There is a big reason why I can't refer to myself as a liberal or conservative. It just seems like a box that I shouldn't be putting myself into. If anything, everyone else should be the judge of whether or not I lean a certain way because the big fear in labeling myself is having to deal with getting caught up in a deep rabbit hole. Therefore, I try my best not to do it. Abiding by identity politics is a dangerous thing, especially when there is a debate -any debate- to be had.
Regressive leftists, right wing hicks, feminazis, neckbeards, the laundry list of insults goes on for miles. Now the reason these insults were chosen were to highlight extremes within certain groups. All groups tend to have their own set of values and ideologies from which they have spawned. Associating with a group is perfectly fine, in fact, it is unavoidable.
That being said, the danger comes with a certain 'If you're not with us, you're against us' attitude. It does nothing but bring debates to a standstill, and does nothing but silence those who stray away from the group's ideology. It gives the loudest voices power. Whether or not the loudest voice is factually correct becomes irrelevant.
This should give voices within a group extreme responsibility to ensure that what they are pushing for is as perfect as it can possibly be as there are lives potentially at stake. Everything has room for improvement. That is why now more than ever, people are starting to value the fact that they can criticize their government because they want to see it succeed.
The same should go for identity politics. One should be able to agree and still disagree with a group if they feel the debate is heading in the wrong direction. It is unfortunate that this hasn't been the case in many situations. For example, if you disagree with some of the methods of the Black Lives Matter movement, you're a racist. If you happen to vote a certain way, you're un-American. If you can't call yourself a feminist, then you're a misogynist.
Now it is important to acknowledge that not everyone who identifies with a certain group is quick to react this way. There are some that can carry on a debate with sustenance. However, it is so easy to fall down the rabbit hole of identity politics to the point where your identity becomes that of the group. One might not personally contribute, but instead give credibility to other loud voices.
Ultimately, being able to admit that you have been wrong goes a long way. It shows that one is able to think freely without fear. It allows for a vast array of different opinions to come together to find middle ground so that everyone's lives may benefit.
This is why I try my best to stray away from identity politics. I owe it to my friends, family, and fellow beings to not be at ease in an echo chamber, but rather to contribute to the dialogue of the day.
