kryptonianCodeMonkey, 1 year ago

What happened? Classic radicalization happened.

He was presented with a new viewpoint on gender. He said “no thanks” to considering that viewpoint, which is honestly fine (we’re allowed to have different opinions). But instead of just holding his opinion on that viewpoint personally, he used his considerable platform to make a huge deal out of rejecting that viewpoint. He then faced the predictable backlash for doing so as a public figure.

Instead of apologizing or just avoiding the subject on his platform in future, he reacted to that backlash by doubling down and repeatedly employing his platform to attack the viewpoint. Thus, he began earning the ire of more people that support trans rights and the admiration of those who opposed them.

He then immersed himself in his new right-wing support group, rubbed elbows with those who share his viewpoint on gender, found a new more conservative fanbase, and had those views reinforced and enhanced by the echo chamber around him. As a result, he has slowly become more radicalized and made this issue a huge part of his worldview and public persona.

My prediction is that this influence will continue to radicalize him and steer him further to the right, not only on this issue but on other issues as well. His new peer group will reward him for his views on the trans people. They will use that as a jumping point into other right-wing ideas that will start to make “a lot of sense” to him. And as a public figure, they will encourage him to use his notoriety to voice more and more of these views and use his platform to support their causes. I bet money he will be a semi-regular on Fox News or some other conservative voice box in the next 5 years and will be publically endorsing Republican candidates for office. Bet.