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They aren't 'coping' with reactionary extremism, it's always had its seductive song. What has changed is just that extremist groups have very successfully adop
by vkou 4y ago
They aren't 'coping' with reactionary extremism, it's always had its seductive song.
What has changed is just that extremist groups have very successfully adopted the communication tools available to them for recruitment and engagement.
- reb 4y agoI don't think it's off-base to suggest individuals gravitate toward belief systems that address their anxieties, and that might be particularly true for reactionary extremism. Completely agree on your second point though, the amplifying power of the internet aids all messages (without intervention, anyway).
- vkou 4y agoSure, I suppose so, I'll agree that both factors are at play. It has been objectively documented that anxiety has increased over the years, and I (And every other Tom, Dick and Harry) have subjective just-so-stories and complaints that will blame particular attributes of modern society on why more people are looking for these kinds of answers today than they were before.