3 ms·

One-third of Americans think political violence is justifiable

10 points by MBCook 2y ago

h2odragon 2y ago
Should we anticipate "fiery but mostly peaceful protests" then?
- rawgabbit 2y ago
  The concern is not about organized events. The survey is saying the kindling is dry. And any potential spark will ignite violence like wildfire.
fullshark 2y ago
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
- lukan 2y ago
  Personally I do agree, but have you heard of the term "projection"? In other words likely no, not every man necessarily feels that. People are different.
- ahazred8ta 2y ago
  That was H. L. Mencken. Jonah Goldberg gave us "If there ever has been a moment when reasonable men's hands itch for the pitchfork, this must surely be it."
jmclnx 2y ago
[flagged]
- deleted 2y ago
  [deleted]
patrickmay 2y ago
2024 is starting to feel a lot like 1968. I hope the Democratic convention in Chicago doesn't demonstrate history rhyming. Sometimes violence is necessary, but it should be the last resort. As Larry Correia (an SF/fantasy author and blogger) wrote six years ago (https://monsterhunternation.com/2018/11/19/the-2nd-amendment-is-obsolete-says-congressman-who-wants-to-nuke-omaha/ https://monsterhunternation.com/2018/11/19/the-2nd-amendment...): "A friend of mine who is a political activist said something interesting the other day, and that was for most people on the left political violence is a knob, and they can turn the heat up and down, with things like protests, and riots, all the way up to destruction of property, and sometimes murder… But for the vast majority of folks on the right, it’s an off and on switch." I'd argue that the idea of violence being a knob isn't limited to the left, but strongly agree that it is in reality an off-on switch that one should think very hard about before flipping.
- fullshark 2y ago
  I don't think leftist anger over Israel (or whatever causes protests in a few months) comes close to leftist anger over the war in Vietnam, where a random selection of 18+ year olds were selected and sent halfway around the world to die. Democrats will hold their noses over the cavalcade of issues they have on their side and rally around Biden cause they are so terrified of Trump winning.
- ZeroGravitas 2y ago
  Why is he talking about 1% of gun owners waging a no holds barred terrorist campaign against the US as if it's a good thing that somehow proves gun control supporting Democrats wrong? And claiming that the real number would be closer to one third or half of all gun owners? And that most of them will be cops and soldiers? > Usually if they’re talking about soldiers, it’s about how they’re evil baby killers, or time bombs of PTSD rage, or poor deluded fools who joined the military because they couldn’t get a real job…. And cops, it’s about how they’re just a bunch of trigger happy racists just itching for an excuse to execute everybody who looks different than they do. Why is he upset at this description when he's just finished claming that if you pass a law on gun control these very people will start murdering people en masse?
- 2y ago
marcuskane2 2y ago
The disconnected between rhetoric and action in American political groups is fascinating. Republicans tell pollsters that violence is legitimate and then go sit inside their houses watching Fox News and whining on Facebook. Democrats tell pollsters that violence is illegitimate and then go out into the streets to protest, which then regularly includes violence against people trying to get past road blockages, looting of businesses, damage to cars and buildings in the area, etc. Somehow the multiple months of widespread violence across America under the banners of "Antifa" or BLM or "Occupy X" or whatever leftwing banner doesn't count as violence, but some law-abiding citizen ranting on social media under a rightwing philosophy is treated as if they're a huge threat. It's the most mindboggling double-standard gaslighting.
seattle_spring 2y ago
Interesting seeing most of the comments here interpreting the headline in a way that's completely opposite of the content of the article itself. Feels like I'm on a local news comment section.

10 points by MBCook 2y ago

h2odragon 2y ago

Should we anticipate "fiery but mostly peaceful protests" then?

rawgabbit 2y ago
The concern is not about organized events. The survey is saying the kindling is dry. And any potential spark will ignite violence like wildfire.

fullshark 2y ago

Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.

lukan 2y ago
Personally I do agree, but have you heard of the term "projection"? In other words likely no, not every man necessarily feels that. People are different.
ahazred8ta 2y ago
That was H. L. Mencken. Jonah Goldberg gave us "If there ever has been a moment when reasonable men's hands itch for the pitchfork, this must surely be it."

jmclnx 2y ago

[flagged]

deleted 2y ago
[deleted]

patrickmay 2y ago

2024 is starting to feel a lot like 1968. I hope the Democratic convention in Chicago doesn't demonstrate history rhyming. Sometimes violence is necessary, but it should be the last resort. As Larry Correia (an SF/fantasy author and blogger) wrote six years ago (https://monsterhunternation.com/2018/11/19/the-2nd-amendment-is-obsolete-says-congressman-who-wants-to-nuke-omaha/ https://monsterhunternation.com/2018/11/19/the-2nd-amendment...): "A friend of mine who is a political activist said something interesting the other day, and that was for most people on the left political violence is a knob, and they can turn the heat up and down, with things like protests, and riots, all the way up to destruction of property, and sometimes murder… But for the vast majority of folks on the right, it’s an off and on switch." I'd argue that the idea of violence being a knob isn't limited to the left, but strongly agree that it is in reality an off-on switch that one should think very hard about before flipping.

fullshark 2y ago
I don't think leftist anger over Israel (or whatever causes protests in a few months) comes close to leftist anger over the war in Vietnam, where a random selection of 18+ year olds were selected and sent halfway around the world to die. Democrats will hold their noses over the cavalcade of issues they have on their side and rally around Biden cause they are so terrified of Trump winning.
ZeroGravitas 2y ago
Why is he talking about 1% of gun owners waging a no holds barred terrorist campaign against the US as if it's a good thing that somehow proves gun control supporting Democrats wrong? And claiming that the real number would be closer to one third or half of all gun owners? And that most of them will be cops and soldiers? > Usually if they’re talking about soldiers, it’s about how they’re evil baby killers, or time bombs of PTSD rage, or poor deluded fools who joined the military because they couldn’t get a real job…. And cops, it’s about how they’re just a bunch of trigger happy racists just itching for an excuse to execute everybody who looks different than they do. Why is he upset at this description when he's just finished claming that if you pass a law on gun control these very people will start murdering people en masse?
2y ago

marcuskane2 2y ago

The disconnected between rhetoric and action in American political groups is fascinating. Republicans tell pollsters that violence is legitimate and then go sit inside their houses watching Fox News and whining on Facebook. Democrats tell pollsters that violence is illegitimate and then go out into the streets to protest, which then regularly includes violence against people trying to get past road blockages, looting of businesses, damage to cars and buildings in the area, etc. Somehow the multiple months of widespread violence across America under the banners of "Antifa" or BLM or "Occupy X" or whatever leftwing banner doesn't count as violence, but some law-abiding citizen ranting on social media under a rightwing philosophy is treated as if they're a huge threat. It's the most mindboggling double-standard gaslighting.

seattle_spring 2y ago

Interesting seeing most of the comments here interpreting the headline in a way that's completely opposite of the content of the article itself. Feels like I'm on a local news comment section.