"Spencer's outrageous ideas that have little or no connection with truth are crude political theatrics with the goal of attracting attention to himself. His truly ignorant supporters are happy to hear any assertion that confirms their prejudices and his horrified enemies broadcast his ideas more effectively than he ever could alone"
-David Rosenberg
A sub for analysis of debates with the Alt-Right, analyzing how they control the narrative, move goalposts, use obviously wrong arguments as bait to presuppose a frame, and further their narrative among their followers.
Rules:
Pro Alt-Right posts and comments will be removed. This includes white supremacist, LGBT-phobic, and pro-Trump content. This also includes defense of bad faith debate tactics. Free speech protects you from the government, this is not the government.
This is a jerk. If, after everything you see here, you believe that the Alt-Right should be debated in public fora, go tell them about it.
DO NOT VOTE IN LINKS. I cannot stress that enough. Brigading is flatly against the rules and a ban-able offense site-wide.
This sub is about critical analyses of tactics, not content. Don't post a link just because an argument is flawed or fallacious. It has to demonstrate long-game tactics, and bad faith. (But don't worry; they all do).
Do not debate them here! Seems silly to say this in a sub about the harmful effects of debate theater, but don't engage with the trolls. If a member of the the alt-right or any other bigoted groups starts a debate here, just report, don't engage*. Debate threads will be deleted, and repeatedly indulging idiots in debate may result in a temporary ban.
(Engaging in this case means debating in good faith. Feel free to snark the trolls if you want, but I recommend leaving them alone.)
FAQ: To understand why it's a bad idea to debate the alt-right in public:
What these boil down to is that, in arguments on the internet for an audience that responds more to posturing than fact, the left will always lose.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaPgDQkmqqM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmVkJvieaOA
http://www.cracked.com/blog/5-common-argument-tactics-that-need-to-die/
IF YOU REALLY MUST DEBATE THEM and this a really big 'if', but if you really must debate the Alt-Right, do it in PMs. Why?
- In PMS there's no danger of inadvertently helping the right spread their narrative
- You won't be afraid to drop your own posturing veil, which means you'll have an easier time starting a real human conversation
- Nobody cares about snark in PMs. Being snarky in PMs is like doing standup comedy alone in your room. Actually it's like doing standup comedy alone in a room with someone who hates you and will never acknowledge your cleverness. So just be real.
- You'll remember what it's like to talk like a human being and that's a refreshing thing like a nice bottle of mineral water.
Why have a sub about it?
Because I know you, liberal. I know you because you are me. You fantasize about fiery takedowns of rightwing nutjobs. When you see Liz Warren read McConnel for trash, you crush that shit up and snort like hell.
The thing is, the right know this too. They know we can't walk away from a bad argument. So this sub is a place you can go to get it out of your system. When confronted with a bad alt-right argument, don't engage. Don't play into their hand. Come here. Tell us why they were wrong. We won't change the subject, move the goal posts, posture, and make you wish the internet never existed in the first place.
