1/18
If you want to have an intelligent conversation about violent rhetoric and political extremes in this country, then you need to understand the fracturing on the alt-right these days.
Between MAGA and groups like Groypers or the “Groyper Army”
If you want to have an intelligent conversation about violent rhetoric and political extremes in this country, then you need to understand the fracturing on the alt-right these days.
Between MAGA and groups like Groypers or the “Groyper Army”
2/18
These groups, believe that “mainstream conservative organizations” are “insufficiently nationalist” and not “pro-white” enough…
These groups, believe that “mainstream conservative organizations” are “insufficiently nationalist” and not “pro-white” enough…
3/18
They broke with the likes of Kirk, even though Kirk said “black women do not have the brain processing power” to “be taken seriously”
And that “black people were ‘better’ in the 1940s” before civil rights.
This man wasn’t “pro-white” enough for this movement.
They broke with the likes of Kirk, even though Kirk said “black women do not have the brain processing power” to “be taken seriously”
And that “black people were ‘better’ in the 1940s” before civil rights.
This man wasn’t “pro-white” enough for this movement.
4/18
The movement rallies around Nick Fuentes as a figure head.
Whose ultra-white, anti-feminism and ultra Christian orthodox views fuel the movement.
He infamously started the phrase “Your body; my choice” after the over turning of Roe vs Wade.
The movement rallies around Nick Fuentes as a figure head.
Whose ultra-white, anti-feminism and ultra Christian orthodox views fuel the movement.
He infamously started the phrase “Your body; my choice” after the over turning of Roe vs Wade.
5/18
When Kirk started his 2019 campus tour, Fuentes declared a “Groyper War” against the “fake conservative” asking his followers to go to Kirk events and press him on stances that weren’t “conservative enough” to “expose him”
When Kirk started his 2019 campus tour, Fuentes declared a “Groyper War” against the “fake conservative” asking his followers to go to Kirk events and press him on stances that weren’t “conservative enough” to “expose him”
6/18
This continued with their second “Groyper War” splitting with the Trump campaign.
This continued with their second “Groyper War” splitting with the Trump campaign.
7/18
After the first “Groyper War” the ISD (Institute for Strategic Dialogue), an organization focused on combatting online extremism, put out an entire case study on Groyper’s for law enforcement.
After the first “Groyper War” the ISD (Institute for Strategic Dialogue), an organization focused on combatting online extremism, put out an entire case study on Groyper’s for law enforcement.
8/18
The ISD report noted that Groyper’s were leaking from just online trolling to real world violent action.
In part because their native use of meme culture, perceived edginess and overt praise of white males led to capturing some of the most mentally vulnerable individuals.
The ISD report noted that Groyper’s were leaking from just online trolling to real world violent action.
In part because their native use of meme culture, perceived edginess and overt praise of white males led to capturing some of the most mentally vulnerable individuals.
9/18
A large part of the problem stems from the fact that Fuentes is a personality.
When you read his unhinged statements such as his rant on being an “incel” you can see he leans into a caricature of himself.
It’s hard to separate true beliefs from the clickbait.
A large part of the problem stems from the fact that Fuentes is a personality.
When you read his unhinged statements such as his rant on being an “incel” you can see he leans into a caricature of himself.
It’s hard to separate true beliefs from the clickbait.
10/18
But, what we know from long histories of online indoctrination in places like 4chan, is that’s exactly what makes these outlets dangerous.
But, what we know from long histories of online indoctrination in places like 4chan, is that’s exactly what makes these outlets dangerous.
11/18
>a community develops a crass hyperbole meme on the most extreme version of their real view
>They celebrate it constantly as culture
>new community members join not knowing the origin or having a social/mental impairment being unable to grasp that it’s a meme
>within one generation of a userbase, many users now think the meme is a true belief
>a community develops a crass hyperbole meme on the most extreme version of their real view
>They celebrate it constantly as culture
>new community members join not knowing the origin or having a social/mental impairment being unable to grasp that it’s a meme
>within one generation of a userbase, many users now think the meme is a true belief
12/18
These groups are the ones that have openly called for the killing of media, and a pro-Christian war in America attempting to normalize the speech.
And while its hateful, horrible language no one should say, I believe many like Fuentes mean it as hyperbole BUT it normalizes it among the crazies who don’t see it that way.
These groups are the ones that have openly called for the killing of media, and a pro-Christian war in America attempting to normalize the speech.
And while its hateful, horrible language no one should say, I believe many like Fuentes mean it as hyperbole BUT it normalizes it among the crazies who don’t see it that way.
13/18
How many unhinged alt-right accounts have you seen shout “this is war” or “we need to end the left” or “this is a war on Christian America” since Kirk’s passing?
How many unhinged alt-right accounts have you seen shout “this is war” or “we need to end the left” or “this is a war on Christian America” since Kirk’s passing?
14/18
How many accounts have you seen with AI avatars, or a MAGA banner image, or a Roman statue profile picture, or some frog meme, tell you they are a “true American tired of the dangerous rhetoric of the left that made someone die” - it’s a constant.
How many accounts have you seen with AI avatars, or a MAGA banner image, or a Roman statue profile picture, or some frog meme, tell you they are a “true American tired of the dangerous rhetoric of the left that made someone die” - it’s a constant.
15/18
Much of that is foreign bots, amplifying messages of groups like Groypers.
Like I outlined in the Good Ol USA project coverage.
And even if the bots, or Fuentes don’t believe their words, they normalize it for the most vulnerable and radical.
Much of that is foreign bots, amplifying messages of groups like Groypers.
Like I outlined in the Good Ol USA project coverage.
And even if the bots, or Fuentes don’t believe their words, they normalize it for the most vulnerable and radical.
16/18
We have to understand these online hate groups.
We have to understand why their rhetoric is dangerous.
Why their “jokes” and hyperbole get amplified and cannot be ignored.
We have to understand these online hate groups.
We have to understand why their rhetoric is dangerous.
Why their “jokes” and hyperbole get amplified and cannot be ignored.
17/18
It’s also why I take the time to reply to disinformation bots.
You’ll never change the mind of a bot.
But it’s not about that.
It’s about making sure the passive reader doesn’t think that the disinformation is true, popular or normal.
It’s also why I take the time to reply to disinformation bots.
You’ll never change the mind of a bot.
But it’s not about that.
It’s about making sure the passive reader doesn’t think that the disinformation is true, popular or normal.
18/18
Fwiw, Fuentes finally seems frustrated with his audience these days, realizing what he has created.
And maybe, he’ll start to walk back some of the ideologies he’s put out there.
While that isn’t a redemption story, the world would be better off if he did it.
Because people who are mentally ill, cling to communities like this.
They take the hyperbole and meme culture as reality, and that leads to very dangerous places.
Even when we don’t mean for it - words have tremendous power.
But it’s not calling someone hateful a “Nazi” that leads to violence. It’s calling for hangings and wars, and the glorification of hate, that corrupts the minds of societies most lost and vulnerable.
Fwiw, Fuentes finally seems frustrated with his audience these days, realizing what he has created.
And maybe, he’ll start to walk back some of the ideologies he’s put out there.
While that isn’t a redemption story, the world would be better off if he did it.
Because people who are mentally ill, cling to communities like this.
They take the hyperbole and meme culture as reality, and that leads to very dangerous places.
Even when we don’t mean for it - words have tremendous power.
But it’s not calling someone hateful a “Nazi” that leads to violence. It’s calling for hangings and wars, and the glorification of hate, that corrupts the minds of societies most lost and vulnerable.
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