Conversionism is exhausting

One of the more annoying aspects of politics is the way ideologues impose conformity on people, so this remark caught my attention:

The never-ending war between the left and the right seems to me like a couple of drunken college boys fighting over which one of their fraternities is cooler. Think about it: Once you join a side, you have to obey the house rules, go to all the parties, and defend your status as a member of the greatest club on campus.

I’d be inclined to agree, except that the guy who said that is an admitted side-joiner himself, who went from right to left for reasons he does not make clear (unless you accept the implied premise that he was somehow “brainwashed” by the right).

The brainwashing victim also wrote (and apparently repudiated) a book.

I’m skeptical, as I suspect he simply wants attention. It’s also worth noting that conversions seem to run in his family. (His mom is a religious convert.)

Anyway, here is is\was in 2009 explaining what conservatism isn’t/wasn’t:

Poor little joiner. I almost feel sorry for him.

But no matter what he does, as long as he selects a side, he has to to “obey the house rules, go to all the parties, and defend his status as a member of the greatest club on campus.”

Some people never learn.