Ask Lemmy

There are no apolitical people.
Only people who don't understand that everything is political.
When you're stuck in traffic commuting to work, that's a result of political decisions made by others.
When you go to work despite being sick, that's forced on you by political decisions made by others.
When you have to decide between buying your meds and buying food, that's due to political decisions made by others.
"Apolitical people" just accept (or are forced) to let others dictate how they live.

They think they exist, but they do not. "Apolitical" usually just means "Fine with the status quo" which isn't apolitical, it's at bst non-confrontational. It also tends to reek of ignorance of what's actually happening around them. That's all at best, there are tons of people who use "Apolitical" to push far right agendas in spaces not centered around politics.

There's a reason the joke of "Only two races/genders/etc exist to gamers; white/male/etc, and political." You can replace gamers with any group that's (at least perceived to be) predominantly white men, and it still comes out.

Children.

Fully and wholely children. Politics matter; shutting your ears and eyes to reality is not a viable strategy long term, honestly not even in the short term.

Children arent expected to participate in civic matters, at least to the degree adults do. You shirk those duties you are a child in practice. I'm not saying you need a stance on every thing that happens in a society but saying I don't do politics (no the same as saying I'm not informed enough to have a strong opinion) is not becoming of a responsible adult in a functional society. Unfortunately we have a lot of people who say they're not into politics as a cover for their beliefs in bad policy.

"Oh, you don't care about politics. Your landlord does. Your boss does. Your banker does. People with a lot more money, power, and influence do. And they're interested in what's good for them, not you."

"When someone tells me he is politically neutral, I always ask which politics he specifically has in mind" - Baptism of Fire (The Witcher Book 5)

They are the foundation upon which the scum of the earth build their empires.

Evil wouldn't be able to gain ground if it weren't for the apathetic, willfully ignorant masses of lazy assholes who can't be bothered to give a shit about themselves or the people around them.

not participating equals being fine with the status quo, and nobody i've met has ever been perfectly fine with the status quo.

If someone claims to be apolitical, they just don't want to talk about it with you; even if they agree with you.

Even in the army, when we were supposed to present as apolitical, we still voted, which means we needed to consider and learn and understand. We just didn't talk about it at work or socially.

It's a myth, unless you literally lack the brainpower to have an opinion, you can't be apolitical. What you really are, is willfully ignorant of politics, and too cowed to stand against (or with I guess) the literal nazis currently running the country.

Shit on "apolitical" people all you want, but i'd certainly prefer them over highly radicalized douchebags. Staying a decent human being should come first, political stance somewhere after.

I mean im in the us and we have often masked, often unmarked, paramilitary draggin people off the streets in a way that seems to be geared toward as much property and health damage as possible and executing people every so often for good measure. The bill of rights is being ignored which is basically a list of things happening to cause the revolutionary war that they put in there to say these can never happen. Being apolitical 50, 25, heck even 10 years ago was one thing but you have to be a fool to not speak out at this point.

If you're not part of the solution...

They're often conservatives who don't have the balls to admit it.

They're cowards.

Like centrists, will be getting a wake up call shortly.

They can’t be bothered to expend the mental effort at understanding the issues and then be placed in a position to do something about it, like vote. Big chance they’re libertarian or closeted conservative, they don’t want to do anything for anyone.

What is an apolitical person?

I think some of those people have simply lost trust in the establishment and likely for good reason. I've known some kids that were put in horrible juvenile detention centres which really caused them lots of trauma, not to mention all those people that survived the residential schools in Canada; in those instances I can totally understand. To them I suspect filling out a ballot would cause them physical pain so when someone tells them to vote all they feel is revulsion.

Outside of situations like that, I truly don't know. Maybe a high degree of apathy and privilege?

"You can't be neutral on a moving train." - Howard Zinn

Idiots

Their inactivity makes them complicit in any shitty things a representative republic does.

I’m with Treebeard:

“I Am Not Altogether on Anyone’s Side, Because Nobody is Altogether on My Side.”

Assuming US or similar, they're dumber than the MAGA cultists at this point, or are MAGA themselves but ashamed to admit it.

Apolitical people: please I beg you just pay attention for a few minutes

People might believe they're apolitical because they don't think they can change anything or they're don't think they're on the receiving end of the political action, but when a policy hit too close to home they would be the one whining about politic, which i think where the single issue voter are from. I don't believe there's apolitical people, just politically ignorant.

They have shit for brains.

Wizo is right.

Distancing from politics is a political act.

Being embedded in a society formed by politics, they become beneficiary and victim to what others decide.

I can empathize and understand why one would be apolitical. Some things need activism and political involvement, though. Investing the minimum is not that hard - if you at least know your sources. If they're aware of being a beneficiary and there's no immediate need for activism, I'm find with their political decision to be apolitical. If they ignore (glaring) issues, I may be a bit disappointed or sad.

They’re going to be very confused when they, too, end up in the camps.