4 ms·
> Flashing it surrounded by notorious racists after the 4chan hoax leaves no doubt about the intended meaning. Trolling is a meaning. I think in that situation
by prepend 6y ago
> Flashing it surrounded by notorious racists after the 4chan hoax leaves no doubt about the intended meaning.
Trolling is a meaning. I think in that situation it’s even more ambiguous since the “troll power” is so much greater then.
I think it’s unambiguous that the user is a shit-stirrer certainly, probably an asshole. But not necessarily racist. Or no more so than your average run of the mill “everyone is racist subconsciously” racist.
I think what’s hard is that it’s a negative thing to do that brings more chaos and harm into the world. It could be racist/white power that is super bad, let’s say 100 on the bad-o-meter. Or it could be trolling the pearl clutchers that is mildly bad, let’s say 11 on the bad-o-meter. And for scale, punching someone in the face is 200 and murdering someone is 1000.
- pygy_ 6y agoEven if it is meant as a troll, it is still a way to signal kinship, among folks whose views are not exactly a secret. Haha, only serious... Hence, ultimately, a racist (if layered) symbol in this context. It's not been flashed as a joke by non-racist people.
- prepend 6y agoIt can signal kinship with troll-clan. So it’s used by non-racist trolls. And racist trolls. And racists. And just normal people who aren’t up on current events (eg, elementary school).