• Modern_medicine_isnt@lemmy.world
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    21 hours ago

    Blame is usually reserved for those actively contributing to the problem. There are several words for not doing anything to solve a problem, but blame doesn’t really fit. And how would you know if I was or was not actively doing something. That’s kind of my point. If you blame someone for something just by association, and don’t even try to find out if they are trying to solve the problem… I am not in favor of that. Afterall, a person can’t actively work to solve every problem that people who they are associated with cause. So you would be to blame for the mexican drug cartels killing people because you aren’t actively working to solve that problem, but people from your country surely do drugs which is why the cartels exist and kill people.

    • SinAdjetivos@lemmy.world
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      13 hours ago

      how would you know if I was or was not actively doing something

      It’s the Internet I don’t. The difference in perspective I see is the lack of ‘guilt by association’ which only goes so far. That was kind of what the whole Nuremberg trials were about. My point is that if you are not confident that in a real life interaction you can demonstrate either you were unaware, were resisting, dis-associated yourself or were incapable, then you do shoulder some of the blame.

      The fact we’re having this conversation shows you are not unaware, I hope you’re actively resisting but the defensiveness tells me you might not believe you’re doing enough, and if that’s because you’re incapable, for whatever reason, then give yourself some grace. If that’s not the case then yes, you modern_medicine are to blame for the fascist bullshit happening around you.

      people from your country surely do drugs which is why the cartels exist and kill people.

      I believe you have a poor understanding of what cartels are and why they exist, but yes using your example I can confidently say I actively work to alleviate the conditions that result in people self-medicating and have distanced myself from cartels and their activities as much as I am aware and capable of. Can you say the same?

      I agree that “blame” may not be the right word. Is there an English word for “complicit through complacency”?

      • Modern_medicine_isnt@lemmy.world
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        16 minutes ago

        Yes, “complicit through complacency” is much better. I thought there were lots of single words that fit too. But I struggled to find any that didn’t imply active assistance.

        I do what I can. But it doesn’t feel like enough. At the same time, most of it feels ineffective. In my case I have to weigh the saftey of my family against my ideology. It’s not fair to my kids to go and get myself locked up or worse.