If the message is clearly coming from a mean spirited place you shouldn’t need to listen to that person.

Except centrists say we should. All the time. As long as bigotry is dressed up in “civil” language, centrists will say that it’s fair game.

I am constantly told, by centrists, that my right to exist in society is open for debate. Whether or not I can get my healthcare, or if it is criminalised, is an open question. And that’s not rare, I see it almost every day, from people who think of themselves as “center”.

From what I’ve seen, bigotry often gets defined as literally any deviation from the exact list of opinions one must hold to be considered left wing.

No. That’s just right-wing rubbish.

There are a tiny handful of opinions deemed bigoted. It’s just that the right-wing is utterly obsessed with them, and wants to talk about them all the time.

People can hold conservative and right-wing opinions about taxation or spending or foreign policy without being called bigoted. Progressives would probably disagree vehemently with them. But it’s not bigotry.

The people attacking “centrism” seem to think half the population is irredeemably evil and has nothing good to contribute to a conversation.

That is you strawmanning people, if that is what you think.

“Centrists” to me are people from a wide range of views who decide not to be at each other’s throats and actually talk things out.

Talk what out? Be specific. It matters.

Again, many topics are perfectly open for debate.

People’s inclusion in society as equals, is not.

To me the people who are willing to be civil (with those who are also civil and genuine about their views) are the ones making real progress instead of essentially hoping for civil wars to break out

Civil tone does not a civil idea make, is all I’d add to that.

Yes, did you?

You talk of being reasonable but posit the most unreasonable position and claim it’s as proof that others are unreasonable.

You’re completely full of shit.

Meanwhile, please show me a truly centrist path to the battle for rights. I would love to hear what a person like you sees as a reasonable outcome that somehow pleases those who deserve something unalienable and those who wish to obliterate those who fight for something unalienable.