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8 tweets,
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1/ Another synagogue has been desecrated with cowardly murder, AR-15 spitting hate and ignorance at one bullet per trigger pull.
To the surprise of no one, we learn the shooter's demented world view was stewed in the foul waters of an online forum (8chan).
To the surprise of no one, we learn the shooter's demented world view was stewed in the foul waters of an online forum (8chan).
2/ Self evidently, browsing 8chan alone is not enough to turn anyone into an active shooter. If it were, the streets of Western cities would resemble Aleppo.
There must be something fundamentally broken at someone's core to make them unload a rifle into civilians.
There must be something fundamentally broken at someone's core to make them unload a rifle into civilians.
3/ Yet just as self evidently, the seeds of such evil grow far more readily in the hate filled soil of fringe forums and when fertilised with the dogwhistles of opportunist political leaders.
4/ The 8chaners, Daily Stormers and Incel.mes of this world will tell you their hatred is ironic, performative or even a healthy release valve.
I suspect it is little comfort to the victims of Poway to learn those cheering on their executions are doing so with a wink.
I suspect it is little comfort to the victims of Poway to learn those cheering on their executions are doing so with a wink.
5/ It is also a double standard we in the West would be unlikely to apply to a Jihadi forum or radical preacher.
I have my doubts the NSA or GCHQ are currently dismissing radical clerics or Jihadi message boards as just "Non-PC" or merely "ironically murderous."
I have my doubts the NSA or GCHQ are currently dismissing radical clerics or Jihadi message boards as just "Non-PC" or merely "ironically murderous."
6/ I recognize there is a free speech tension here. I understand the instinctive revulsion many feel at the notion of governments taking a greater intrusive role in online discourse.
I get it, and have no elegant solution.
I get it, and have no elegant solution.
7/ Yet manifestly something must be done and calls to address the "underlying problems" are a inadequate.
Clearly, angry young men are going to be with us, in large numbers, perhaps forever.
We're not a mental health or welfare reform bill away from fixing that.
Clearly, angry young men are going to be with us, in large numbers, perhaps forever.
We're not a mental health or welfare reform bill away from fixing that.
8/ If we cannot prevent the emergence of bad seeds, we owe it to ourselves to grapple with the poisonous online soil which nourishes their vileness.
We should have a real conversation about what that looks like.
/End
P.S @Jack, maybe we start by you banning the fucking Nazis?
We should have a real conversation about what that looks like.
/End
P.S @Jack, maybe we start by you banning the fucking Nazis?
