r/The_Donald helped radicalize users into far-right identities and discourse – Active users on r/The_Donald increasingly used white nationalist vocabularies in their comments within three months. ( journals.sagepub.com )

I know most people that were on reddit at the time are fully aware of this and won't be surprised but don't dismiss the findings out of hand. It's important that studies are being conducted and the fact that the finding match our lived experience is still noteworthy.

NuXCOM_90Percent ,

To add on to the people pointing out that science is data:

Yes, it is incredibly obvious that the turmp fanclub subreddit would radicalize people to become white nationalists.

What is not obvious is that this is happening everywhere. And, if you get a hold of one of the "leaked" white supremacist recruiting guides from the 80s and 90s, that is by design.

South Park Libertarians and all but it really is telling how many people, to this day, insist that the f-slur for gay people is really "Oh, we took that back. it means obnoxious motorcycle drivers". Let alone statements like "har har, you are so butthurt" that (regardless of what urban dictionary says) are on the same level as "ha ha, you are gay"

We see it every day. And it makes communities hostile. And if you call it out, you get driven out. Which means there are fewer people around to say "... what the fuck? How can we think this is acceptable?". And then someone whose entire vocabulary is "lolzors go woke go broke pepe pepe" gets rightfully made fun of elsewhere and now they are a victim and all those "for the lolz" become their identity.

funkless_eck ,

the f-slur can't be reclaimed for me, personally, I'm happy for those who do reclaim it but its just too painful as it's what I got called when I was badly hurt and was worried I would die as a 12 year old.

However, those who do reclaim it then use it around me, which just makes me think about what happened - involuntarily - and ruins my day (or part of it).

It's also tricky being a bi man in a het relationship in this regard, as if someone knows that it's hard to overcome their feelings that due to my partners existence, I now no longer have a say in these matters.

UnderpantsWeevil ,
@UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world avatar

Yes, it is incredibly obvious that the turmp fanclub subreddit would radicalize people to become white nationalists.

They're polarizing and definitely hateful.

But as the volume got cranked higher and higher, I think it encouraged more silent disgust than popular approval.

You just couldn't see it under all the pro-Trump spam.

And then someone whose entire vocabulary is “lolzors go woke go broke pepe pepe” gets rightfully made fun of elsewhere and now they are a victim and all those “for the lolz” become their identity.

The online Shoot And Cry strategy. Always be the victim.

TropicalDingdong ,

I would be extremely interested if things changed after the sub went private.

lennybird , (edited )
@lennybird@lemmy.world avatar

If you ever want to observe or engage (be ready for the pile-up) with these same folks, r/ShitPoliticsSays contains the exact same user-base of extremists. These are dyed-in-the-wool folks because they use this as a launching-point for brigading other subs comment threads. Lots of Canadian righties there, too. The only credit I'll give is unlike r/conservative that they never censored so you could pretty much discuss and test argumentative points to your heart's content.

Just read the thread covering this very article about T_D lol

Of course I still think a sizable chunk of these folks operate in discord channels and astroturfed Sanders subs (especially the 2020 election), ChapoTrapHouse, etc.

Feathercrown ,

Weak, all of them

masquenox ,

r/The_Donald helped radicalize extremify users into far-right identities and discourse – Active users on r/The_Donald increasingly used white nationalist vocabularies in their comments within three months.

FTFT. I so hate it when people who should know better ignore the actual meaning of terms.

pewgar_seemsimandroid ,

i thought the donald got banned, guess there's a new the Donald.

efstajas ,

Please read the link! It's a study of that time on Reddit when the Donald was growing rapidly.

irreticent ,
@irreticent@lemmy.world avatar

read the link

Blasphemy!

pewgar_seemsimandroid ,

thanks for the info, i will be potentially forgetting it
.

A_Random_Idiot ,
@A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.world avatar

yeah, but i'm sure theres plenty of other subreddits doing the same shit. Reddit doesnt get rid of bad actors, it just redistributes them.

Crack0n7uesday ,

4chan was pure weaponized autism in those days. They still call Trump "The meme president".

Shapillon ,

weaponized autism?

kattenluik ,

They've very much revealed that they come straight from 4chan.

PopcornTin ,

It's all about living in a silo. Surround yourself with one side, and there's no other direction to go but further down your side.

Blackmist ,

I don't know what they mean. I hung about in there for three years and I never picked up any white nationalist vocabulary.

This article sounds like (((globalist))) propaganda to me!

Edit: Incidentally, I was perma-banned from reddit for making a similar joke there.

Beaver ,
@Beaver@lemmy.ca avatar

Lmao the fascists are ready to burn down Reddit faster than greed would

  • All
  • Subscribed
  • Moderated
  • Favorites
  • •
  • [email protected]
  • kbinchat
  • All magazines
    •