Curiosity.
First and maybe only question is why their perspective changed, likely followed by getting a better understanding of what shaped their previous point of view…
Is a person who has been studying neo-Nazism I can probably tell you.
The answer is things like insecurities and hang ups that people have. For example this one person was living in an abusive home. He didn’t really feel respect ed and his stepfather was incredibly abusive.
But then there were some people that actually paid attention to him and cared about what he had to say. He felt a connection and joined a neo-Nazi group. He left at some point because the book is about a former neo-Nazi but yeah.
It was easy for him to hate minorities because he already hated the world. The world that wasn’t kind to him.
He was convinced by these neo-Nazis that the reason why his father is a drunk and alcoholic and why his life is so s*** is because of the Jews. Yep. somehow the Jews are able to do that.
And he fell for it too because he was only 14 years old.
“Glad you got out.”
My first question is “how long ago?” Because if I’m talking to a 30 year old who was a nazi at 20, then I’m not even suspicious. If it was much more recent, I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt but I’ll keep an eye on em. I don’t want people whose sympathies are changing from far right to far left to think that they will always be unwelcome, but I have to be wary of bad faith actors.
Sounds like an interesting story to me. If we want people to change, we should respect their change.
Driving people out because of their past isn’t fruitful. Someone used to have bigoted views but something made them change their mind, and they pushed hard enough to reform their life? Sounds like they wanted it, and are probably a changed person.
I know a few people like this. They help others leave similar situations. Great people doing important work.
I have no issues whatsoever with someone who used to have distasteful or evil beliefs. I only have problems with people who have them now.
Change is hard. People who put the effort in and change their upbringing generally have my respect.
Walk away, because the conversation would be boring as fuck.
By the time, everyone had made it known that they’re politically minded, I’d have left before the Nazi had even spoken up, tbh. Nobody that thinks of themselves as politically minded can ever have a normal conversation. They just keep looking for ways to bring politics up, and derail anything else
So, I don’t waste time any more.
mfs say shit like this and then live their lives not questioning why they spend hours a day stuck in traffic, why their job treats them like shit, and why they’re so lonely all the time
