3 ms·

You are making an assumption that it's primarily about performative cruelty. But I would guess a non-trivial amount of them are just looking for a place where t

by zaphar 6y ago

You are making an assumption that it's primarily about performative cruelty. But I would guess a non-trivial amount of them are just looking for a place where they feel safe talking about what they believe. Every slice of the political/cultural spectrum has it's trolls but they trolls are not representative of the general population. I may think much of what the other side says is reprehensible but I can generally tell when the speaker is trolling vs just speaking their mind.

belltaco 6y ago
In this case it comes from the very top and is a big factor. Newly elected U.S House rep telling ppl that voted against him to cry more. https://i.redd.it/uv97gw1bb5x51.jpg https://i.redd.it/uv97gw1bb5x51.jpg Trump Jr. in front of Trump asking the crowd to make the liberals cry. https://twitter.com/VicBergerIV/status/1323527158816333824 https://twitter.com/VicBergerIV/status/1323527158816333824
atomi 6y ago
I've seen what they post when they're "speaking their mind" It almost always devolves into "jokes" about getting state approval to shoot immigrants, refugees, minorities in open ranges, or providing "helicopter rides" - a reference to dropping people from helicopters. This is what currently unifies the right wing of US politics.
doublejay1999 6y ago
I like both points here. Twitter gets traction because professional trolls / grifters use it to build their personal brand. They are frequently newspaper columnists, authors, and TV pundits who benefit directly or indirectly from have a large number of followers (whether they following in agreement or follow out of outrage, it matters not). Sadly this is true of the left as well as the right; they are all selling something. These Professionals need large mainstream audiences, which is why they love twitter and twitter loves them, but they are a different animal to the tribalists who want to satisfy their need to mix with like minded people. Until the fringe sites enable the former as well as the latter it's not immediately obvious how they remain viable.
- SideburnsOfDoom 6y ago
  > Sadly this is true of the left as well as the right; they are all selling something. citation for the "both-sides"-ism very much needed.
  - TechBro8615 6y ago
    Is this a serious question? Do you honestly believe the left has no agenda or that “mainstream news” is not effectively propaganda? The news business depends on division to thrive. Division and anger drives clicks and eyeballs. Oh, and let’s not forget the billions of dollars in political advertising that goes into the pockets of corporate news organizations and social media companies — the very same entities that are fomenting the division that necessitates the advertising in the first place. It’s a rage cycle. As a starting point I would recommend reading Matt Taibbi’s Hate Inc and subscribing to Glenn Greenwald’s substack. They’re two of the only left-of-center commentators who have not lost their integrity over the past five years, and their ideas are worth listening to.
    - SideburnsOfDoom 6y ago
      > Do you honestly believe the left has no agenda Straw man, not what I said. "they all have agendas therefor they're as bad as each other" is dangerous, dismissive and wrong. > subscribing to Glenn Greenwald’s substack. They’re two of the only left-of-center commentators who have not lost their integrity Thanks, now I see where you're coming from and I know that I can safely ignore your opinions. As to the idea that Greenwald is one "of the only left-of-center commentators who have not lost their integrity", https://theintercept.com/2020/10/29/glenn-greenwald-resigns-the-intercept/ https://theintercept.com/2020/10/29/glenn-greenwald-resigns-... It really doesn't come across as a good-faith argument.
      - deleted 6y ago
        [deleted]

by zaphar 6y ago

belltaco 6y ago

In this case it comes from the very top and is a big factor. Newly elected U.S House rep telling ppl that voted against him to cry more. https://i.redd.it/uv97gw1bb5x51.jpg https://i.redd.it/uv97gw1bb5x51.jpg Trump Jr. in front of Trump asking the crowd to make the liberals cry. https://twitter.com/VicBergerIV/status/1323527158816333824 https://twitter.com/VicBergerIV/status/1323527158816333824

atomi 6y ago

I've seen what they post when they're "speaking their mind" It almost always devolves into "jokes" about getting state approval to shoot immigrants, refugees, minorities in open ranges, or providing "helicopter rides" - a reference to dropping people from helicopters. This is what currently unifies the right wing of US politics.

doublejay1999 6y ago

I like both points here. Twitter gets traction because professional trolls / grifters use it to build their personal brand. They are frequently newspaper columnists, authors, and TV pundits who benefit directly or indirectly from have a large number of followers (whether they following in agreement or follow out of outrage, it matters not). Sadly this is true of the left as well as the right; they are all selling something. These Professionals need large mainstream audiences, which is why they love twitter and twitter loves them, but they are a different animal to the tribalists who want to satisfy their need to mix with like minded people. Until the fringe sites enable the former as well as the latter it's not immediately obvious how they remain viable.

SideburnsOfDoom 6y ago
> Sadly this is true of the left as well as the right; they are all selling something. citation for the "both-sides"-ism very much needed.
- TechBro8615 6y ago
  Is this a serious question? Do you honestly believe the left has no agenda or that “mainstream news” is not effectively propaganda? The news business depends on division to thrive. Division and anger drives clicks and eyeballs. Oh, and let’s not forget the billions of dollars in political advertising that goes into the pockets of corporate news organizations and social media companies — the very same entities that are fomenting the division that necessitates the advertising in the first place. It’s a rage cycle. As a starting point I would recommend reading Matt Taibbi’s Hate Inc and subscribing to Glenn Greenwald’s substack. They’re two of the only left-of-center commentators who have not lost their integrity over the past five years, and their ideas are worth listening to.
  - SideburnsOfDoom 6y ago
    > Do you honestly believe the left has no agenda Straw man, not what I said. "they all have agendas therefor they're as bad as each other" is dangerous, dismissive and wrong. > subscribing to Glenn Greenwald’s substack. They’re two of the only left-of-center commentators who have not lost their integrity Thanks, now I see where you're coming from and I know that I can safely ignore your opinions. As to the idea that Greenwald is one "of the only left-of-center commentators who have not lost their integrity", https://theintercept.com/2020/10/29/glenn-greenwald-resigns-the-intercept/ https://theintercept.com/2020/10/29/glenn-greenwald-resigns-... It really doesn't come across as a good-faith argument.
    - deleted 6y ago
      [deleted]