[znpy]

one of the funniest things for me is the fact that many left-wing people add Kaczynski quotes without realizing that left-wing people are basically the first people to be criticized and almost mocked in Ted's main piece, "Industrial society and its future"

[arp242]

I would describe myself as left-wing, and I agree with some (not all) of his criticisms of "the left" in general. Turns out that left-wing people can have disagreements. Furthermore, I can reject argument X while simultaneously also accepting argument Y from the same person or book.

[numpad0]

Turns out leftists love self criticism for self improvements. That’s inherently bad, right?

(set aside that it often builds up to violent inner conflicts)

[znpy]

> Turns out leftists love self criticism for self improvements.

they really don't, and this is one of the reasons why there is so much fracturing in the left, usually.

[happytoexplain]

Isn't that backwards? In-group criticism is how you get so-called "fracturing", which is arguably healthier (if less politically useful) than the alternative: "loyalty". I'd be highly suspicious if any group of tens of millions of people all ostensibly agreed on everything.

[timeon]

Not sure why is funny agreeing with selected quotes while not agreeing with others.

[znpy]

would you still stand by your point if the quote came from (extreme case) Adolf Hitler?

if the answer is no... there you go.

[happytoexplain]

This doesn't seem like the tough question you think it is. I assume Hitler had some opinions that, taken away from the context of his goals, are reasonable to agree with. What makes you think it's an exception to the parent's point?

[pfffr]

"Leftists" offended by these sentiments are most likely centrists. The goal of neoliberalism (read: the DNC) has been to shift the left to the center. This has been their objective for years. See: Obama, Biden, the Clintons.

TK was post-left before it was cool.

[happytoexplain]

Why do you think they don't realize (or don't disagree with your premise)? I think you'd be surprised by how many people are not in fact one-dimensional stereotypes who must disagree with everything a person says just because they disagree with some things that person says. I'm also confused as to why you seem to imply that people should be that way.

[scaredginger]

To be fair, infighting is extremely common in left-wing circles

[Barrin92]

Virtually everyone who quotes Kaczynski is aware of his statements on the political Left, it's just that nobody takes that particular aspect very personal or seriously given that ecological anarchism, Kaczynski's position, has always been overwhelmingly a left-wing position.

[pfffr]

Anarcho primitivism is hardly "left wing"

[krapp]

His "criticisms" of the left read like something a denizen of /pol/ or Reddit would come up with. It's entirely possible to see the merits of his arguments against technology while dismissing his deranged hatred of leftists, feminists, etc.

[piaste]

The OP literally asked to "attack the ideas, not the man", and here you go attacking the ideas solely because of the kind of men who share it...

What do you mean by " it reads like something /pol/ or reddit would write "? Does Kaczynsky use tired cartoon memes? Does he accuse the left of insufficient weightlifting? Does he challenge them to a 1v1 in a Nintendo fighting game?

What part of his criticism do you actually find wrong?

[FrustratedMonky]

Lol had not heard this one. The left has "insufficient weightlifting". Might be true.

Could it be that on the left there are more endurance sports, for health. And on the right there are more muscle building sports, so they can strike cool poses with their guns?

[Vecr]

It's pretty common. Don't be surprised if you get called a dyel (DYEL, Do You Even Lift) lanklet (small, not fat or muscular) runcell (someone who runs to try to get women, but would be better off lifting).

[hackermailman]

His criticisms of leftist activism in the 1990s is that it will always seek to control and exploit technology to implement their ideology so followers of his anti-tech movement should not rely on them. He then rants against 'green anarchy' claiming it is a kind of naive forest worshipping cult that also should not be included in whatever anti-tech movement. It is a small part of his overall manifesto on who you shouldn't trust to join a specific (terrorist) movement and likely came from his time in academia.

It's definitely not the standard fare you would find on those 2 sites you mentioned just a brief 'don't trust these activists they want the philosopher stone for themselves'.

[anigbrowl]

That's overly reductive. Kaczynski's political views continued to evolve while in prison; his later writings are notably different in tone.

[krapp]

Industrial Society and its Future is the only work anyone ever mentions, especially where Kaczynsci's anti-leftist politics are concerned.

[anigbrowl]

That's unfortunate because he expanded on ISAIF at length in his prison writing and took a more thoughtful and look at a lot of existing political tropes. For example, in his Anti-Tech Revolution* he lauds the tactics of early feminists' campaigns to obtain voting rights for women, and similarly deconstructs a lot of flaws in right wing ideology.

I disagree with a lot of Kaczynski's ideas and methods, but I still regard him as an important thinker and wish people would read his output in full rather than rushing to have the hottest take (not meant as a dig at you, rather the avalanche of attempted zingers on Twitter and in the media over the weekend).