I probably confuse some readers with my values, and I’m ok with that

Because “values” is a not simple concept with binary outcomes, and no one has a monopoly on values.

I get many kind and encouraging comments for my stories, but I also see this or some variation of this:

Good bye, Alexei. I used to like your pieces. Pushing soft antivaxxer propaganda… and semi-apologist tatewashing… and basically mixing social destruction, human trafficking, inciting mysoginist violence, and rape into “free speech”…

meh, I’m sad to block you. But if I want these unpopular opinions in my face, I just read anything conservative.

Good luck with your unpopular opinions in the future. I’m sure you’ll get a nice, steady influx of altrightish readers.

Am I “altrightish”?

My entire adult life, I’ve considered myself a liberal though I don’t like these simplistic labels in the first place.

Am I an anti-vaxxer? Not really, but after the initial vaccine, I started doubting the efficacy of all the subsequent boosters, so I’m not having another one. While young and hopefully healthy, I’d rather have my immune system deal with the virus. And, yes, I have respect for Novak Djokovic’s firm stance — at the expense of missing championships and records that he’s no doubt chasing, that dominate his identity — about making his own decision about protecting his body.