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What happened after my 13-year-old son joined the alt-right

washingtonian.com

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Re: What happened after my 13-year-old son joined the alt-right

#141

Post by paulwal »

Obi_Juan_Kenobi wrote: post #128
GreaterFool wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unmoderated quickly devolve into toxic pool of "I don't actually care about what you're saying, I'm just going to downvote/report you". And it works! No discussion can take place just self-reinforcing feedback loop (ironically that's what the author describes in the article!). Moderated platforms are no better because then one is at the mercy of the moderator. What are we to do? I like to discuss anything and everyth…

Downvotes aren't "I don't like you / your idea". Obviously some people use them that way, but ultimately they're about public moderation. I downvoted your comment. I can explain why if you like. It's not because "I don't really care about what you're saying", and it's not right to be so dismissive. There are substantive reasons. First, you set up a strawman: Why are Americans so obsessed with Nazis? There are two imp…

You sound very pretentious.

Re: What happened after my 13-year-old son joined the alt-right

#142

Post by api »

eropple wrote: post #50
hinkley wrote: post #36

> Sam prides himself on questioning conventional wisdom and subjecting claims to intellectual scrutiny. For kids today, that means Googling stuff. One might think these searches would turn up a variety of perspectives, including at least a few compelling counterarguments. One would be wrong. The Google searches flooded his developing brain with endless bias-confirming “proof” to back up whichever specious alt-right s…

Google-related, but I'd submit that YouTube is one of the prime culprits. Kids like stuff like video games. Video game recommendations devolve into chud territory in two hops - fascist in three or four.

Targeting gamers is neo-fascism's bread and butter strategy since they proved the concept with "GamerGate." I remember seeing all that stupid GG nonsense and having no idea I was watching the beginning of a massively successful propaganda offensive.

Re: What happened after my 13-year-old son joined the alt-right

#143

Post by 01100011 »

GreaterFool wrote: post #110

It's an interesting story. I find the conclusion not unsurprising. The author seems to assume the existence of `alt-right` as a monolithic group with a specific agenda. As far as I can tell that's not true. These groups may come out together to protest because they've been lumped together by the media. If they weren't all branded `alt-right`, would they connect? If you want to disarm them, divide them! Don't label th…

I dunno...if you lump them together they start to believe it and end up tearing each other apart in internecine battles surrounding their subtle differences in beliefs.

Re: What happened after my 13-year-old son joined the alt-right

#145

Post by nv-vn »

opportune wrote: post #95
davidw wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I lived in Italy for many years, and one of the more dismaying aspects of the culture is how much some people still identify with actual fascists and communists. They're both terrible ideas that should be widely repudiated by both left and right.

I don't really understand why you're writing as if people who want to eliminate minorities are as bad as people who want to eliminate inequality. It's not relevant

"I don't really understand why you're writing as if people who want to eliminate babies are as bad as people who want to eliminate abortions" -- A pro-lifer, probably

Re: What happened after my 13-year-old son joined the alt-right

#146

Post by gatherhunterer »

moosey wrote: post #123

> When we did confront Sam—say, if we caught a glimpse of a vile meme on his phone—he assured us that it was meant to be funny and that we didn’t get it. It was either “post-ironic” or referenced multiple other events that created a maze-like series of in-jokes impossible for us to follow. I have made it clear to people I know that parroting vile positions online "because of humor" isn't really a clarification that y…

I have a friend who went to a Jewish high school in the U.S. (reformed, not Yeshiva) and graduated with enough Holocaust jokes to write her own anti-Semitic encyclopedia. Children challenge their surroundings, it’s part of growing up.

If Sam (from the article) feels like he has been marginalized, misrepresented and punished unfairly by a system that does not even try to understand him then I am sure he would relate the experiences relayed in a Holocaust museum. A little perspective goes a long way.

Re: What happened after my 13-year-old son joined the alt-right

#147

Post by closetohome »

GreaterFool wrote: post #8

Why are Americans so obsessed with Nazis? I mean, I'm from Europe and I don't recall growing up worrying about everyone being a secret (or overt) Nazi, which, unless promptly punched in the face, would somehow take over. WWII and Nazis destroyed Europe. Are Europeans worried about Nazis? Not as far as I can tell. Yet all I see from American news is Nazis this Nazis that. Can someone explain?

Portions of our far-right literally wear Nazi regalia. If it weren't for that, we'd probably be less concerned.

Re: What happened after my 13-year-old son joined the alt-right

#148

Post by GreaterFool »

01100011 wrote: post #143
GreaterFool wrote: post #110

It's an interesting story. I find the conclusion not unsurprising. The author seems to assume the existence of `alt-right` as a monolithic group with a specific agenda. As far as I can tell that's not true. These groups may come out together to protest because they've been lumped together by the media. If they weren't all branded `alt-right`, would they connect? If you want to disarm them, divide them! Don't label th…

I dunno...if you lump them together they start to believe it and end up tearing each other apart in internecine battles surrounding their subtle differences in beliefs.

I think that's exactly what is currently happening to the left!

EDIT: But I think the left believe they must be united at all cost. Because anyone not in their group is wrong. I don't get that vibe from any other part of the spectrum: moderate left (if it still exists)/center/right/alt-right/far-right.

Re: What happened after my 13-year-old son joined the alt-right

#150

Post by 01100011 »

Reminds me of my soon to be little brother. When I met him he was 14 year old Vietnamese-American kid, immersed in meme culture, spouting white supremecist ideas under his breath and making Holocaust jokes. Fortunately he seems to have grown out of it now.

The whole 4chan culture is so appealing to young boys. Inside jokes, porn, violence, conspiracy, and you can participate. Frankly I'd probably have been sucked in if it was around when I was a kid(I still had a 4chan phase a few years ago but wasn't stupid enough to go alt right).

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