Addressing my 2020 controversy

Summary

The speaker reflects on their past political journey, admitting to having subscribed to right-wing content and feeling superior to their peers. They recount their obsession with American politics despite being in the UK and not caring much about politics. The video serves as an apology to their audience, particularly the LGBT+ community, for past insensitive behavior and comments. They express a newfound clarity and happiness in their current mindset, having grown and moved away from their previous beliefs.

Takeaways

• 🎙️ The speaker initially had trouble finding a microphone wire and resorted to using their phone for the recording.
• 🔍 They went down a 'rabbit hole' of right-wing content, subscribing to channels like Ben Shapiro.
• 🧠 The speaker was around 17 or 18 when their political journey began, and it took years to realize and break away from the right-wing ideologies.
• 🤔 They felt smarter than their peers and believed they were discerning, even though they didn't fully understand the content they were consuming.
• 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Being in the UK, the speaker was oddly obsessed with American politics rather than local issues.
• 📝 They made a Tumblr post detailing their past opinions versus their current views, showcasing personal growth.
• 😅 The speaker acknowledges feeling 'daft' and receiving backlash for their past views, which they now recognize as misguided.
• 🌟 They no longer care deeply about politics but keep informed, having moved on from their previous obsession.
• 🏳️‍🌈 The speaker apologizes to their audience, particularly the LGBT+ community, for mocking and being insensitive to gender identities.
• 🍰 They conclude by expressing a desire to explain their current mindset and to move past the negativity, ending on a light note about eating a Jaffa cake.

Q & A

What was the main reason for the speaker's initial interest in right-wing politics?

The speaker's initial interest in right-wing politics was sparked by subscribing to channels like Ben Shapiro and being around 17 or 18 years old, without fully understanding the content.

How did the speaker describe their mindset during their involvement with right-wing ideologies?

The speaker described their mindset as feeling smart and different from their generation, believing they were more informed despite not understanding the content they were consuming.

Why did the speaker feel the need to create a video to clarify their current stance?

The speaker felt the need to create a video to clarify their current stance because some people still thought they held the same right-wing views from the past.

What was the speaker's attitude towards politics in the UK, despite their obsession with American politics?

The speaker didn't really care about politics in the UK, yet they were more obsessed with American politics, which led to their right-wing inclination.

What action did the speaker take to show the contrast between their past and present opinions?

The speaker made a Tumblr post detailing their opinions from the past and comparing them to what they think now, to demonstrate their growth and change in perspective.

How did the speaker's early political engagement affect their relationships with others?

The speaker's early political engagement led to some people being upset with them, particularly those in the LGBT+ community, due to mocking and being obsessive over others' genders.

What was the speaker's reaction to the negative feedback they received during their right-wing phase?

The speaker felt that the negative feedback reinforced their belief that others were sensitive and that they were being cancelled, which were common talking points at the time.

What change in the speaker's life led to their disinterest in politics?

The speaker's disinterest in politics was a result of growing and stopping their 'weirdo' behavior, leading to a clearer mind and less obsession with political matters.

How does the speaker feel about their current state of mind compared to their past?

The speaker feels happier and more fed up with the world due to their increased understanding and awareness, contrasting with their past mindset.

What was the speaker's approach to gender identity and expression during their right-wing phase?

During the right-wing phase, the speaker was stubborn and mocking towards others' gender identities and expressions, which they now regret and apologize for.