Some developments over the past few days have finally clarified for me something about how far right ecosystems organize to systematically harass people. 1/
Many times it begins with an innocuous site that posts something about a liberal journalist, writer, or academic. This original post does very little in terms of social media business. But it's not for that... 2/
These posts are meant as lures, as if they were being used to fish. The biggest hope is that the story and the person it targets garners the attention of a big fish, a Tucker Carlson or Sean Hannity. This is how sometimes you'll see these shows focus on individuals. 3/
But if the big fish doesn't bite, there's a secondary catch that begins a much darker and more insidious episode. This is spurred on by a particularly nasty troll site that marshals alt-right and extremist trolls to do personal damage. 4/
In the case of the troll site, the original article is used as a means to target individuals for specified, anonymous harassment. This includes doxxing, death threats, and organized campaigns to cost them their jobs and livelihood. 5/
Of course the original site has few ties to the troll sites, which is oftentimes traced back to either alt-right or Russian sources, but it's a feeder system that ensures spotlighted actors will receive punishment one way or another. 6/
These are the different tracts of the Right Wing machine as it is today. One is extremely in the public eye, the other operates in the shadows, but they're appendages of the same animal. They work in tandem and they're meant to silence and intimidate opposition. 7/7
