This is the kind of explanation that doesn't explain anything to the people who need it explained.
If it helps, consider horseshoe theory as the idea that all authoritarian systems start doing similar things, completely independent of economic models.
It's still not great, but at least there's an observation in there.
You can start a separate conversation on whether there's any value to conceptualizing a left/right spectrum at all (there isn't)
Yes, someone that knows what words means knows that, but the people that unironically talk about horseshoe theory don't, so all they see is someone who clearly doesn't understand that "Them commies love dictators"
Because explaining exactly why it's nonsense, even if you can point to certain "socialist dictators," can be a good opening into deprogramming a liberal that can't define liberal.
This is the kind of explanation that doesn't explain anything to the people who need it explained.
If it helps, consider horseshoe theory as the idea that all authoritarian systems start doing similar things, completely independent of economic models.
It's still not great, but at least there's an observation in there.
You can start a separate conversation on whether there's any value to conceptualizing a left/right spectrum at all (there isn't)
The extreme left isn't authoritarian. It's communism or anarchism, which are both stateless
Yes, someone that knows what words means knows that, but the people that unironically talk about horseshoe theory don't, so all they see is someone who clearly doesn't understand that "Them commies love dictators"
So, in other words, they're wrong
Obviously, they think horseshoe theory has a point.
So why humour a theory with basis?
All you need to do is Google anarchism and fascism, and compare.
Because explaining exactly why it's nonsense, even if you can point to certain "socialist dictators," can be a good opening into deprogramming a liberal that can't define liberal.
For those interested in such.
I already did.