's simply a natural consequence of people with a tendency for introspection choosing different ways to make sense of themselves and their experiences than you do. It shows differently than it has in the past, most likely because we have internet-enabled access to far more ideas, words, and concepts with which to identify.

All parties target different voting communities. That's how campaigning works, and it isn't "brainwashing" for a party to identify a group whose interests often align with theirs and put effort into communicating and engaging with them. I think there's perhaps a conversation to be had about the ethics of political campaigning on the whole, but I don't think Mumsnet- or social media in general- is necessarily the most conducive place to have an fruitful discussion.

You mean the neurodivergent community, right? Which isn't homogenous. "Neurodivergent" is an umbrella term, it includes many different diagnoses and those without formal diagnoses. Autism is one, but it includes dyslexia, epilepsy, Tourette's, acquired brain injuries, NVLD, dyspraxia, and many other things. And "neurodivergent" doesn't denote being unable to think for yourself or cognitive impairment/learning disability, although the term does include people who may experience those.

IME, the Greens/Polanski will appeal to younger, social progressive/social justice minded Gen Z voters for lots of reasons and any smart political leader will tune into the zeitgeist. Jeremy Corbyn had a similar following amongst millenials with that belief set at the time. Farage is a similar character on the other side of the political spectrum because people seem to follow him whatever he does, and Reform have done the exact same thing in my view. All political campaigning to a certain extent is based on exploiting people's fears and hyperbolising what the world will look like if that party doesn't get to govern, whether it's saving the country from climate change and TERFs or saving the country from mass immigration. The actual amount of control a leader of one country has in a globalised, interdependent system to tackle these issues is, however, fairly minimal in the grand scheme of things.

Firstly, I mean neuro diverse voters, because I am treating them as individuals, you know voters who happen to be ND! So I’m not saying they are a homogeneous group, quite the opposite.

The Greens aren’t showing any more support to that ND people than any other party,

What they are doing is putting all of time and effort into targeting individuals who are ND.

There is quite a lot of work done by people on here which shows ND people (esp autistic girls) were very much targeted by those pushing the trans ideology.

Why is Mumsnet not a good place to discuss targeting of voters?

In what way did I imply any of that???

Oh please, maybe because none of those people act on such creepy ways as trying to make women’s breasts grow by talking to them!!! Starmer is certainly not charismatic enough to be a cult leader neither was Corbyn (unless it was a cult of geography teachers)

Interesting. I hadnt heard of this

I suppose if it moves the ND community on from the gender ideology stuff and stops lots of ND girls feeling that they are boys and moving them on to the environment, its all good. Its far less harmful than wanting breast binders and drugs to change sex.

Unless and until there are proper services for people who are ASD/ND to support with their functioning and regulation etc then they are likely to continue to be at high risk of becoming fixated and focused on one dimensional matters, this will be one in a long line.

Where did I say they can’t think for themselves?

Completely agree that there needs to be much more effort on helping us People who struggle with ND cope with life.

I’m a Green Party member, and I won’t vote for the party as it is now. It has become a cult embracing all fashionable causes, with transgenderism at the top of the list and supporters of women’s rights forced out.

Long-standing members are penalised for trying to pull the party back to its roots in protecting the environment. Anyone daring to say humans can’t change sex faces disciplinary action.

We have lost so many good people, and are now led by a man who once claimed he could increase a woman’s breast size through hypnotherapy.

People have never been more concerned about the environment than now, and the Green Party has never been less credible.

UK politics.
They're all cults and they're all cunts

Why shouldn’t they target specific groups?

Why is Mumsnet not a good place to discuss targeting of voters?

People are discussing it, they’re just not necessarily agreeing with you.

You hadn't heard of it because it's not a thing.

Political groups target those whose beliefs and values are most likely to align with their message. The Greens are left wing and socially progressive. A lot of young people also are, and ND young people perhaps more likely to align with those beliefs as well.

I’ve seen previously non- political channels which have been great for the neurodiverse community (eg Rory) suddenly swamping their SM with how great the Green Party is, Reddit ND feeds are awash with how terrible life will be - “ petrified/horrified/can’t stop crying/might as well die” posts if anyone but the saviour Zach gets in. It’s like they’ve been brainwashed. It’s like the targeting of the autism community by the TRAs all over again!

its like a cult! The man has no morals and is playing the ND community - it seems every area I now visit in the community has Zach Polanski all over it!

Your original post suggests that neurodiverse people are more at risk of being 'brainwashed' by the Green party, rather than individuals able to think critically for themselves. ASD people frequently struggle with the general unfairness of life and in my experience tend to be on the left of politics.

The greens are left wing and socially progressive?

I dont think so!!!

So in the last few days I've seen the Greens advocate for:

a "super tax" on the rich
Legalisation/regulation and more liberal approach on drugs
more social housing
Rent controls

How are these not left wing policies?

Their website mentions support for transgender self ID, getting tough on hate crime and scrapping Prevent, all things that align with a social progressive (or what some people might term "woke") political agenda.

I'm not a fan of Polanski, or the Greens, by the way. I don't like him. I'm just saying those are their flagship policies and principles, and they squarely align with the modern social justice/social progressive left. And they are doing nothing different than the other political parties with their campaign tactics.

It's not fully aligned with traditional left wing socialism or even left leaning social democratic values, that much is true. But how relevant that version of the left is these days is debatable. Corbyn's attempt to return to that was unsuccessful.

Autistic people (I'm one) are very black and white, and can often have strong sense of fairness and justice. If you have a party which is saying 'we want to save the environment and look after people', it's likely that party will be embraced by autistic people over the others.

I couldn't vote for him though as I don't trust him. Which is a shame because I stand by most Green party values.

Why don’t you trust him?