Why Do Alt Right Racists Use Anime Avatars

[Captdon]

i was wondering about this a few weeks ago and decided to investigate. Being naive, I didn't know why, but noticed it was common among the 4chan, 8chan, and reddit crowd. In fact, it evens lead to a new discovery, as of today and thanks to one of our most well-known posters.

How the internet spawned 21st-century fascism

I visited Germany a couple years ago and did a tour of the Unterwelten, and in one of the exhibits they had a photo of a mural in an uncovered SS hideout. The SS soldiers imagined themselves as brave soldiers protecting women and children from corruption. So yes, with fascism, the people that get involved in it do think that they are promoting a value system.

One of the tenets [of fascism] is hyper-traditionalism, the idea that society is falling apart, and therefore we need to go back to the past and restore a concrete set of values.

The difference is you focus on the role that the internet plays, that youth culture, that counterculture plays. I focused more on the average Trump supporter who's, you know, over 60 and not on 4chan, but maybe more on Facebook and watching Fox News.

But I think that they're drawn by the same impulse, which is not a politics of positivity, so much as a politics of tearing things down, of trolling the libs, of sticking it to the libs.

I do agree with you that is part of what the right does, not just this subgroup but in general. Fox News is, in a sense, nihilistic, where they really are interested in just tearing apart liberal ideas or leftist ideas. And in the end, it is nihilistic because it's serving a very limited ends and ignoring big problems like climate change or marginalizing all these people.

Experts who've tracked the radicalization process of these young men have described a fairly standard path. First they start off on places like 4chan and Reddit doing memes. Then they get sucked into misogynist communities, where it's a lot of young men blaming their dating problems on feminism and the lady Ghostbusters. Then they get pulled into white supremacy and fascism and calling Trump their "god emperor". How does that square with your research? Is that what you found when you actually started talking to people involved in this community?


Yes. I would say that description is very accurate. It's surprising how often I talked to a source and that's exactly what has happened.

There are people on the margins, right? There are people who have gone into it and then bumped back out of it, where it became a phase in their life. That happens.

But, for the most part, it's a great deal of kids and mostly young men who have dropped out and they feel then very angry and resentful towards women.

Only crazy people let memes mean anything real. They will be dregs of society and that's that.

[Captdon]

We will likely never know everything about the trigger for the explosion of violent Nazi politics in the 1930's, but I don't think jews were not altogether innocent in it. I'm sure they weren't.

What "hyper-traditionalism" do you see in this country? There is none that I'm aware of. It's a straw man.

The internet certainly does play a big role in magnifying, amplifying, spreading -- often globally -- and internalizing social issues, many of which have nothing to do with the majority of people exposed to them. The last is probably injurious to various degrees, but the push is hard for nation-wide and global dissemination anyway. They want it that way, which is to suggest that they seem to want to drive you crazy.

"... You focus on the role that the internet plays, that youth culture, that counterculture plays. I focused more on the average Trump supporter who's, you know, over 60 and not on 4chan, but maybe more on Facebook and watching Fox News."

Trump supporters are young, old and of all colors, creeds and backgrounds, a multitude that is everywhere and growing. Look under your bed.

Jews were the victims. Do you understand that? You can't state one fact that the Jews had anything to do with the rise of Hitler other than being Jews.

[Captdon]

I agree with you on many issues -- Economic Issues, Racial Issues, Control of dangerous items. Many Conservatives disagree with me 100%.

But, I disagree that men are Privileged Oppressors. Many men are tired of being constantly vilified by Media and Academia. Many men are scared of having their career destroyed by a tweeted accusation.

Of course men have more combat deaths. Never mind. You're hopeless.

[CCitizen]

Never mind. You're hopeless.

If your career is destroyed by a single accusatory tweet, I am always ready to emotionally support you.

[Agent Zero]

We will likely never know everything about the trigger for the explosion of violent Nazi politics in the 1930's, but I don't think jews were not altogether innocent in it. I'm sure they weren't.

What "hyper-traditionalism" do you see in this country? There is none that I'm aware of. It's a straw man.

The internet certainly does play a big role in magnifying, amplifying, spreading -- often globally -- and internalizing social issues, many of which have nothing to do with the majority of people exposed to them. The last is probably injurious to various degrees, but the push is hard for nation-wide and global dissemination anyway. They want it that way, which is to suggest that they seem to want to drive you crazy.

"... You focus on the role that the internet plays, that youth culture, that counterculture plays. I focused more on the average Trump supporter who's, you know, over 60 and not on 4chan, but maybe more on Facebook and watching Fox News."

Trump supporters are young, old and of all colors, creeds and backgrounds, a multitude that is everywhere and growing. Look under your bed.

Jews were the victims. Do you understand that? You can't state one fact that the Jews had anything to do with the rise of Hitler other than being Jews.

Capt’s not right often, With this hes he’s spot on.

Say what you want, but the parallels to Trump and Hitler are evident. Through his handlers, Trump has concocted an easy foe, a dark person, an immigrant, who practiced a different religion, and instilled in his dolls a fear of that person. Just like Hitler did with the Jews.

[Mister D]

Trust me, captdon isn't crazy enough to believe that. The "parallels" are for morons and a small number of manipulative, evil men. You are among the former.

[Tahuyaman]

...Say what you want, but the parallels to Trump and Hitler are evident.....

Not to anyone with a functioning brain.

[bulletbob]

First Im a republican Im not a raciest but have been a victim of racism.
I dont use a avatar. I more then understand why people do use a avatar putting your picture on a public form has certain dangers .I see both conservative and liberals using them here few do not.
So your wrong on that. Im not ashamed of who I am or my face as most people fear using their face .

[Admiral Ackbar]

I love the facade of intellectualism here.

Let us break down the garbage here.

1. Trump/Hitler comparasions are crap. Hitler was a dictator and rose during a time of great struggle/depression and anxiety. Trump is the elected leader of a federal republic. Now before you give me "Hitler was elected too". Understand that dictators do not arise to preside of great suceess. Our country despite its issue is a great success. It is the left that would have you believe there is a crisis. Why? because in crisis they can remake our systems. So think about who wants to be a dictator

2. The young men in the SS I have no doubt believed they were couragous soldjers protecting their home land. All young men in military service believe this. With out that believe how would one ever make the sacarfices needed to serve. My guess is even the evil Jihadis believe they are protecting their lands.

This doesnt mean their leaders were right, but as men who have served in combat will tell you they rarely think about the geopolitical implications of their service. They fight for their friends next to them.

#3. Young men need a mission in life. They want to do things and contribute. This is the big difference between Men andWomen. Men need to have a mission

#4. Jordan Peterson is telling it like it is. There are bright lines and his points are merly the wisdom of all ages

[Captdon]

If your career is destroyed by a single accusatory tweet, I am always ready to emotionally support you.

That will be a big help.