Maybe this is because I'm not a Hasan watcher but all this "he's doing more than any of you critics and complainers" and "you're just mad because he's better looking / richer etc" reminds me of the kind of glazing that goes on in any cult of personality.. not that Hasan's politics are anywhere near as bad as Musk's obviously, but it does remind me of the kind of glazing that Elon stans do.

There's an element of classism too, like you can't critique your betters because you weren't born with the family resources and connections that you get from being born moderately wealthy. Like excuse me if I'm not well positioned enough to talk to a million people online every day, but I think "progressive" streamers should not be glossing over AOC and Bernie's social fascism, (EDIT) for example.

And yes I am aware that Hasan is always raising money for based causes and that's awesome, he should keep doing that. I'll keep criticizing his liberal and reactionary tendencies though. This "you only criticize Hasan because you think you're too cool for school and nothing ever happens, you only criticize because you're an edgelord" BS is gross and childish, tbh.

[–] T34_69@hexbear.net 1 points 33 minutes ago* (last edited 25 minutes ago)

Also I did watch his ~45 minute video about the detainment and it is disturbing what he went through, and I think the fact that he is getting this kind of attention from state security forces is an indication that he's on the right side of history, so that's granted, just so it's clear I'm not biased. But I was made to listen to a rant from Hasan against veganism and it was such an ass take I couldn't listen to the whole thing. If you're a Hasan fan that's fine, I enjoy some much worse media, just real slop on the regular so I'm not being edgy or holier than thou. But if you're a Hasan fan then I think you should be able to recognize where he sucks without (EDIT) immediately jumping to his defense, at least among more radically minded people.

(Edit: more radically minded than the general population, I mean.)

[–] tocopherol@hexbear.net 22 points 7 hours ago

That is silly. All hexbears are remarkably good-looking and I refuse to believe otherwise.

[–] TreadOnMe@hexbear.net 18 points 7 hours ago* (last edited 7 hours ago) (1 children)

Incorrect, the reason I don't like him is because of this rod-polishing parasocial relationship people have with him for scraping the literal bare minimum, which isn't unique to him but part of a larger critique of the alienation that is inherent to streamer media.

I mean for Christ's sake, this is the exact same argument as 'You just criticize capitalism and want communism because you are jealous of other's success' level of breadtube argument slop.

[–] ArgumentativeMonotheist@hexbear.net 7 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

You don't like him because people e-fellate him? That can't be on him. Sure, I understand if you want someone as popular and 'on our side' to be deeper, more intellectual, more politically engaged, but I won't let perfect be the enemy of good. In a world of Ethans and Musk fanboys, Hasan is a breath of fresh air, and that is enough for me.

[–] TreadOnMe@hexbear.net 9 points 4 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago) (2 children)

I never said it was 'on him'. I'm not even mad that he is surface level. Don't put words in my mouth, please.

I said that it was part of a larger critique. Streaming culture is bad for us, politically, as leftists. It is inherently bad because it creates a simulacra of community, without even a hint of theoretical will to power. It is the ultimate liberal simulation of politics without actually being politics. You feel 'politically engaged' without actually engaging with the polity. How can you? The community only exists if you are actively online supporting it, which means you are actively disengaged from the polity. You are engaging with a petite bourgeois capitalist influencer on a capitalist rentier platform. At least recognize it.

As such, even the best part of it, which Hasan absolutely is, is still bad. Therefore, I don't like him, because I don't have to like him.

[–] T34_69@hexbear.net 3 points 28 minutes ago

You are engaging with a petite bourgeois capitalist influencer on a capitalist rentier platform. At least recognize it.

Thank you, yeah this is one of the main points I'm saying and I don't think it's holier-than-thou or edgelord to point that out.

[–] Rey_McSriff@hexbear.net 4 points 3 hours ago

Fantastic comment, saving it for the next time I need to articulate one of the reasons why I don't watch streamer media