I think you’re misunderstanding my intention. I don’t want Abigail to get into arguments about hot button issues. I want Abigail to voice their disdain for arguments about hot button issues in a better manner. I want Abigail to say “I dislike controversy” instead of “I dislike politics”. I think Abigail is embracing a definition of the word “politics” that harms trans people and a lot of other groups, and I think the entire issue could be solved by swapping one word for another. I completely understand and accept Abigail’s dislike of controversy, but I think they’ve been tricked by politicians into thinking controversy and politics are the same thing. I’d like them to have a better understanding of the word “politics” and use it in places that don’t remind me of transphobic arguments.
Seeing other queer people say they hate politics is triggering to me, because it reminds me of the way transphobes have attacked my gender in the past. Subjectively, it feels the same as seeing a slur. And I know that this language has horrible effects on the queer community, because I’ve seen it happen. I’ve seen gay people attack bi and trans people for being political. I’ve seen trans people attack enbies for being political. I’ve seen enbies with more acceptable genders attack xenogender people and neopronoun users for being political. And I’ve seen white people all over the queer spectrum attack BIPOC queer people for being political. I know from experience that speech like this is going to radicalise queer people against minorities and may contribute to someone being abused.
A person’s right to avoid having anyone disagree with them ends when they harm other people. And this speech is harmful. If the goal is to make everyone safe and prevent hostile disagreements, then the place to start is with removing harmful speech that embraces the narratives of the oppressor and ends with people getting hurt. Nobody had to go and use this speech, it was a choice. It wasn’t an informed or considered choice but it was still a choice that impacts other people. That’s why it needs to be informed and considered. It’s inflammatory and controversial in the impacts it has on how other people think, and I don’t want to see it here. Removing political controversy means removing speech like this.