Angry White People

[82_28]

I always thought of Mr. Rex as a free and open thinker. Always considered him fair as well. As for you AD, I don't join in the chorus of other people here I happen to like when they say something to the effect of that they don't like you. I don't roll like that. Like Mr. Rex said above, this is an Internet forum. Something's always bound to happen some may disagree with.

[American Dream]

I am open to Mr. Rex not being a fan of the Far Right- that is why I asked, as he has been saying some things of late that have piqued my interest and attentio for sure. Honestly, after reading his last response, I'm still feeling uncomfortable.

As to the moderation being very different than when Jeff Wells was more active here, I do stand by that and wonder what happened to our anti-racist/anti-fascist principles. I hope they're going to show themselves more strongly.

[Wombaticus Rex]

It's hard to know what really to make of the above. I would not hesitate to paint broad brush stroke and say "The Alt Right/Far Right is filled with toxic nonsense and is very much of a dead end road, politically, morally and socially".

Are you in substantive agreement?

Sure.

In that regard, it suffers from the same problem that literature, cinema and music do: most of it sucks.

I'm well aware that you "would not hesitate to paint broad brush stroke" -- that tendency has been noted, bud.

You asked me a list of questions, I gave you a list of answers.

[Belligerent Savant]

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(sigh... I really shoudn't even bother replying, but..)

I am open to Mr. Rex not being a fan of the Far Right

What fucking difference does it make?
He's not imposing his views -- whatever they may be -- on forum members or using this forum as a platform for his views. Regardless, it's quite clear this forum consists of autonomous self-thinking individuals. Whatever views any of us here may harbor, 'my intuition' tells me such views won't be swayed one way or the other by commentary on this board, at least not with regards to BIG BOX political views.

What causes an individual to "change their minds"? Mere words, or are there numerous other factors at play? How much control can you presume to have over all the variables?

the naive and frankly wholly unrealistic attempts at THOUGHT control are FUTILE, and what's most amusing (or disturbing, depending on one's perspective) is your lack of self-awareness in seeing how your actions here mimic those of your proclaimed enemy: the fascist.

"The only effective Anti-Fascism is: Fascism", indeed.

[American Dream]

Looking over this thread itself makes it clear that RI has drifted far, far away from what Jeff Wells- and a lot of us besides- hoped this place would be.

That is a serious thing.

[Belligerent Savant]

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Bahahaha...

Yes, it's "serious". Someone please notify the forum police.

[jakell]

I don't get it, you've all known each other for years, why the American inquisition?

I thought it was settled.... I'm the bad guy, it's become a sort of fun role (in a masochistic sort of way)

[82_28]

Well, if things of this nature go sideways because they are contributed to with no real point other than to argue, you have a point. We all are responsible for ourselves. With perhaps a few exceptions, this thread is going as planned. Angry White People.

[Belligerent Savant]

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Aren't there plentiful reasons to be "angry" in this zeitgeist?
If one is not angry [outraged], one isn't paying attention, as a paraphrase of the 'ol refrain goes.

Not sure I consider myself "White" in the conventional sense though... my parents were immigrants that didn't move to the U.S. until after they were married in the '70s.

I spoke 2 languages --- Italian and Spanish -- my first few years on this earth before learning English in pre-K/Kindergarten, and was occasionally teased for my slight accent.

All that said, I'm not angry, actually -- not about this stuff. It'd be silly to get angry at words on a screen. Some of the arguments/comments here may border on SATIRE, perhaps, and I may reply with a semblance of passion (it's in my blood, after all), but anger it is not.

Indeed, I spent the better part of today enjoying the brisk sunshine with my offspring -- can't get much better than that. Far cry from "angry". For today, at least.

But enough about me. Generally, anger expression can be cathartic; a cleansing process of sorts.

I'm sure there'll be more to follow given current state of affairs, far beyond the limited confines of this message board.

[American Dream]

Angry enough to throw a brick at an eight year old's head because you don't like their skin tone or might label them a "foreigner"? That would be an extremely fucked up thing to do, no? And yet, people are organizing such activities every day- and it hits pretty close to home, too.

Isn't that the sort of everyday violence that jakell and tapitsbo have wasted so many electrons in service of obscuring important moral, political, even spiritual dimensions of?

[jakell]

Angry enough to throw a brick at an eight year old's head because you don't like their skin tone or might label them a "foreigner"? That would be an extremely fucked up thing to do, no? And yet, people are organizing such activities every day- and it hits pretty close to home, too.

Isn't that the sort of everyday violence that jakell and tapitsbo have wasted so many electrons in service of obscuring important moral, political, even spiritual dimensions of?

Nonsense, I've been focusing on the OP far more than your narrow window on the first few paragraphs, and intend to do more of the same once you stop whinging. You do his article a disservice.

At least you've remembered who the main villain around here is. Now leave your chums alone, they already give you a hell of a lot of leeway.

[Searcher08]

Angry enough to throw a brick at an eight year old's head because you don't like their skin tone or might label them a "foreigner"? That would be an extremely fucked up thing to do, no? And yet, people are organizing such activities every day- and it hits pretty close to home, too.

There is NO-ONE at RI who comes within a thousand clicks of being an apologist for behaviour like that. I grew up in a seething maelstrom of hate and violence in 70s Belfast; the murderers ALWAYS had a "reason" for it. It left me with a HUGE aversion to, and distrust of ALL ideology.

Isn't that the sort of everyday violence that jakell and tapitsbo have wasted so many electrons in service of obscuring important moral, political, even spiritual dimensions of?

[/quote]

And here is where you go off on one. You have a Party Line, such that if anyone ever challenges that or object to your behaviour or take you to task for CopyPasta monsoons, that ENTAILS they must be in the above catchment area. It is associational Othering - it's natural outcome is the totalitarian Red Guard attitude exemplified by folks like Spencer Sunshine in the political dimension and a type of holier-than-thou elitist narrow-minded Buddhism / Scientism fundamentalism. You have turned into an antifa Richard Dawkins with a side-serving of chakras.

[jakell]

....You have turned into an antifa Richard Dawkins with a side-serving of chakras.

Now that is a good one!

[tapitsbo]

Angry enough to throw a brick at an eight year old's head because you don't like their skin tone or might label them a "foreigner"? That would be an extremely fucked up thing to do, no? And yet, people are organizing such activities every day- and it hits pretty close to home, too.

Isn't that the sort of everyday violence that jakell and tapitsbo have wasted so many electrons in service of obscuring important moral, political, even spiritual dimensions of?

I am in full support of clarification with minimal anger, not sure I'm going to start hoarding electrons though.

I feel that corny "White Nationalism" and "Antifa" tropes both obscure quite a lot.

The idea of symbolic violence was brought up before by AD. A kneejerk reaction to AD's post might be to relativize the image of disgusting violence they're bringing up here with counter-examples. I'm more interested in pursuing the question of what function such "triggering" imagery is serving here. I don't think the purpose is an actual discussion about these kinds of crimes, I think it's to stymie conversation about a much broader set of issues. Anyone here with me on that?

[Belligerent Savant]

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My only added comment is to take a page from 82_28's handbook and extend an olive branch.
AD is simply committed to his cause, despite any quibbles over his methods. A tip of the cap to ya, AD.

(just words on a screen - a useful mantra indeed)