OPINION: Time for the left to step out of the echo chamber

I BELONG to lots of silly Facebook groups.

I join because they give me amusement, for the silly memes and the chance to interact with other people online.

Lately, though, I’ve noticed a trend building within these groups.

They are becoming exclusive.

They only want you if you are “woke”, in tune with their liberal and sometimes far-left views.

Being in these groups is like being in an echo chamber.

If you agree with the general thrust of what is being said, you need never question your own beliefs.

You will never be challenged and there will never be a debate.

If you don’t, it’s increasingly clear there’s no room for disagreement or debate, no matter how rational or respectful.

One of these groups made it clear some were not welcome this week.

In the wake of Black Lives Matter protests in the United States, a list of rules were posted.

According to the rules, members are not allowed to agree with any of the following statements or they will be banned:

Some cops are good. All lives matter. Blue lives matter. There’s only one race, the human race. There are only two genders. And if you punch a Nazi, you’re just as bad as Nazis.

I pointed out on the page that the only people coming off as Nazis were the admins of the page, trying to dictate what people think.

Read the article by Carlie Walker in Queensland Times.