4 ms·

Aren't the chans not about your real beliefs, but simply trolling to get reactions ? http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/09/11/terrorist-troll-pretended

by MollyR 10y ago

Aren't the chans not about your real beliefs, but simply trolling to get reactions ? http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/09/11/terrorist-troll-pretended-to-be-isis-white-supremacist-and-jewish-lawyer.html http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/09/11/terrorist-t... This guy got articles published as radical feminist as well beyond being a fake isis terrorist, fake white nationalist, fake jewish lawyer.

ue_ 10y ago
I think this is a narrow position. On the boards on chans that I frequent, this isn't at all true. Yes, there are occasionally "trolls" who pretend they have positions they do not. The sarcasm may be subtle or not, depending on intention. But far more predominantly there are people who espouse their views and back them up cogently. There are also devil's advocates. But I wouldn't say that chan culture is about this, or that there is an inextricable link between them. It's simply a common occurance by nature of being anonymous. More often than not, "bait" is called out as such, but even if you're being serious, you can ignore that. A mixed bag, but certainly not representative. I know of many on the politics board who do sincerely hold nationalist or white supremacist views, and I have argued against them. I also know many on the left-politics board who will talk you through Marx's critique of capitalism. There is some nuance in my opinion.
- zerowellies 10y ago
  As a counter I think there are /leftypol/ users who sincerely hold Stalinst or Maoist views. Jokes are made about gulags, Holodomor and the Great Purge, just as /pol/ will joke about 9/11, the Holocaust and mass shootings. How does this make it a better place of discussion?
  - ue_ 10y ago
    Because from my experience and what I have been told by users of both /pol/ and /leftypol/, people get banned less on /leftypol/ for opposing viewpoints. I also think that there is a difference between the boards in that /leftypol/ is quick to ridicule a sincere Maoist (Jason Unruhe) but I've seen that /pol/ will jump on the bandwagon of the nearest Holocaust-denier. I think that there is a lot more of a liberal and tolerating view on /leftypol/ due to the sheer diversity of the left. This is in contrast to the very narrow brand of the right-wing (a subsection of the alt-right) that's on /pol/, from what I see. But we should remember that it's Leftist Politically Incorrect, not Leftist Politics.
    - zerowellies 10y ago
      Interesting about people getting banned. I haven't browsed either for a while. More diverse within leftist politics, but across the political spectrum? I don't think a forum full of edgy memes is a great place for political discussion, /pol/ or /leftypol/
      - ue_ 10y ago
        The memes are "banter" and fun, which a lot of people really do enjoy. It's like a bar, where you have most people talking about banalities, but there are a few people who will explain theory to you, link you to books, debate you etc. Generally a thread is either a meme thread (with small discussion if any) or a serious thread with discussion.

by MollyR 10y ago

ue_ 10y ago

I think this is a narrow position. On the boards on chans that I frequent, this isn't at all true. Yes, there are occasionally "trolls" who pretend they have positions they do not. The sarcasm may be subtle or not, depending on intention. But far more predominantly there are people who espouse their views and back them up cogently. There are also devil's advocates. But I wouldn't say that chan culture is about this, or that there is an inextricable link between them. It's simply a common occurance by nature of being anonymous. More often than not, "bait" is called out as such, but even if you're being serious, you can ignore that. A mixed bag, but certainly not representative. I know of many on the politics board who do sincerely hold nationalist or white supremacist views, and I have argued against them. I also know many on the left-politics board who will talk you through Marx's critique of capitalism. There is some nuance in my opinion.

zerowellies 10y ago
As a counter I think there are /leftypol/ users who sincerely hold Stalinst or Maoist views. Jokes are made about gulags, Holodomor and the Great Purge, just as /pol/ will joke about 9/11, the Holocaust and mass shootings. How does this make it a better place of discussion?
- ue_ 10y ago
  Because from my experience and what I have been told by users of both /pol/ and /leftypol/, people get banned less on /leftypol/ for opposing viewpoints. I also think that there is a difference between the boards in that /leftypol/ is quick to ridicule a sincere Maoist (Jason Unruhe) but I've seen that /pol/ will jump on the bandwagon of the nearest Holocaust-denier. I think that there is a lot more of a liberal and tolerating view on /leftypol/ due to the sheer diversity of the left. This is in contrast to the very narrow brand of the right-wing (a subsection of the alt-right) that's on /pol/, from what I see. But we should remember that it's Leftist Politically Incorrect, not Leftist Politics.
  - zerowellies 10y ago
    Interesting about people getting banned. I haven't browsed either for a while. More diverse within leftist politics, but across the political spectrum? I don't think a forum full of edgy memes is a great place for political discussion, /pol/ or /leftypol/
    - ue_ 10y ago
      The memes are "banter" and fun, which a lot of people really do enjoy. It's like a bar, where you have most people talking about banalities, but there are a few people who will explain theory to you, link you to books, debate you etc. Generally a thread is either a meme thread (with small discussion if any) or a serious thread with discussion.