‘What’s a ‘progressive’ idea that’s actually regressive when applied? – 17 well-meaning behaviours that are surprisingly backwards

It’s said that the long arc of history bends towards justice, however it seems to be taking a few detours along the way.

And it’s not just mean-spirited people disturbing this trajectory. Even pleasant, well-meaning types are taking society back a few steps if the research of nealie_20 is anything to go by. Eager to expose society’s shortcomings, they put this question to r/AskReddit:

‘What’s a ‘progressive’ idea that’s actually regressive when applied?’

Here are the top replies that aren’t as forward-thinking as they would hope:

1.
‘Not sure if this was considered “progressive” when it was rolled out more than a decade ago, but “Zero Tolerance” in regards to bullying.

‘It’s basically a victim blaming tool which means both parties are punished the same when one party is likely a victim. It also essentially encourages the victim to only respond in kind because they’re “going to be punished no matter what, so I might as well stand up for myself”.

‘So it’s a nice sounding policy, but in application, it actually helps no one because an actual bully faces no real repercussions and can also drag down an innocent student with them’
-a_happy_future

2.
‘The push to eliminate advanced academic tracks in schools in the name of equity often ends up holding back gifted students and depriving high-potential, underprivileged kids of a crucial path to advancement.’
-MoralCalculus

3.
‘Demanding purity and not allowing room for change. It’s not progressive to constantly hold someone accountable for their worst moment, but rather it is more responsible to reward people for improving who they are and judging them based on their journey from their worst moment. However I acknowledge there are some things that are very hard to come back from. Too often the progressive mindset harps on mistakes instead of a healthier discourse that encourages positive change.’
-Stunning_Ad3273

4.
‘May be thinking small but “Vegan leather” is so much worse for the environment than animal leather. Vegan leather is literally plastic, it wears out and stops looking good and working well after a few months of wear, but never biodegrades, and since it’s plastic, it creates more pollution in every single step of its lifecycle. Real leather lasts years upon years if properly maintained, is an infinitely renewable resource, and will biodegrade if not maintained.’
-sorry_child34

5.
‘Nuclear energy bad may fall under this idea.

‘It is safer and puts out less radiation than coal power plants.’
-Successful-Annual379

6.
‘Anti-gentrification efforts. Instead of focusing on affordability or displacement, the efforts turn to making sure residents have a crappy neighborhood so it is unattractive to outsiders.

‘Safer streets? Parks? New businesses? More housing? Nope.’
-Wrigs112

7.
‘I’m surprised how many progressives have championed a “universal job guarantee,” since in practice it’s just adding a work requirement to unemployment benefits under a different name’
-Dangerous-Coach-1999

8.
‘Pacifism – specifically, the kind that treats the victim the same as the aggressor. It’s perfectly fine to say “America shouldn’t invade Iraq in 2003 for bogus reasons,” but when (some) pacifists object to Ukraine fighting back against Russian invasion, saying “Violence is never the answer,” they’re essentially saying Ukraine should roll over and let Russia murder people at will.

‘It’s similar to “zero tolerance” policies in schools that punish victims for defending themselves against their bullies just as much as the bullies for initiating the attack. And there are also tankies on the left wing who outright endorse aggressors like Russia, too.

‘Funnily enough, these pacifists would never say a woman should lie down and let a rapist rape her, but they don’t understand that they’re using that same logic when it comes to geopolitics.’
-SteadfastEnd

9.
‘Watering down words. “Unhoused,” “unalive,” everything so clinical and sanitized to maximize the comfort of the listener and shield them from thinking about it for five seconds.’
-suspiciouscffee