Every person possesses opinions or beliefs which shape and mold his or her political ideology. In today’s American society, political ideologies have split into a rift unlike any other in 21st Century America. While most Americans still identify as politically moderate, the divide between the far left and center and the far right and center continue to expand. The groups at each end of the spectrum have developed into radical factions, much to the dismay of the Americans in the middle of the spectrum. In the past few decades alone, a group based on the ideas of white nationalism has emerged on the far right side of the political spectrum: the alt-right. Cory Collins, author of the article “What Is the ‘Alt-Right’?”, states an alternative represents
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Trolls post memes found on online forums like 4chan often demonstrate racism and alt-right ideas in the form of jokes. Dale Beran, a comic book writer and educator who follows such forums closely, says the memes and trolling transformed the idea of users making fun of themselves and identifying as losers behind a screen into “a political platform of taking your powerlessness and feeling empowered” by posting alt-right ideas (Collins 39-42). In other words, the Beran says the trolls use memes concerning the alt-right to put down others and feel empowered, something members of the alt-right strive to do. Trolls of the internet simply post offensive memes because they wish to get a rise out of people, not out of hatred or because they concur with alt-right views. People give the trolls satisfaction by reacting in outrage, when all they need to do is disregard the memes and trolls. Meanwhile, white nationalists and alt-right members use hate speech and anger to put fear into others, not just to get a crowd aroused. Thus, some people mislabel internet trolls as alt-right …show more content…
The student who wrote to The American Conservative magazine—as mentioned in Collins’s article—says the alt-right has “swallowed up most of the guys in the senior class” at the high school the student attends (Collins 39-42). While the alt-right does indeed target young people, it is unlikely the students at this teenager’s high school actually associate themselves with the alt-right. The students most likely identify as highly conservative, but the student who wrote to The American Conservative assumed they hold alt-right beliefs. The writer of the letter assumes and publicly says the white, male students in his school hold alt-right beliefs, and in doing this he wrongly associates them with the alt-right. Some people mistake young, white males who have conservative beliefs express their right wing views for alt-right enthusiasts. In conclusion, some Americans wrongly view specific groups of conservative citizens and sources of media as alt-right. Highly conservative views do not make a person alt-right, but radical conservative views do. As the divide between the far left and center and far right and center continue to expand, citizens in the United States need to know the difference between radical and rational ideas, no matter where they fall on the spectrum. If everyone accepts and tolerates each other, the ideological divide will cease to
Trolls post memes found on online forums like 4chan often demonstrate racism and alt-right ideas in the form of jokes. Dale Beran, a comic book writer and educator who follows such forums closely, says the memes and trolling transformed the idea of users making fun of themselves and identifying as losers behind a screen into “a political platform of taking your powerlessness and feeling empowered” by posting alt-right ideas (Collins 39-42). In other words, the Beran says the trolls use memes concerning the alt-right to put down others and feel empowered, something members of the alt-right strive to do. Trolls of the internet simply post offensive memes because they wish to get a rise out of people, not out of hatred or because they concur with alt-right views. People give the trolls satisfaction by reacting in outrage, when all they need to do is disregard the memes and trolls. Meanwhile, white nationalists and alt-right members use hate speech and anger to put fear into others, not just to get a crowd aroused. Thus, some people mislabel internet trolls as alt-right …show more content…
The student who wrote to The American Conservative magazine—as mentioned in Collins’s article—says the alt-right has “swallowed up most of the guys in the senior class” at the high school the student attends (Collins 39-42). While the alt-right does indeed target young people, it is unlikely the students at this teenager’s high school actually associate themselves with the alt-right. The students most likely identify as highly conservative, but the student who wrote to The American Conservative assumed they hold alt-right beliefs. The writer of the letter assumes and publicly says the white, male students in his school hold alt-right beliefs, and in doing this he wrongly associates them with the alt-right. Some people mistake young, white males who have conservative beliefs express their right wing views for alt-right enthusiasts. In conclusion, some Americans wrongly view specific groups of conservative citizens and sources of media as alt-right. Highly conservative views do not make a person alt-right, but radical conservative views do. As the divide between the far left and center and far right and center continue to expand, citizens in the United States need to know the difference between radical and rational ideas, no matter where they fall on the spectrum. If everyone accepts and tolerates each other, the ideological divide will cease to