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Some (two) criticisms of the article: > "But extremism has been central to 8chan identity since it was founded in 2013 by a computer programmer and self-procla

Some (two) criticisms of the article: > "But extremism has been central to 8chan identity since it was founded in 2013 by a computer programmer and self-proclaimed eugenicist Fredrick Brennan." Brennan himself is both disabled and has said (I can't recall where so forgive me if I'm wrong) that he was just trolling when talking about eugenics. Article says in the next sentence "(Brennan has since distanced himself from his earlier writings and beliefs and has cut ties with the site.)" but I can't help feeling that the initial mentioning of his discussion about eugenics was unnecessary. > "Protection from Cloudflare" This entire section looks to me like the article is blaming Cloudflare for 8chan's existence (and subsequently the El Paso shooting). If the author had that in mind they're making pretty big grasps here. Cloudflare has a reputation for trying to support HTTPS for as many sites as possible and offer protection from DDOSing ((disclaimer: I use their registrar and DNS)). This is mostly just my personal thought rather than an actual argument though. --- I think 8chan is probably the seediest search-engine-indexed site on the web right now. Even members of 4chan's random board, popularized as the shithole of the 'net, disavowed the actions of the El Paso shooter. Cloudflare can choose to tolerate 8chan, and I find that decision to uphold free speech admirable, but 8chan is far worse than the Daily Stormer.

geofft 7y ago
There isn't a meaningful distinction between ironic advocacy of eugenics and genuine advocacy of eugenics. The only question is whether the advocacy is received successfully or not. Don't forget the Daily Stormer style guide: > The unindoctrinated should not be able to tell if we are joking or not. There should also be a conscious awareness of mocking stereotypes of hateful racists. I usually think of this as self-deprecating humor - I am a racist making fun of stereotype of racists, because I don't take myself super-seriously. This is obviously a ploy and I actually do want to gas kikes. But that's neither here nor there.
- RandomGuyDTB 7y ago
  Yeah, you're probably right.
apostacy 7y ago
> > "But extremism has been central to 8chan identity since it was founded in 2013 by a computer programmer and self-proclaimed eugenicist Fredrick Brennan." This is highly exaggerated and misleading language, and makes it hard to take the rest of the article seriously. Mr Brennan has osteogenesis imperfecta, where the bones in his limbs are malformed, and constantly breaking and splintering in his flesh, and it is very painful, and there is no treatment. In a moment of deep frustration, some trolls were able to goad him into venting online about how he regrets being born and how cruel it is for his parents to knowingly bring him into this world. Calling him a "eugenicist" is ludicrous. That language makes him sound like he is somehow punching down at innocent people. He is suffering in a way most of us could never understand, and has moments where he wishes he were dead.

geofft 7y ago

There isn't a meaningful distinction between ironic advocacy of eugenics and genuine advocacy of eugenics. The only question is whether the advocacy is received successfully or not. Don't forget the Daily Stormer style guide: > The unindoctrinated should not be able to tell if we are joking or not. There should also be a conscious awareness of mocking stereotypes of hateful racists. I usually think of this as self-deprecating humor - I am a racist making fun of stereotype of racists, because I don't take myself super-seriously. This is obviously a ploy and I actually do want to gas kikes. But that's neither here nor there.

RandomGuyDTB 7y ago
Yeah, you're probably right.

apostacy 7y ago

> > "But extremism has been central to 8chan identity since it was founded in 2013 by a computer programmer and self-proclaimed eugenicist Fredrick Brennan." This is highly exaggerated and misleading language, and makes it hard to take the rest of the article seriously. Mr Brennan has osteogenesis imperfecta, where the bones in his limbs are malformed, and constantly breaking and splintering in his flesh, and it is very painful, and there is no treatment. In a moment of deep frustration, some trolls were able to goad him into venting online about how he regrets being born and how cruel it is for his parents to knowingly bring him into this world. Calling him a "eugenicist" is ludicrous. That language makes him sound like he is somehow punching down at innocent people. He is suffering in a way most of us could never understand, and has moments where he wishes he were dead.