Jonathan Van Ness from Queer Eye learned the hard way last week why you really shouldn’t engage in political debates with strangers on Twitter.
It all started when the 31-year-old hair stylist took to Twitter to comment on last Tuesday’s primary results:
Luckily a lot to extreme right people won yesterday, meaning that if we can come up w center left candidates we can take back the house & senate, not to mention many state legislatures. It is so important for the left to not go too left or we are done for.
— Jonathan Van Ness (@jvn) August 15, 2018
Also if you’re upset at a tweet I made leave gurl bai! Being able to compromise is what’s missing from both sides of the American political situation & the sooner we all get to a place of mutual understanding the sooner we will get out of this mess.
— Jonathan Van Ness (@jvn) August 15, 2018
It was Van Ness’ remarks about coming to “a place of mutual understanding” that got people fired up.
Ah, yes… “mutual understanding” with racists…. pic.twitter.com/sFkoIZ70hS
— Backwoods Barbie (@LGBTmayo) August 15, 2018
— austin (@austinoutloud) August 15, 2018
take it from a fellow white gay person; we still have a LOT of privilege here, and there are a lot of people we need to be listening to. and telling your fans, who are largely minorities, that they need to recognize the very fine people on both sides is not the way.
— hannah moskowitz? (@hannahmosk) August 15, 2018
And what is there to compromise over? A failing system that serves only the privileged? Gurl bai! pic.twitter.com/7zxYUMXnUB
— crazy sticks to me, like ribs (@OldGenQueer) August 15, 2018
I really disagree. When we compromise our beliefs and values for votes, we’re putting a political pricetag on the wellbeing of working class and marginalized communities.
— Danny (@DanielFoner) August 15, 2018
Van Ness responded to the criticism by posting a video further explaining himself.
How about we take this to the next level?
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“I decided to tweet political things today and you know that can go one of two ways,” he said. “Left people are not necessarily inherently evil and right people are not necessarily inherently evil … We have to be able to not demonize the right.”
— Jonathan Van Ness (@jvn) August 15, 2018
Unfortunately, this didn’t do much to quiet the twitterstorm.
I hear you but what do I need to compromise on? My access as a woman to healthcare? My husband’s rights as an immigrant? My friends rights as members of the LGBTQ community? My friends of color’s safety? None of the things I want are extreme. I shouldn’t have to compromise.
— Sally Kay (@sallykbrockman) August 15, 2018
Tbh tell that to our queer ancestors who fought and DIED for us.
This is unreal.
The ACT UP activists sure didn’t save millions of lives by appealing to the center.
Marsha and Silvia sure didn’t free us by appealing to the center.
Unfuckingreal.
— Pumpkin Spice Queer (@queer_spice) August 15, 2018
yeah totally, my jewish ass needs to stop demoniz–https://t.co/Ik71RWTvzc
— hannah moskowitz? (@hannahmosk) August 15, 2018
no, boy. cancelled.
— the lady julep (@urnotcharming) August 15, 2018
Eventually, Van Ness came to realize that engaging in political debates with random people on Twitter is futile, comparing the whole thing to “antiobotic resistent stds”:
I swear to god having a conversation on Twitter is nastier than antibiotic resistant stds, be kind when you can y’all. It’s rough out there.
— Jonathan Van Ness (@jvn) August 17, 2018
What do you think of Van Ness’ perspective? Sound off in the comments section below…
Lacuevaman
where is queerty”s coverage of asia argento’s hypocrisy? and being a child molester?? huh???
Juanjo
Drop dead. You have to post on every post because you are upset about a washed-up Italian porn actress?
Lacuevaman
yo blojo! not concerned about the actress azzhole. He’s the secret…. calling out the selective coverage of this opportunistic Qdigital site. look beyond your lil’dick! Wake up!!
DCguy
Translation: One of the anti-LGBT account names is trying to deflect the topic off of this guy.
thisismylife247
This is a GAY news site. I don’t come here to read about who some straight woman is banging. If you want more heterosexual news I suggest you check out Fox News.
Luicia
Follow the link: https://525sex.com This website is also great and its free with millions of members specifically for LGBTQ! I just wanted to share it with you, its the largest free website in your area for LGBTQ. https://525sex.com
I can find 5,000 users on Twitter that hate puppies and rainbows and think babies are ugly.
Larry
No need for any tolerance from me. I just report them for hate speech and block them. Debate is what they want. It elevates their comments. That is their purpose, to devide and conquer. No comment needed. Just report and block.
jcoberkrom
Does one compromise with hate?
startenout
I don’t understand why the jump is that he’s automatically saying to compromise with racists. I just spent a weekend with white friends who are on the conservative side. We have been friends for years and were able to talk about the current state of politics in a respectful way. I truly feel that’s what he’s going for…you don’t need to get everyone on the FAR right to see your point and compromise. You just need to be able to talk to those who are right of the middle and find common ground. You CAN be fiscally conservative (small government, etc.) while still being socially liberal and seeing how our system needs an overhaul.
pallas89
There is no negotiation with fascism. Long passed time to embrace the true fabulousness of socialism, the only part of any human system that works…all must be based in sharing. Greed and hoarding must be tightly regulated by the state as we live on a rock hurtling through space with a finite ecosystem! There is zero room for human greed or negotiating with the lowest quality humans which by ecological footprint are billionaires. Racists must be educated and where nonredeamable, must be tightly suppressed. Only educated earth first eres have any real right to be in charge.
pallas89
Earth Firsters are the only ones who have a right to be in charge, not exploiters or social deviants (racists and other sociopaths).
mujerado
No one has a “right to be in charge.” They’re either elected to power or they seize it by force. There is no such “right.”
Tom
Jonathan is sweet, kind and just wants to love everybody. That’s his public persona at least. His podcast shows the same thing and demonstrates a sweet naivete. He’s just naieve and I’m certain he’s not pro racist. I think he feels everyone is educable.
tham
I can find 5,000 users on Twitter that hate puppies and rainbows and think babies are ugly.
Why does ANYONE waste the time and energy on Twitter? Are people sooo lonely that any type of reaction (even negative) is better than nothing?
Twitter is just a sispool of crap that just vomits on the screen.
Kangol
It’s also one of the major of public communication for the current president of the United States.
Kangol
It’s also one of the major modes of public communication for the current president of the United States.
justgeo
Just a TV personality dumb ass. Kinda like………………………..
Juanjo
The fundamental problems with extremists of whatever type is that they do NOT compromise on their goals or efforts. If you let them have free reign and speak, they attract other idiots who think the same. If you outright ban them, they become martyrs for their disgusting causes. They have to be attacked but not with profanity, threats of violence etc. Instead, their arguments have to be ripped apart and shown to be the complete drivel they are. Make them into the laughingstocks they truly are. There is nothing more pathetically amusing then a far right, white supremacist who is shown to be a complete idiot, especially if you can also show via DNA that he is 1/8 African-American. Which if he comes from the South is a lot easier than one might think.
SnakeyJ
I’m not a fan of him or that dumb show, but he’s absolutely right. The liberals have gone WAY too far left. We need reasonable people out there, and not ones who push nonsense like multiple genders and safe spaces. And, of course, ones that actually listen and debate, and not just scream “HATER!” when someone disagrees with them.
djmcgamester
Kind of agree here. I never had “safe spaces” and I got by just fine. In coming out, I lost no friends, no family, no co-workers. They continued to like me for who I am. When people do cause a problem I am more than happy to go screw themselves – to their faces.
Also, I think we’re using too many letters to describe our community. “Allies”? Seriously? Why not just throw straight in there and be done with it. Or use the entire damn alphabet. When I heard talk of brown and black stripes on the rainbow flag I was kind of pissed. We’re not “pro” or “anti” any particular race or gender. Some straight, white person told me I “just didn’t understand”. I guess since she’s an “A” she now has a say.
Ashke113
Sure we’ll be more tolerant with racists, as soon as that dumbass becomes more tolerant with gaybashers……
ErgoCoffeeto
“Gay Man Calls for Less Partizanship and More Cooperation Gets Lambasted By Regressive Leftists” There, fixed the headline.
Xzamilloh
No, you mean “Gay Man with Minimal Knowledge of How Democrats Have Been Center-Left For Decades Calls For Same Center Left Feckless Leadership That Cost Democrats over a Thousand Seats Under Obama”
But, that’s too wordy, isn’t it? Also, “Regressive Leftist”? People like you kill that term and strip it of any of its meaning.
You know what a regressive leftist is? Someone who complains about Trump not acknowledging John McCain in a defense bill named after him, but ignoring the gross overspending in that said budget that is almost a trillion dollars. THAT’S regressive leftism… McLiberalism that pretends to be woke while toeing the status quo line.
Charlie in Charge
Politically I’m quite far too the left but I do believe the strategy he is suggesting worked for the Democrats in 2008.
I would prefer to not compromise at all on anything with Republicans but… is that actually a viable strategy?
Xzamilloh
No, it’s not. It’s exactly how we lost over a thousand legislative seats under Obama and it’s how we lost the 2016 election… putting blue dog Democrats/neoliberals who care more about their donors than their base, and no one is going to want to turn out and vote for spineless Democrats.
Trump and the GOP are handing Democrats an easy blue landslide in November and they’re STILL messing it up because they have no message? “Russia” is not a message… it’s a smokescreen so that they don’t have to have a message, and the working class does not care. Look at any poll, and you will see that Russia is no high on the list of issues.
Charlie in Charge
I mean… it’s a smokescreen if it isn’t true. It just seems like it’s true. Fortunately it’s being investigated.
Shaugn
The thinking is good we need to work together. But the republicans only want what is best for the very wealthy, they have even sucked in the simple, religious, those who use the state funded medical services in the south and honest people who can no longer make a living. Unfortunately these people would rather cut off their own noses than admit all people are equal and should be treated with respect. If the far right continue they may find that they gave away their own freedom with ours.
Xzamilloh
Republicans aren’t the only ones looking out for the very wealthy. You look at establishment Democrats, and you will see bought and paid for representatives. Pelosi’s self-described claim to fame is that she fundraises more than any other Democrat, and she’s right… but where is that money coming from? Wealthy donors… an who do you think she’s gonna be beholden to when it’s time to make good on that investment?
Republicans are most definitely our biggest obstacle, but when we don’t have representatives fighting for our best interests, are they REALLY our allies?
miserylovedme24
He’s right. This idea that we should demonize anyone we disagree with is absurd and what’s wrong with this country. SJWs are not the majority in this country, and it’s like they’re actively trying to drive away those of us Democrats that aren’t as crazy as they are.
djmcgamester
FYI, it *is* important for the left to not go too left. We’re already a ridiculous levels of intolerance from BOTH SIDES. I think some more moderate voices need to be heard.
And, as other have pointed out, Democrats also look for those who can line their pockets. I really wish Bernie had one. Was not looking forward to either candidate (Hillary or Trump) to be in office.
nitejonboy
This guy sounds like a real jackass airhead.
Giuseppe
I think the bigger issue is that this mess with the Fabio look from 1988 is a hairdresser, and don’t even get me started on the way he talks or the number of times he says “like” in a paragraph. Blech.
DCguy
He’s using the old right wing talking point of “Democrats need to be moderate and can’t be too “Left”.
It’s a right wing tactic. They keep moving to the right, so to be a “Moderate” democrat means Democrats have to keep moving to the right.
Look at what now passes for “Extreme Left” in America. Healthcare, which even conservative governments in other countries embrace, a higher minimum wage, which Republicans used to embrace a few decades ago, not putting kids in cages, civil rights for LGBTS.
So basically this guy is saying, we should take the farthest right from Republicans, and not get too far away from it so we can be “Moderate”.
Sorry dude, but NOT calling out racists is what got us here in the first place.
Polaro
This is the liberal nonsense that galvanizes the right. Makes us look moronic. Every one of you whiners did not quote what he said and did not fairly evaluate what he meant, you twisted it into you little world of constant outrage. Shame on you all and your weird little worlds.
DCguy
Oh look, the troll account wants to claim that nobody really “GOT” what he meant, and yet couldn’t explain what it was he meant.
And don’t’ you just love the “Don’t be liberal it will galvanize Republican voters!” B.S.? Sweetie, if Republicans knew being liberal would do that they would be pushing people to be more liberal, not freaking out about it.
But nice try.
Polaro
Ah, DCguy, thanks for proving my point.
gymmuscleboy
What, when did he say liberals need to be more tolerant of racists???
Tombear
The world would be a better place if more men had sex on weed!