[mistermann]

> My answer is that the reason actual (dictionary) nationalism has become synonymous with racism/Nazism is because Nazism was an extreme example of nationalism, and people tend to use extreme examples when discussing a phenomenon.

I mean, this is certainly plausible, but I don't think it's that simple. There are all sorts of examples of degrees of one thing or another, yet is there any other example where a major portion of the public suddenly lost all perspective to the degree that they believe things that are literally incorrect (and mock those who are not)? It's not just that people are exaggerating things, the fundamental beliefs are such that it is considered not possible for a nationalist to not be a racist, if not worse. Rarely are such outrageous and objectively false claims challenged, and frequently any challenge is downvoted to net negative.

[coldtea]

>It's not just that people are exaggerating things, the fundamental beliefs are such that it is considered not possible for a nationalist to not be a racist, if not worse. Rarely are such outrageous and objectively false claims challenged, and frequently any challenge is downvoted to net negative.

It's not like the general public (or even more media / public figures for that matter) are well rooted in the history of ideas, or care to examine most the conventional understanding of ideas of their time.

Once a thing falls out of favor (like nationalism has) it gets reduced to some caricature very quickly and can be associated (falsely) with all kinds of prejudices.

Consider the case of the hippy and the underground movements, how they were all the rage in the 60s and 70s and utterly mocked (and misunderstood) from the 80s onwards.

[mistermann]

Again, I don't completely disagree, and thank you for actually being willing to have a reasonable discussion. But it's not like I'm springing this question on people in an off-road or inappropriate way. Nationalism is literally the topic of conversation, and many people have expressed disagreement with downvotes if not slurs.

And this isn't a rare occurrence, it is fundamental ideology, apparently not up for discussion or negotiation. People who fundamentally disagree, which wouldn't be you, will not enter a discussion. Ironically, it is the same unthinking behavior that those they hate so much are known for. I'd call it extreme, but it isn't, it has absolutely taken over the mainstream psyche.

When people refuse to think any more, I think some concern and discussion is appropriate.