Extremist dog whistles: history, harms, impact, and identification

[someguyontheinternet]

This video summarizes some of the information available in the papers in the first post pretty well for anyone who doesn't want to read 50 pages of academic material. They explain how signals must be taken on context and that the entire purpose is to manipulate public discourse. They also provide some additional evidence and context.

Something important that they note is that these tactics cause people who normally wouldn't agree with their actual policies or beliefs to give them the benefit of the doubt. The people engaging in these tactics benefit from being able to point at those who do recognize the dog whistles as paranoid. The entire process is essentially gaslighting to benefit fascist rhetoric.

 

[someguyontheinternet]

This image was provided in the above video, taken from 4chan which is a well known website where neonazis and alt right fascist congregate and create/spread hate content

 

[mal3volent]

This image was provided in the above video, taken from 4chan which is a well known website where neonazis and alt right fascist congregate and create/spread hate content

Wouldn't posting their master plan in public where all their secret strategies can be screenshotted be kinda counterproductive?

 

[someguyontheinternet]

Wouldn't posting their master plan in public where all their secret strategies can be screenshotted be kinda counterproductive?

It helps when people don't believe it in the first place due to the factors mentioned above

 

[someguyontheinternet]

 

[paltatomate]

I'm wondering how many people curious about neonazis but so far uninvolved because they don't know how to get to them are thankful for all those reports.

It's like giving an unexperienced drug user with no connections an instruction on how to recognize drug dealers. Guess what's going to happen.

You can't change what kind of people exist in this world. And you shouldn't expect them to change only because others don't like their opinions and behavior. The only one who will have a bad time fighting an impossible war against human nature is you.

 

[someguyontheinternet]

I'm wondering how many people curious about neonazis but so far uninvolved because they don't know how to get to them are thankful for all those reports.

It's like giving an unexperienced drug user with no connections an instruction on how to recognize drug dealers. Guess what's going to happen.

You can't change what kind of people exist in this world. And you shouldn't expect them to change only because others don't like their opinions and behavior. The only one who will have a bad time fighting an impossible war against human nature is you.

So you don't think we should try to prevent people from harming others?

Are you saying that this information on how to recognize hate speech will actually create more neonazis?

 

[tryptakid]

Ah I see it’s so we can forward the Orwellian nightmare whereby anyone who doesn’t agree with the status quo can be erased from existence, what a noble cause.

So neonazis and racists (the people that these reports are documenting) should have their freedom to discuss it preserved

AND

People who disagree with neonazis and racists (authors of this material) should be have their freedom to discuss it silenced?

 

[paltatomate]

So you don't think we should try to prevent people from harming others?

Are you saying that this information on how to recognize hate speech will actually create more neonazis?

I'm saying that they way you chose to get to your goal will end in you being burned out and disappointed, while neonazis or whatever group of people you think hurt others will still exist.

 

[tryptakid]

I'm saying that they way you chose to get to your goal will end in you being burned out and disappointed, while neonazis or whatever group of people you think hurt others will still exist.

So what to do about it instead? How should one respond to reprehensible speech that has kidnapped a society (as is the case in the US right now)?

 

[mal3volent]

People who disagree with neonazis and racists should be have their freedom to discuss it silenced?

Did someone imply that? I might've missed it.

So what to do about it instead? How should one respond to reprehensible speech that has kidnapped a society (as is the case in the US right now)?

Actually go out and vote for the imperfect candidate rather than staying home in protest, allowing guys like Trump to win. Vote in local elections. More things you can do on a personal level I guess, but you have to start with shit like that.

 

[paltatomate]

So what to do about it instead? How should one respond to reprehensible speech that has kidnapped a society (as is the case in the US right now)?

Be better than the others.

 

[tryptakid]

Did someone imply that? I might've missed it.

Catandthehat's suggestion that discussing this topic creates an orwellian nightmare.

Actually go out and vote for the imperfect candidate rather than staying home in protest, allowing guys like Trump to win. Vote in local elections. More things you can do on a personal level I guess, but you have to start with shit like that.

Yes, voting's important - but that isn't the topic being discussed in this thread, is it? This thread is about hate speech being coded as memes, jokes, and aphorisms which are designed to engage people emotionally rather than logically.

 

[tryptakid]

Be better than the others.

When they go low, we go high? That type of thing?

 

[mal3volent]

suggestion that discussing this topic creates an orwellian nightmare.

Oh. I read it to mean the Orwellian nightmare in his view was that those who didn't agree with the status quo were silenced. I didn't pick up on the implication that anyone on the opposite side should also be silenced.

Yes, voting's important - but that isn't the topic being discussed in this thread, is it? This thread is about hate speech being coded as memes, jokes, and aphorisms which is designed to engage people emotionally rather than logically.

Trump doesn't win, Elon's role isn't elevated. His Nazi salute carries less weight. We don't see the daily circus we're seeing now. Fringe internet trolls and racists recede back into their holes. Guess that's where I was coming from there.

 

[mal3volent]

When they go low, we go high? That type of thing?

Well... Obama was a very successful president. And Michelle probably would've crushed Trump if she had been courted by the DNC. I think it's sound advice personally. It doesn't mean you roll over and let people walk all over you. But the country was in a pretty great place imo when they left power.

 

[someguyontheinternet]

I'm saying that they way you chose to get to your goal will end in you being burned out and disappointed, while neonazis or whatever group of people you think hurt others will still exist.

So should we do nothing? The people I'm talking about want to kill people. They want to bring physical harm to those that are not like them, and that should not be ignored.

 

[paltatomate]

When they go low, we go high? That type of thing?

More in the sense of focus on what's directly around you. Your neighbor, your kid, your colleague. Show them how to be better, if necessary.

I can't really tell you what to do, because my whole concept about human society and its political issues is probably completely different. I don't feel like I have to save the world. If I can help one person at a time, if at all, that's enough for me.

 

[someguyontheinternet]

More in the sense of focus on what's directly around you. Your neighbor, your kid, your colleague. Show them how to be better, if necessary.

I can't really tell you what to do, because my whole concept about human society and its political issues is probably completely different. I don't feel like I have to save the world. If I can help one person at a time, if at all, that's enough for me.

We live in a new highly connected world where information spread faster and further than ever before. We can't ignore this method of communication.

 

[paltatomate]

So should we do nothing? The people I'm talking about want to kill people. They want to bring physical harm to those that are not like them, and that should not be ignored.

You know of someone specific who wants to kill someone, or you know someone is is going to be killed, then act in that specific case. Preventing that from happening, that's something where you have a chance to win.
But burning yourself out on a Don Quijote crusade won't help anyone.
You be might even be hurting others unintentionally while at it.