In my experience in my DSA chapter, when there have been major disagreements, this online and interpersonal cancel stuff became important at the moment of whatever rift there has been. Unfortunately, I don’t think it can be waved away so easily. It is latent and remains an unaddressed impediment to good faith deliberation precisely when it is most needed.
I have been in the new DSA since 2016, so I have had the wonderful experience of being on both sides of factional fights, but what was the same was the willingness to opportunistically deploy canceling or moralization.
In my experience in my DSA chapter, when there have been major disagreements, this online and interpersonal cancel stuff became important at the moment of whatever rift there has been. Unfortunately, I don’t think it can be waved away so easily. It is latent and remains an unaddressed impediment to good faith deliberation precisely when it is most needed.
I have been in the new DSA since 2016, so I have had the wonderful experience of being on both sides of factional fights, but what was the same was the willingness to opportunistically deploy canceling or moralization.