Has the age of the Internet caused more extremism?
 

I know that it sounds like a boomer title, but trust me I will not be saying "Internet bad" in such a cartoonish way, so please bare with me as I try to propose the question.

Do you believe that the Internet has played a part in extremist viewpoints getting more into the mainstream? Or do you think that it's always been there, but now it's just being noticed more because the MSM can't block it out like they used to? Or do you think that the Internet has actually improved people's tolerance levels, and are in fact less extreme in their views?

For me, I love the Internet by and large, but I do think that the one thing that I think that it does encourage, is echo chambers.

You see it all of the time on Social Media, where people will block each other if they have a difference of opinion, because they've become that intolerant towards an opposing viewpoint.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that the Internet makes people have "crazy" beliefs, but I think that the Internet does encourage people to hold more extreme versions of their beliefs, due to likeminded people circle-jerking off of each other, and if the particular viewpoint is already controversial/potentially dangerous in it's more moderate form, I do think that these echo chambers encouraging more extreme versions of these viewpoints is going to reach boiling point for society in the future.

I mean just look at the examples that I can think of.

Covid - You had the far right believing that it weren't real, and that they're just making it up so that they can put microchips in us, with the Vaccine.

Then we get to the Vaccine part, where imo both sides lost their ****, we had the far right believing that the Vaccine is either planting microchips in us or we were being deliberately killed off by injecting them, oh and wearing mask apparently doesn't make you macho.

And then we had the rest of society being like "if you don't take the Vaccine then we'll demonize you, and won't let you work or live a normal life again" despite the fact that people were scared, plus it's not the Ebola where yes, taking the Vaccine in a case like that should definitely be mandatory, imo common sense was completely lost by both sides during that debacle.

Then we have the Israel and Palestine stuff, where we have on the pro-Palestine side, SNL doing blatant propaganda.

I've shown this before, but it's so disgustingly vile, that it needs to be reminded to people just how far SNL lied about the real version of events.

Real video:



SNL video:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep-Ons...F5IHNubA%3D%3D

I personally recommend that people watch both videos, if you haven't seen them already, and make up your own mind on the situation, as I think needs to be encouraged more often in society.

And we do have the Scream 5 & 6 lead Actress being fired for being pro-Palestine, freedom of speech yet again being used to punish someone for just speaking, clearly actions speak louder than words doesn't apply anymore.

Then there's the stat that The Sun reported, where Incel ideology is becoming a bigger issue in the UK at the very least.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/274320...e-andrew-tate/

And for people that don't want to click on the link, it says that in 2021 three men were referred to the Government's Prevent Terrorism scheme.

Yet by March 2022 the number had gone up to 77 men needing to be referred, what the hell is that number in April 2024?

And sticking to the Incel topic just look at a few of these crimes that have been happening over the last few years over the world.

Jake Davison - https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/...w-jake-davison

Alek Minassian - https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...-guilty-murder

Elliot Rodger - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-43892189

Tobias Rathjen - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanau_shootings

Mauricio Martinez Garcia - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023..._mall_shooting plus he had other extremist viewpoints.

And the most recent one... Joe Cauchi - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-68814395

Then there is the fact that Danny Dyer has said that his 9 year old Son likes Andrew Tate.

Link for proof that Danny Dyer has said this - https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/ne...te-fan-372756/

And going to the less bleak (but still extreme) takes in the Entertainment world, where people fall out with each other if they don't agree with each other, especially if the product is even remotely political.

To see how crazy some people are just look at this video.



And even if you think that he is hamming this up for views, he still had 12k people giving the video a like, and that's a lot of people to like one YouTuber's video that to be really honest, sounds like it wouldn't be too amiss from being apart of the Incel community.

So basically how many people that have never seen the video, share his view? Because I'm betting that it's more than 12k people.

Then we do have to look at the more "modern" day Feminists, who instead of preaching for progressive values, and the betterment of women in society, they instead moan about women being attractive in Video Games, and yes you've read that correct.

Here's some examples of what I'm on about.

Stellar Blade review - https://metro.co.uk/2024/04/24/stell...=mosaic_gaming

The sexualization of 'Bayonetta' is fine... With the right context - https://goombastomp.com/the-sexualisation-of/ Now if this journalist had've just left it at "The sexualization of 'Bayonetta' is fine..." Then I wouldn't be calling them an extremist, but the bizarre twist and turns to justify Bayonetta's sexualization because they hate the thought of men finding women attractive, is just absolutely bizarre imo.

Basically I'd be here all day showing examples, and I've already made the thread long enough (sorry about that guys.)

But basically that's my opinion on the topic.

And as a side note, do you think that some of these extremist ideologies can be defeated from the mainstream platforms?

And I know that there's the JK Rowling versus Trans stuff as well, but I think that everyone already knows about that issue.:laugh:

And I did forget to ask.

Do you think that ignore/block buttons, are also not helping with people accepting different viewpoints?

As I've already said, I do believe that the Internet can bring some good to the table, but does it still need a bit of finesse in certain areas?

The internet is possibly the best and worst invention !!


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It truly is, isn't it Zizu?

Out of interest, do you think this guy is for real, or do you think that he is hamming up a woman hating persona for views?

Possibly a bit of both … plus he’s into wrestling which has always been a bit sus

:)


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I was wondering if it might be a bit of both, but I'm not the best at reading people, that's why I always love to get a second opinion.

You say both left and right lost their minds over stuff but you only seem to cover the right sides so called negativeness...therefore I cant give a proper opinion.

…it gives a platform, I guess…for like minds to gather…and that gathering can fuel hate also…hate is very much fuelled on the internet in terms of some social media …I don’t do social media but I’m sure that some is very good and positive also…we’re always going to get that mixture…in here, though…as in, on discussion platforms…we focus a lot on the media/news stories, so we’re focusing on the negative…the internet is also probably the best and most efficient information tool that humankind has ever had so…as I say, it will inevitably have a balance as many things do…it’s also probably the biggest source of misinformation and false information and that will also add to ‘like minded gathering’…

…what’s that saying…one is the loneliest number…the internet gives a platform for many ‘ones’ to gather and be in the company of those ‘understanding’ minds…which can then all collect and fuel…it doesn’t mean, though…that the outcome will result in any extremism act…the internet also, I think…gives labels…

People are who they are. There was loads of extremism before the internet. The world was wild before the internet

Sadly , aided by the internet , probably the one thing that has grown beyond belief is paedophilia and other psychiatric disorders


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…’tribalism’ is something that is a lot more part of society as well, which is very much linked to the internet because it expands and broadens those ‘tribes’…so many things are almost ‘game show-like’…in that its ‘team this’ or ‘team that’…very playground type behaviour …I guess social media especially can and does encourage ‘grouping’….you're on our team, come and sit with us/type thing…I mean, that’s simplifying, obviously…

When was the SNL propaganda right wing?:laugh:

Or the Video Game journalists hating women being sexualized in Video Games due to feminist ideology, right wing?

I think that the Internet definitely has helped Paedophiles find each other more easily.

On the flip side, it makes it easier for the Police to find them.:dance:

Only stupid people want to be in a tribe,
Free thinking is still alive

The thing is some of the issues like immigration has got so bad that the percentage of people that have simply had enough has grown to record numbers

The internet is like so many other things in life, it can be used for good and bad

Just like cars make peoples life easier, one being driven to fast or careless can cause death or serious injuries

Religious beliefs can be used for good or evil

Yes, Good Point.


Of course,
now those groups have faster connections
that becomes today's problem.


More need to be employed by the Government's
GCHQ

the internet has meant that more extremism is being shown to us

its a bit like "extreme weather"

20 years ago I had seen a handful of tornado videos

I see about 5 a week or so now

the number of tornadoes has stayed pretty much the same

Social media, especially Twitter / X gives a lot of weight to fringe opinion, whether it is left or right.

It doesn't represent public opinion in any realistic way.

I think we spend far too much time online worrying about someone being far Right/ far Left. I don't think I'm either. Just because I hope Trump gets in at the next election, or I believe the slaughtering of so many Palestinians needs our moral support, doesn't put me in either category.
In real life, I get along with my neighbours and I try and stay away from controversial subjects with people I don't know well. Online I can... to an extent, unleash my passion about something. Social media allows me to do that and with big platforms like X and Telegram, my comments will mainly go unnoticed, but then I can at least get something off my chest.

Yes that matters,
more.

Telegram is not main stream enough

KKK and other extremist groups that don’t exist now (thank God) were widespread before the internet. People might use the internet to assemble in groups across the world now but that doesn’t mean anything more than what it means. Racism was much worse back in the day (as recently as 2023, even) but since YT and bla-bla-bla the world’s heard more about isolated incidents on the tube or ’bus.

Pretty sure the KKK are still thriving and even gaining momentum again ..

I may be wrong ..


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I think I read that in 2022 there were around 40 active Klan groups in the USA

https://www.adl.org/sites/default/fi...?itok=-UfXwYJl

I pray to god that you're wrong.

But compared to the 1800s?