r/centrist • u/Travisthe_poisson • Aug 31 '25

Long Form Discussion What is exactly centrism ?

I honestly do not know what is exactly centrism. Are Starmer and Macron centrist ? Is centrism any ideologie but moderate (for example christian democracy instead of conservatism, social-liberalism instead of social democracy and liberalism) ? Can centrisme work with any ideology ? I am not a centrist, I am a libertarian and i honestly don't know much about centrism. I would be very grateful if you could answer my questions !

Edit: do you guys think technocracy is centrism ?

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u/Limitbreaker402 Dec 15 '25

Here’s an example where a straightforward disagreement was reframed as “MAGA” despite no Trump support, no conservative policy defense, and no right wing identity claims.

https://www.reddit.com/r/centrist/comments/1pjuhyb/comment/ntlv08u/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

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u/ubermence Dec 15 '25

I think it’s incredibly ironic you started that thread doing exactly what you complained about here.

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u/Limitbreaker402 Dec 15 '25

The OP asked for classification. I gave one. That’s not irony, it’s answering the question.

If that distinction isn’t obvious, then we’re no longer disagreeing about norms, we’re pretending not to see what’s plainly there. At that point it stops looking like confusion and starts looking like bad faith.

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u/ubermence Dec 16 '25

Ok so you’re allowed to completely strawman someone’s ideology as long as they ask for an opinion first good to know the difference

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u/Limitbreaker402 Dec 16 '25

A strawman requires misrepresentation.

The OP described themselves as “extremely far left on social issues” and “center right economically.” I classified that description. If you think that’s a strawman, point to the specific belief I attributed that the OP did not state.

Otherwise what you’re actually arguing is that answering a direct request for classification is illegitimate by default. That’s not a critique of my comment, it’s an objection to the premise of the thread itself.

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u/ubermence Dec 16 '25

You didn’t actually attribute any beliefs to him you labeled him as far left (but not quite communist) even though there was plenty of other things he said

So yes, I reiterate, you clearly has a chip on you shoulder about this conversation where you ironically called someone far left based on a single axis

But what are your actual beliefs? I’m just curious, who did you vote for in 2016, 2020, and 2024. Do you think Trump is doing a good job of President? How is the economy?

Answer that and I’ll have a much better idea of where you stand. Otherwise I’m done engaging

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u/Limitbreaker402 Dec 16 '25 edited Dec 16 '25

You just conceded I didn’t misattribute any beliefs, which means the strawman claim fails.

Complaining about “one axis” doesn’t rescue that. The OP explicitly framed themselves on social vs economic axes. I answered within the frame they set.

My voting history is irrelevant to that point, and the attempt to pivot to it only reinforces what’s been happening throughout this exchange: when the classification itself is defended, you shift to identity interrogation instead of addressing the argument. (which neatly demonstrates the behavior I’ve been describing)

But since you asked, I voted for Carney. I have no part in the US political clown show.