What exactly is a "facist"?

[swissie]

What exactly is a Facist. Tell me.

[Harrisfan]

Someone who likes faces

[Hellfire]

Umberto Eco, in his 1995 essay "Ur-Fascism" (also known as "Eternal Fascism"), outlined 14 features or signs that define what he called "Ur-Fascism," or the foundational elements of fascism that can reappear in different forms over time. Here's a summarized version of those signs:

1. The cult of tradition – A belief in a primordial truth, revealed once and for all, often combining different religious or philosophical traditions.

2. The rejection of modernism – A distrust of Enlightenment rationalism, often accompanied by a rejection of progress and reason.

3. The cult of action for action’s sake – Believing action is inherently good and should be pursued without reflection.

4. Disagreement is treason – Critical thinking is viewed with suspicion; dissent is equated with betrayal.

5. Fear of difference – Racism or xenophobia; fear of outsiders and minorities.

6. Appeal to a frustrated middle class – Fascism often exploits the fears and insecurities of a struggling or declining middle class.

7. Obsession with a plot – Belief in conspiracies, often involving an "enemy" or scapegoat plotting against the nation.

8. The enemy is both strong and weak – The enemy is portrayed as overwhelmingly powerful, yet cowardly and weak at the same time.

9. Pacifism is trafficking with the enemy – Life is permanent warfare; peacefulness is seen as weakness.

10. Contempt for the weak – Elitism and disdain for the vulnerable or marginalized.

11. Everybody is educated to become a hero – Glorification of death, martyrdom, and militarism.

12. Machismo and weaponry – Exaggerated masculinity, violence, and control over women.

13. Selective populism – The “people” are represented by a leader who interprets their will, bypassing institutions and pluralism.

14. Newspeak – Use of impoverished, repetitive language to limit critical thinking and expression.

[KhunLA]

An image of everyone that lurks in the minds of mentally ill people that believe everyone they don't like ... are fascist  

 

 

[gargamon]

A pic is worth a thousand words.

[cdemundo]

Trumpism seems to meet most of Eco's criteria.

I think that in the historical perspective violence or the threat of violence against political opponents is seen as a big part of fascism.

[Magictoad]

36 minutes ago, Hellfire said:

Umberto Eco, in his 1995 essay "Ur-Fascism" (also known as "Eternal Fascism"), outlined 14 features or signs that define what he called "Ur-Fascism," or the foundational elements of fascism that can reappear in different forms over time. Here's a summarized version of those signs:

1. The cult of tradition – A belief in a primordial truth, revealed once and for all, often combining different religious or philosophical traditions.

2. The rejection of modernism – A distrust of Enlightenment rationalism, often accompanied by a rejection of progress and reason.

3. The cult of action for action’s sake – Believing action is inherently good and should be pursued without reflection.

4. Disagreement is treason – Critical thinking is viewed with suspicion; dissent is equated with betrayal.

5. Fear of difference – Racism or xenophobia; fear of outsiders and minorities.

6. Appeal to a frustrated middle class – Fascism often exploits the fears and insecurities of a struggling or declining middle class.

7. Obsession with a plot – Belief in conspiracies, often involving an "enemy" or scapegoat plotting against the nation.

8. The enemy is both strong and weak – The enemy is portrayed as overwhelmingly powerful, yet cowardly and weak at the same time.

9. Pacifism is trafficking with the enemy – Life is permanent warfare; peacefulness is seen as weakness.

10. Contempt for the weak – Elitism and disdain for the vulnerable or marginalized.

11. Everybody is educated to become a hero – Glorification of death, martyrdom, and militarism.

12. Machismo and weaponry – Exaggerated masculinity, violence, and control over women.

13. Selective populism – The “people” are represented by a leader who interprets their will, bypassing institutions and pluralism.

14. Newspeak – Use of impoverished, repetitive language to limit critical thinking and expression.

Anything else?

[Magictoad]

A fascist is a person who supports a far-right, authoritarian political ideology that emphasizes extreme nationalism, dictatorial leadership, and the suppression of opposition. Fascists often prioritize the interests of the nation or race over individual rights and advocate for a centralized autocratic government.

[CHdiver]

@Jingthing to the thread. He used this word very extensively in the last US election and after. He has to know it better then anybody else.

[placeholder]

39 minutes ago, Hellfire said:

Umberto Eco, in his 1995 essay "Ur-Fascism" (also known as "Eternal Fascism"), outlined 14 features or signs that define what he called "Ur-Fascism," or the foundational elements of fascism that can reappear in different forms over time. Here's a summarized version of those signs:

1. The cult of tradition – A belief in a primordial truth, revealed once and for all, often combining different religious or philosophical traditions.

2. The rejection of modernism – A distrust of Enlightenment rationalism, often accompanied by a rejection of progress and reason.

3. The cult of action for action’s sake – Believing action is inherently good and should be pursued without reflection.

4. Disagreement is treason – Critical thinking is viewed with suspicion; dissent is equated with betrayal.

5. Fear of difference – Racism or xenophobia; fear of outsiders and minorities.

6. Appeal to a frustrated middle class – Fascism often exploits the fears and insecurities of a struggling or declining middle class.

7. Obsession with a plot – Belief in conspiracies, often involving an "enemy" or scapegoat plotting against the nation.

8. The enemy is both strong and weak – The enemy is portrayed as overwhelmingly powerful, yet cowardly and weak at the same time.

9. Pacifism is trafficking with the enemy – Life is permanent warfare; peacefulness is seen as weakness.

10. Contempt for the weak – Elitism and disdain for the vulnerable or marginalized.

11. Everybody is educated to become a hero – Glorification of death, martyrdom, and militarism.

12. Machismo and weaponry – Exaggerated masculinity, violence, and control over women.

13. Selective populism – The “people” are represented by a leader who interprets their will, bypassing institutions and pluralism.

14. Newspeak – Use of impoverished, repetitive language to limit critical thinking and expression.

Thanks to you and Umberto Eco for killing my belief that I had any useful answer to offer.

[blaze master]

39 minutes ago, gargamon said:

A pic is worth a thousand words.

 

Good thing the Pic on the right isn't real eh. Rather someone's rendition of what they think is real.

 

Good one.

[blaze master]

53 minutes ago, swissie said:

What exactly is a Facist. Tell me.

 

Trump.

[Mike_Hunt]

1 hour ago, swissie said:

What exactly is a Facist. Tell me.

 

Anyone who disagrees with a leftie. 

[connda]

1 hour ago, swissie said:

What exactly is a Facist. Tell me.

Anyone you don't like.  Even if the person calling someone a "fascist" is themselves an actual fascist.  In common parlance, it's a pejorative to demean another person.  But that's not Fascism.

Do you really want to actually understand "Fascism?"  Read Mussolini's thesis on Fascism:
https://sjsu.edu/faculty/wooda/2B-HUM/Readings/The-Doctrine-of-Fascism.pdf

 

You can also study the writings of Giovanni Gentile.

[BangkokReady]

1 hour ago, Hellfire said:

Umberto Eco, in his 1995 essay "Ur-Fascism" (also known as "Eternal Fascism"), outlined 14 features or signs that define what he called "Ur-Fascism," or the foundational elements of fascism that can reappear in different forms over time. Here's a summarized version of those signs:

1. The cult of tradition – A belief in a primordial truth, revealed once and for all, often combining different religious or philosophical traditions.

2. The rejection of modernism – A distrust of Enlightenment rationalism, often accompanied by a rejection of progress and reason.

3. The cult of action for action’s sake – Believing action is inherently good and should be pursued without reflection.

4. Disagreement is treason – Critical thinking is viewed with suspicion; dissent is equated with betrayal.

5. Fear of difference – Racism or xenophobia; fear of outsiders and minorities.

6. Appeal to a frustrated middle class – Fascism often exploits the fears and insecurities of a struggling or declining middle class.

7. Obsession with a plot – Belief in conspiracies, often involving an "enemy" or scapegoat plotting against the nation.

8. The enemy is both strong and weak – The enemy is portrayed as overwhelmingly powerful, yet cowardly and weak at the same time.

9. Pacifism is trafficking with the enemy – Life is permanent warfare; peacefulness is seen as weakness.

10. Contempt for the weak – Elitism and disdain for the vulnerable or marginalized.

11. Everybody is educated to become a hero – Glorification of death, martyrdom, and militarism.

12. Machismo and weaponry – Exaggerated masculinity, violence, and control over women.

13. Selective populism – The “people” are represented by a leader who interprets their will, bypassing institutions and pluralism.

14. Newspeak – Use of impoverished, repetitive language to limit critical thinking and expression.

 

The funny thing is, I could imagine a lefty applying that to the right, but I think the right could just as easily apply it to the left. 

 

It all becomes a little meaningless after a while, especially since the only reason it is used is as a kind of linguistic weapon, never in an honest or well meaning way.

[cdemundo]

2 hours ago, Hellfire said:

Umberto Eco, in his 1995 essay "Ur-Fascism" (also known as "Eternal Fascism"), outlined 14 features or signs that define what he called "Ur-Fascism," or the foundational elements of fascism that can reappear in different forms over time. Here's a summarized version of those signs:

1. The cult of tradition – A belief in a primordial truth, revealed once and for all, often combining different religious or philosophical traditions.

2. The rejection of modernism – A distrust of Enlightenment rationalism, often accompanied by a rejection of progress and reason.

3. The cult of action for action’s sake – Believing action is inherently good and should be pursued without reflection.

4. Disagreement is treason – Critical thinking is viewed with suspicion; dissent is equated with betrayal.

5. Fear of difference – Racism or xenophobia; fear of outsiders and minorities.

6. Appeal to a frustrated middle class – Fascism often exploits the fears and insecurities of a struggling or declining middle class.

7. Obsession with a plot – Belief in conspiracies, often involving an "enemy" or scapegoat plotting against the nation.

8. The enemy is both strong and weak – The enemy is portrayed as overwhelmingly powerful, yet cowardly and weak at the same time.

9. Pacifism is trafficking with the enemy – Life is permanent warfare; peacefulness is seen as weakness.

10. Contempt for the weak – Elitism and disdain for the vulnerable or marginalized.

11. Everybody is educated to become a hero – Glorification of death, martyrdom, and militarism.

12. Machismo and weaponry – Exaggerated masculinity, violence, and control over women.

13. Selective populism – The “people” are represented by a leader who interprets their will, bypassing institutions and pluralism.

14. Newspeak – Use of impoverished, repetitive language to limit critical thinking and expression.

Funny that this post got 2 thumbs down.

Can't imagine what that would mean, they have an alternate description of fascism?

Are feeling attacked by fascism just being described?