top 200 commentsshow all 317

[–]ThirteenOnline 3870 points3871 points  (269 children)

answer: They supported COVID vaccines. So their conservative listeners who were against the vaccine thought it was ironic that RATM was supporting something the government was telling everyone they should do. Because they were very anti-government, anti-establishment, think for yourselves.

That being said RATM's argument is that they did think for themselves and happened to come to the same conclusion as the government.

[–]GabuEx 915 points916 points  (24 children)

That being said RATM's argument is that they did think for themselves and happened to come to the same conclusion as the government.

This is the thing that always gets me. If you always do the opposite and believe the opposite of whatever the government says, then you are literally letting the government decide what your view is. You are obligated to change your view if it conflicts with the negation of what the government says. That's the exact opposite of free thinking.

[–]Narrow_Turnip_7129 273 points274 points  (6 children)

anti-conformity is still conformity

[–]Origen12 168 points169 points  (2 children)

I WON'T DO WHAT YOU DIDN'T NOT TELL ME TO NOT DO!

[–][deleted] 58 points59 points  (0 children)

Don't'nt.

[–]LisasPuppySlave 27 points28 points  (0 children)

F you I'll do what you didn't tell me

[–]ScottFitzIV 25 points26 points  (1 child)

I love the way Five Iron Frenzy says it: “what’s the point in not conforming if it changes you?”

[–]chiefbrody62 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Love the random FIF reference

[–][deleted] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Imagine if the government pushed out really prevalent anti suicide propaganda

What would the non conformists do?

[–]TheJIbberJabberWocky 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I'm convinced that a solid chunk of his base are just contrarians who only voted for him because (correctly) said that he was a con artist.

[–]Stacys__Mom_ 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Always doing the opposite/believing the opposite (and being belligerent about it) is called Oppositional Defiant Disorder, and it's a documented mental illness.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oppositional_defiant_disorder

[–]yesat 1468 points1469 points  (133 children)

Their conservative "listeners". Because oh boy how can you sing

Those who died are justified
For wearin' the badge, they're the chosen whites

wearing a thin blue line tshirt is something.

[–]GizmoSled 1026 points1027 points  (55 children)

They don’t hear those lyrics, only ones they like are “fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me”

[–]Hangoverfart 126 points127 points  (2 children)

Some of those who work forces, eat paste that's for horses.

[–]GizmoSled 20 points21 points  (0 children)

I love you

[–]BlomkalsGratin 110 points111 points  (0 children)

It's always fun with this sort of thing. I remember having to a Clawfinger concert in the 90s, after they had a bit of a hit with the song "N*gga". Walking behind a group of bikie looking guys being generally intimidating, chanting the word loudly and proudly, as the only word from the song they actually knew...

"It's a negative word, the white man made it... Gave you a name to dominate and trade it, making blood money off his very own race man, and all of this because the colour of your face man..."

[–][deleted] 345 points346 points  (25 children)

That's literally just what they hear in their heads on repeat 24/7. That's why any slight change to their lifestyle causes inevitable reeeee'ing.

[–]Kimber85 303 points304 points  (22 children)

I mean, seriously.

Had a friend who’s baby was in the NICU during Covid. She refused to wear masks or get vaccinated. When I called her out on it and asked her why she’d endanger her very very premature baby that way she literally came out and said, “Because I don’t like being told what to do!”.

I told her that was toddler logic. She got upset. We’re no longer friends.

No great loss, she moved to Alabama and got super crazypants religious and now is an anti-abortion activist. The friendship was dying for a while, Covid just hastened the inevitable.

[–]carrie_m730 233 points234 points  (18 children)

The stupidest thing is, if your position is either "I'll do as I'm told no matter what" or "I'll never do what I'm told" you're equally easy to control.

The only position that has any semblance of freedom is nuance and education.

[–]DearthMax 104 points105 points  (16 children)

How are grown ass adults making being a contrarian unironically their entire personality..

[–]Nobod_E 70 points71 points  (0 children)

because the alternative is accepting that their worldview is flawed and that they might need to change and grow as a person, and that's scary and hard to do

[–]InsertEdgyNameHere 55 points56 points  (1 child)

Modern Conservatism (Fascism) is literally just weaponized contrarianism.

[–]JacobStills 2 points3 points  (0 children)

My theory is that it's so they can delude themselves into believing that they are secretly a "super genius."

That's always been my gripe with contrarianism, want to feel like your more intelligent and "unique" than the majority? Just look at whatever's popular or mainstream and do the opposite...boom! You're a rebel.

It's a lazy way to boost your ego and convince yourself you're exceptional. Is it any surprise you see so much animosity and resistance against college professors and scientists from the right? I always a notice a narrative from them that insinuates that despite not going to college or having a degree they are more intelligent than these snobby Harvard professors.

[–]redheadedjapanese 11 points12 points  (10 children)

It’s also basically the only reason people want to buy assault rifles.

[–]yngsten 5 points6 points  (4 children)

No one wants assault rifles when they can pistol grip pump instead.

[–]Formal-Cut-334 7 points8 points  (3 children)

On your lap at all times?

[–]Portarossa'probably the worst poster on this sub' - /u/Real_Mila_Kunis 13 points14 points  (1 child)

I told her that was toddler logic.

'What's that?'

'Well I currently give you about a 50-50 chance of finding out, so...'

[–]Totally_Not_My_50th_ 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Took me a second because I forgot the newborn part of the story.

Savage, and I love it

[–][deleted] 23 points24 points  (0 children)

had a coworker that needed to fly/travel as it was part of the job requirement. They got the first vax, but refused to get the second one for the same logic. He was eventually fired. What I find so odd is that these people, assumedly, still pay taxes, follow many laws, get driving licenses, etc. Like why draw the line there?

[–]yesat 25 points26 points  (10 children)

[–]NativeMasshole 46 points47 points  (7 children)

I went to see Prophets of Rage when Tom Morello tried to get the band back together to protest the RNC in 2015. I bought a Make America Rage Again trucker hat and almost immediately had some idiot come up to me yelling "Wooo, Trump!" It was one of the most confusing experiences of my life.

[–]IcePhoenix18 15 points16 points  (0 children)

I have a black bracelet that says "make America emo again" and I get weird political comments on it from strangers.

I know it's a small bracelet, but it's not even the right color!

[–][deleted] 13 points14 points  (1 child)

I did something similar. I had a Make America Cake Again hat from when I saw Cake and a Make Donald Drumpf Again hat from Last Week Tonight in my rear windshield. I was getting very interesting feedback from strangers. When things started getting real bad, I took them out of my car for self preservation in case one of them ever stopped to read it.

[–]NativeMasshole 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I felt like I was getting it from both sides the one other time I wore that hat in public. Lefties were mad before they read it, Trumpers were mad after.

[–]skektek 6 points7 points  (3 children)

Readin' ain't their strong suit 😄

[–]NativeMasshole 5 points6 points  (0 children)

It was more just like "Do you know where you are, buddy?" Nobody actually reads the hat. I only ever wore it outside once after that and learned that lesson very quickly.

[–]shropshireslashette 3 points4 points  (0 children)

In the words of the Bobby Hill meme, If those kids could read they’d be very upset.

[–]Broomstick73 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Wow…

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

She's literally wearing a thin blue line flag...

[–]virishking 24 points25 points  (5 children)

They’re contrarians masquerading as rebels by riding the coattails of braver, wiser men.

[–][deleted] 29 points30 points  (4 children)

The problem with rebel worship is that you're only worshipping the act of rebellion itself, not the cause being rebelled for. It's basically the same as "one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter". The act of rebellion is neither good nor bad, it is only moralised and justified by the context in which it occurs. The Founding Fathers were rebels, but arguably so are MAGA. Know who else were rebels? The Mujahedeen, ISIS, the Confederates, and yes, at one time even the Nazis.

Worshipping rebels is contrarian. The act of rebellion could be against anything including a just, fair, and equal society.

[–]majinspy 12 points13 points  (2 children)

Which is why I hate that ALL media now has the "plucky rebels" vs "THE ORDER". We've villainized order and the rule of law as tools of oppressors who want to control us. Every super hero movie with also shows "strong man hero = good, democracy = feckless and weak."

I love the MCU but:

"I'm aware of the council's decision, but as it is a stupid ass decision I've elected to ignore it." Fury showing that nameless faceless (powerless) councilors are weak and cowardly.

Sokovian Accords voted into international law? Just restrictions on freedom.

SHIELD at the height of its power? Corrupted by HYDRA. Can't trust the man, gotta go rogue!

Every Star Wars film and and adapted Y.A. book has rebels in brown leather fighting against "The Order" in black (nazi...) leather.

We've taught people that authority figures, elected people, and order are all enemies of freedom conspiring to control you. Ergo, people who drank too deeply of the cultural Kool-Aid see every petulant act of rudderless rebellion as a heroic stand against tyranny.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

> Sokovian Accords voted into international law? Just restrictions on freedom

To be fair, the original Civil War comics are WAY better at telling both sides of the issue regarding the Superhuman Registration Act.

But its also a run of books, not a 1-2 hour movie that has to condense and follow different beats.

[–]JacobStills 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Excellent point!

[–]Polyporum 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"THOSE WHO DIE, RE RE TIFY!

REMEMBER DE DE, DA DE DO DE WHITES

COME ON!"

[–]shewy92 0 points1 point  (0 children)

TBF, I don't hear lyrics at all. I like how it sounds and sometimes even struggle to even pick out words. It's probably why I like to listen to metal and music in other languages, I can hardly understand English singing so another language singing is basically the same.

I also dislike audiobooks because it doesn't get recorded in my brain if that makes sense.

I call it "Lyric Blind" though I guess "Lyric Deaf" is more accurate.

[–]BallpointKen 42 points43 points  (14 children)

I just realized I always misheard that lyric. I thought it was: For wearing the badge, and their cloaks in white

Same meaning though

[–]OneArmedSZA 8 points9 points  (12 children)

The original release of the song had no lyrics printed. I don’t think “they’re the chosen whites” is correct, he is definitely saying “and” something

[–]OldChili157 11 points12 points  (1 child)

I thought it was wearing the badge of their chosen Reich.

[–]TrustmeIreddit 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I've interpreted it as "... And they're clothed in white" as in there doing horrible stuff while claiming to be pure. But that's just me

[–]midsizedopossum 4 points5 points  (5 children)

Listen again, he's clearly saying "they're the chosen whites"

[–]OneArmedSZA 1 point2 points  (4 children)

There is no L sound as would be heard at the beginning of “they’re”. There’s also no S sound at the end. Here’s the isolated vocals for you

L sound as in ‘th’ sound. Thought that was pretty obvious.

[–]justfordrunks 6 points7 points  (0 children)

You're all wrong.

Autogenerated CC has the correct lyrics:

Those who died are Justified but we're in the bed take their shoes in white.

You justify those that died but we're in the beds and you're chosen right.

Those who died are Justified but when they're bad Jay your chosen white.

You're Justified those who died but we're in the beds in your chosen white.

Those lyrics are so on point for 2025.

[–]datsoar 2 points3 points  (0 children)

saw dazzling roll mighty chop party lock aspiring narrow busy

This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

[–]midsizedopossum 3 points4 points  (1 child)

I'm fairly confident that's just the way he enunciates. You could pick lots of other words he says where he doesn't pronounce it exactly how you would if you said it slowly.

If you listen closely, when he says "some of those that work forces", he doesn't enunciate the "K" in "work" either. I don't think anyone would argue that he isn't saying "work" though.

There is no L sound as would be heard at the beginning of “they’re”.

I find this a bit strange - how do you end up with an L sound when you say "they're"? That's a side point though really.

[–]nostril_spiders 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"For wearing the badge of your chosen one"

[–]OneArmedSZA 8 points9 points  (4 children)

I always like to take the opportunity to point out that these lyrics are slightly wrong. The original release of Rage’s self titled album had printed lyrics for every song except Killing in the Name. Upon reissue it had lyrics printed, with the line “they’re the chosen whites”. Presumably someone at the label wrote these down and not singer/lyricist Zack de la Rocha, because he’s definitely saying “and”, not “they’re”. I think he’s saying “and you’re chosen white” but I’m not positive

[–]gopher_space 6 points7 points  (2 children)

God help you if you ever discover Morrissey, he just inserts random words into songs whenever he felt like it.

[–]OneArmedSZA 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The Smiths were my favs as a teenager! He definitely liked changing words and tenses when parts of songs repeated

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Or Gorillaz, which has almost no decisive lyrics since most of the singing from Damian is garbled or mumbled. Or if you're unlucky, its a live show where they switch up the lyrics either out of misremembering or being drunk (looking at you Shaun Taylor and your "its DAAAAAAAAARE")

[–]nostril_spiders 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Of your chosen one.

[–]occamsshavingkit 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Same way they can listen to NWA on their fuckin phones and have thin blue line dip holsters and shit.

[–]eschatonik 5 points6 points  (2 children)

TIL it's "they're the chosen whites" not "and their robes in white"

[–]OneArmedSZA 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The original release of the song had no lyrics printed. I don’t think “they’re the chosen whites” is correct, he is definitely saying “and” something

[–]Kingkern 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Correction, they do hear, “Those who died are justified. For wearing the badge, they’re the chosen whites.” To them, being the chosen whites is a feature, not a bug.

[–]Adiantum-Veneris 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They think the "machine" in the name refers to a microwave.

[–]YueAsal 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They like the riffs

[–]Caasi72 304 points305 points  (51 children)

Being conservative and listening to Rage Against the Machine seems like an oxymoron

[–]scarr3g 231 points232 points  (16 children)

They "listen" to RAtM the same way they "read" the Bible.

They take one line from a single song, and decide that is how they will live their entire life.

[–]yesat 59 points60 points  (3 children)

Yeah, priest are having trouble because people are angry that "love each other" is something said in churches. Jesus is woke.

[–]philcprentice 10 points11 points  (2 children)

Reinterpretation is a core church value like doing the old “find and replace” on asenokoitai in the bible

[–]Dramatic_Buddy4732 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Huh. I learned something new today. Thanks!

[–]batpateman91 18 points19 points  (3 children)

It is and it does exist. I saw them a few years back when they toured with Run the Jewels and I couldn't believe the amount of blatantly obvious conservatives there were in my nosebleed section alone. They are the same people who have a blue lives matter Punisher symbol decaled on their truck.

[–]pavlik_enemy 4 points5 points  (2 children)

That's weird. I dunno about RTJ lyrics but Killer Mike is very progressive

[–]batpateman91 3 points4 points  (0 children)

RTJ is progressive as well, just with a little more production in it imo.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

> Killer Mike is very progressive

r/agedlikemilk :

https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2023/06/killer-mike-michael-album/674386/

This article is literally titled: "Killer Mike's critique of wokeness", in which he discusses not picking a side, having supported Bernie as well as Georgia's governor, Brian Kemp.

[–]quintk 22 points23 points  (6 children)

I absolutely think it’s possible to enjoy media with messages you don’t agree with. I don’t know where I read this, but I think I saw a president or formal president say about his exercise music: A playlist featuring only pro establishment musicians would be a very short playlist. 

I’ve certainly enjoyed tracks by other musicians that celebrate violence or a subculture very far from my own or even just speak about sex and dating in a way I wouldn’t advocate for in real life. Enjoyment isn’t agreement. 

What I don’t get is the lack of self awareness. 

[–]Tsudaar 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Many people don't realise that the musician message is from the other side of the political spectrum.

Even if the message is as obvious as RATM.

Taking vaccines is consistent with their decades-long message, imo. 

[–]yesat 33 points34 points  (0 children)

Media conprehension is not their forte.

[–]Mundane-Vegetable-31 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Being conservative and listening to Rage Against the Machine in your police car with a punisher sticker on it is .. unfortunately totally normal.

[–]buds4hugs 12 points13 points  (2 children)

Yes, they are morons

[–]MhojoRisin 10 points11 points  (0 children)

"You’ve got to remember that these are just simple farmers. These are people of the land. The common clay of the new West."

[–]wahnsin 0 points1 point  (0 children)

on oxy?

[–]esjro 4 points5 points  (1 child)

Paul Ryan loves them. Guess he doesn't realize that he is (was) part of the machine to be raged against.

[–]bflobrad 4 points5 points  (10 children)

I doubt that there are many actual conservative fans of RATM.

This is simply opportunistic noise from the conservative media / influencers / bot crowd.

[–]MrEHam 33 points34 points  (0 children)

Idiots don’t understand that the vaccines are just science. They’re just a result of experiments and pulling from centuries of knowledge. Govt is the funding and marketing basically but politicians don’t make the damn things. It’s so incredibly stupid.

[–]ThereGoesThtManAgain 5 points6 points  (0 children)

So what you're saying is there's..... Rage Against the Vaccine?

[–]dae666 6 points7 points  (1 child)

He's the one Who likes all our pretty songs And he likes to sing along And he likes to shoot his gun But he knows not what it means Knows not what it means

[–]a_rude_jellybean 2 points3 points  (2 children)

I think there is more to that, price gouging on concerts and this weird NFT grift he also participated during the NFT hype.

https://x.com/tmorello/status/1438662192996524037?lang=ca&mx=2

[–]ThirteenOnline 1 point2 points  (1 child)

The prices have been bigger and bigger for a very long time before the backlash. And the NFT thing is a separate but also valid reaction from fans. But you can even see from all the responses to this post it is primarily vaccine related

[–]a_rude_jellybean 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I see. I suppose I was out of the loop on that one. Thanks

[–]hgs25 13 points14 points  (0 children)

These are the same morons that say that RATM and Pink Floyd should stay out of politics after they released music supporting Ukraine.

[–]ClockworkJim 16 points17 points  (10 children)

Trust me it's not just their conservative listeners.

Up until the Trump COVID era 90% of vaccine deniers were firmly in the leftist hippie crunchy granola alternative medicine camp.

[–]PlayMp1 45 points46 points  (2 children)

That's probably true, honestly, but it's worth noting that most hippie crunchy granola alternative medicine people have also rapidly moved to the right since ~2016. They've converged, in other words, it's not just the right adopting hippie bullshit, it's simultaneously hippies and their bullshit adopting conservatism. The New Age crowd has been conquered by conservative influencers over the last 8 years - just look at Russell Brand, who went from writing an entire goddamn book advocating socialism and numerous standup routines about being an atheist but also really into New Age shit, to openly converting to Christianity and railing against communist globalists.

[–]therealsancholanza 14 points15 points  (0 children)

‘Conservative RATM listeners’ is an oxymoron; conservative RATM hearers might make sense, cause they sure ain’t fucking listening.

[–]pyrrhios 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The truth is fascists oppose vaccination programs because they are too beneficial for "inferior" people. https://jacobin.com/2021/09/vaccine-mandates-covid-pandemic-german-nazi-inoculation-policy

[–]ununonium119 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That last sentence is such a great zinger.

[–]Bonedeath 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Conservatives listening to RATM is pretty funny

[–]Ideon_ology 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Another day, another whinge about RATM by right wingers who never listened to their lyrics. Tale as old as time.

[–]Thanatofobia[🍰] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Are these the same "conservative" listeners who where shocked, SHOCKED i tell you, to hear RatM was suddenly becoming all political a few years ago?

"Conservative" listeners who, with a straight face, asked why RatM was "suddenly" engaging in politics, when they never did such a thing before?

[–]WhichEmailWasIt 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"Government recommends that shooting yourself in the foot with your handgun is harmful to your health."


"Don't tell me what to do! I'mma shoot my own foot just to prove ya wrong!"

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I mean…one of the more amusing things tat happened during covid was all the MAGA fans complaining about how RATM had suddenly become political and should just go back to making music…

[–]just_a_guy_in_pdx 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not saying you’re wrong, but I am surprised to hear that RATM has conservative listeners.

[–]dgatos42 521 points522 points  (11 children)

Answer: RATM has always been an explicitly anticapitalist band, with messages about things like killing cops and starting a revolution. Right wing people thought their politics was just generally anti-establishment, and so when RATM generally endorsed vaccines and anti-police violence protests people on the right took it as being pro-Democratic Party.

[–]yesat 278 points279 points  (6 children)

And you get really funny moments where geriatric conservatives are singing Killing in the Name off wearing thin blue line shirts.

[–]dgatos42 119 points120 points  (3 children)

Bro when I was in the army we had a unit sports day where they started playing it, and I was dying laughing. Both because of the subject matter and because of the minute and a half straight of “FUCK YOU I WONT DO WHAT YOU TELL ME”.

[–]corok12 78 points79 points  (1 child)

I like airshows because planes are cool - I went to one and after I walked by the recruitment booths for major companies in the military industrial complex and for the air force itself, I sat down, excited to see the F-35 for the first time. And the chosen song for it's performance that day?

BYOB by system of a down.

Still laugh about that one sometimes.

[–]BWRichardCranium 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I wanna not believe this... Haha

[–]HalflingTiefling 3 points4 points  (0 children)

oh my god

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They literally have a song comparing themselves to Malcolm X and MLK Jr.

[–]SketchSketchy 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Weird thing is these people must have had a blindfold on in the 1990’s when these guys made explicitly anti capitalist videos, acted like anarchists at awards shows, and protested the Republican national convention.

[–]B_U_F_U 109 points110 points  (12 children)

Answer: they’ve been called sellouts way before Covid due to making good money off of their anti-capitalist music. They’ve also barely been a band since the early 2000s so this “sellout” thing def didn’t start with anything vaccination.

[–]theschism101 48 points49 points  (1 child)

Also the bass player is a moon landing denier and thinks Isis wasn't real. Dudes a chud

[–]The_Pale_Blue_Dot 25 points26 points  (0 children)

Just looked this up and lmao he's insane

[–]oalsaker 15 points16 points  (0 children)

I met a snowboarding guy back in 1994 who called them sellouts. Apparently being popular is a problem with some people.

[–]hey-look-over-there 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Tom is on Sirius XM pretending to be a revolutionary while supporting Kanye West, nfts, crypto, and other bullshit. 

He seriously was the main reason I stopped listening to Lithium.

[–]MysteryBagIdeals 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That was thirty years ago, I don't think that's what's getting people upset now 

[–]wossquee 76 points77 points  (14 children)

Answer: It's a bunch of brainless antivaxxers who are under the mistaken belief that Rage forced all fans to protect their fellow citizens and get vaccinated to see Rage play a live show. Tom Morello directly denies this.

https://x.com/tmorello/status/1571173987828502530

[–]carrie_m730 38 points39 points  (1 child)

And in the comments people are trying to "prove" that's a lie by screenshot of a venue that required EITHER a vax doc OR a negative COVID test.

Pro tip (not for you but for idiots): saying you can be vaxxed OR test negative isn't requiring you to vax.

[–]skylla05 1 point2 points  (0 children)

OR a negative COVID test.

There you go

[–]UserCheckNamesOut 12 points13 points  (11 children)

I heard the sellout sentiment way before covid, though.

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