this post was submitted on 13 Jan 2026
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Legitimising them iss a choice. I'm keen on open ridicule and pelting with rotten vegetables (metaphorically if nothing else). Most would steer clear of them then and still allow them to be open about their views and the benefits that provides. We just seem to have lost the ability to openly deride bigots for fear of hurting their feelings, when they openly want to destroy the fabric of our open and multicultural society - they don't deserve that respect.
WDYM legitimising them is a choice?
In the minds of idiots, of which we have many, forming a political party means they have serious well constructed ideas. You might like weetbix and vote labor, I might like fruit loops and vote NSN.
It also gives them a platform. Journalists will consult them for comment because they drive engagement. Before you know it someone will have a regular spot on a Sky News panel.
Legitimising them may technically be a choice, but I have no faith that we as a society would make the correct choice.
Hence the vegetables...or maybe the return of Eggboy.
But seriously, all those who just let them speak their mind or form a party, or invite them onto their shows or choosing to up engagement are making a choice to legitimatimise them. Giving them a platform to "provide a different opinion" is a choice. Not pushing back on their bigotry is a choice.
Choosing to rip them to shreds is a different choice. Not allowing them to spread their bigotry is another choice. Keeping them visible but not engaging with them is a choice.
They wouldn't have the build-up to form a party, or if they did, it would be a miserable little party that would die soon afterwards. It doesn't have to be difficult to fight fascists. It primarily takes pushback, ridicule and deplatforming. Not pushing them underground. People need to be exposed to their bigotry too so they realise the path they shouldn't take - it's literally a major reason we study political history or history in general. As humans, one of the reasons we've been successful as a species is pattern recognition - it's what we do. We see similarities between times and feelings and movements. Hopefully so we can learn from them. Oftentimes we don't and those who know their history can just sit back and shake their heads.
Yes but as I said, society is not going to make the right choice.