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I think that is a good end. The definition of ending well. Such forums are, by definition, smaller and have less reach. Moreover, it is clear that members of
by rmah 8y ago
I think that is a good end. The definition of ending well. Such forums are, by definition, smaller and have less reach. Moreover, it is clear that members of such forums are supporters of the nastiness the forum espouses.
- slothtrop 8y agoI'm not sure they have less reach. Most people have heard of the chans and stormfront from notoriety. And for one, I seriously doubt an individual comes into white nationalism through mainstream channels like reddit. What this ultimately accomplishes is that the public gets to be blissfully ignorant about the blemishes, but these people are operating in the same capacity as before without brushing up to challenges as much
- Operyl 8y agoMeh, I know of at least 3 ex-friends that came across enough content on Reddit to “push them over the edge.” I.e. they literally “credited” Reddit for their “enlightenment.”
- slothtrop 8y agoThat's not the kind of content you just stumble upon. If they sought that out they'd just as well have sought out other forums, so I find it moot that they happen to find racist content they found agreeable on reddit that further radicalized them. It's like the incels, they're just looking for a circle jerk. The reason I feels strongly about it is open discussion with racists have led to conversion away from white supremacy that would not have otherwise occurred e.g. Davis - https://www.npr.org/2017/08/20/544861933/how-one-man-convinced-200-ku-klux-klan-members-to-give-up-their-robes https://www.npr.org/2017/08/20/544861933/how-one-man-convinc... The fear of power of racists operating on a platform like reddit is overblown by virtue that racists seem stronger without it; strongest with echo chambers.
- Operyl 8y agoIt very much is. All it can take is a single comment by someone on a popular sub to have someone click their profile to read more, stumbling upon more of the same affirming content.
- slothtrop 8y agoIn that instance the content is being deliberately sought out. What's to prevent them from searching online for more reclusive forums like stormfront? Absolutely nothing. EDIT: since I can't reply to you, yes, by definition, it's seeking it out.
- Operyl 8y agoSeeing a supremest message in a comment, and clicking their name, is seeking it out? Jesus then, we’re screwed.
- plorkyeran 8y agoIt is very, very easy to just stumble upon stormfrontesque content on reddit. Reddit tries to keep it off the default frontpage and /r/all these days but they're not entirely successful, and it's not unheard of for the comments on a picture of a cute bunny to turn into a conversation about how people of some race are responsible for all of the problems in the world.
- slothtrop 8y agoSeeing a conversation go south into that territory is a far cry from stumbling upon a full-fledged white supremacist sub. I've seen plenty racists on reddit, they're still around post-censorship.
- joshuamorton 8y agoWhich is more likely, that you'll be able to convince a true believer to convert, or that a true believer well be able to convince someone on the fence? Putting racists on open platforms stops the second, and if you're so interested in changing their minds, nothing is stopping you from searching them out to do so. Daryl Davis went I to people's homes and met them in person to befriend and sometimes "convert" them. It wasn't accidental cross pollination. He explicitly reached out.