I don’t necessarily disagree, but it can kinda fan the flames.
Most extremist groups use persecution, real or imagined, as a recruitment tool. Opposing these minority, extremist groups makes the people on their fringes feel isolated and pushes them towards the group.
An opposing protest isn’t going to change the minds that need to be changed.
I’m not necessarily saying it’s the wrong thing to do, just that it’s not really clear cut.
The racist reactionaries are gonna do all that stuff anyway, with or without opposition. The racists will fan their own flames; it is useless to consider what will or will not set them off. See Obama wearing a tan suit or Mandani handing someone who handed someone else a pen.
Societal pressure should be used to let these kinds of people know they are unwelcome and a fringe minority. People are social creatures and less likely to join widely unpopular groups.
The minds that need to be changed aren’t the already racist bigoted people, but instead the people sliding down the pipeline. Consistent opposition is great for that because it can give pause to those on the pipeline and make joining the racists unappealing.
Consistent opposition is great for that because it can give pause to those on the pipeline and make joining the racists unappealing
Actually it’s the opposite.
It makes “joining the racists” unappealing to the vast majority of people, but these groups are not trying to recruit the rational majority of people.
The opposition is used by these extremist groups to make the individuals they’re trying to recruit feel isolated and persecuted by society at large. It’s a well documented recruitment tactic. Literally part of the pipeline you’re talking about.
I’m going to say something a bit radical here. If they are even thinking about joining a group like this, then they are already gone and not worth talking to anymore…
Okay, idea for someone else: The counter-counter-protest all show up in clown and jester outfits, with big painted smiles and everything. Juggling, pulling rolls of coloured ribbon out of their mouths, the whole 9 yards.
Just laugh and laugh and laugh at the stupid clowns…
I don’t necessarily disagree, but it can kinda fan the flames.
Most extremist groups use persecution, real or imagined, as a recruitment tool. Opposing these minority, extremist groups makes the people on their fringes feel isolated and pushes them towards the group.
An opposing protest isn’t going to change the minds that need to be changed.
I’m not necessarily saying it’s the wrong thing to do, just that it’s not really clear cut.
The racist reactionaries are gonna do all that stuff anyway, with or without opposition. The racists will fan their own flames; it is useless to consider what will or will not set them off. See Obama wearing a tan suit or Mandani handing someone who handed someone else a pen.
Societal pressure should be used to let these kinds of people know they are unwelcome and a fringe minority. People are social creatures and less likely to join widely unpopular groups.
The minds that need to be changed aren’t the already racist bigoted people, but instead the people sliding down the pipeline. Consistent opposition is great for that because it can give pause to those on the pipeline and make joining the racists unappealing.
Actually it’s the opposite.
It makes “joining the racists” unappealing to the vast majority of people, but these groups are not trying to recruit the rational majority of people.
The opposition is used by these extremist groups to make the individuals they’re trying to recruit feel isolated and persecuted by society at large. It’s a well documented recruitment tactic. Literally part of the pipeline you’re talking about.
I’m going to say something a bit radical here. If they are even thinking about joining a group like this, then they are already gone and not worth talking to anymore…
I don’t think people “think about joining” a group like this the way someone thinks about joining a sports team or book club.
There will always be people on the fringe who are not too far gone.
“Persecution” of the minority is always a recruitment tool.
Okay, idea for someone else: The counter-counter-protest all show up in clown and jester outfits, with big painted smiles and everything. Juggling, pulling rolls of coloured ribbon out of their mouths, the whole 9 yards.
Just laugh and laugh and laugh at the stupid clowns…