Why Are So Many White People Angry And Prone To Both Far-right And Far-left Extremism?

BussyPhilipps

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As a white person myself, I’ve noticed that during Trump’s presidency, quite a few white people gravitated to either the far-right or the far-left. It’s like all the crazies came out of the woodwork.

I want to make it clear that I’m not making a false-equivalency between neo-Nazis and people who identify as ANTIFA, as I realize most domestic terrorists belong to the far-right and white nationalist terrorism is currently more of a threat than ANTIFA or anarchists. However, a common denominator between both groups is that most of the people are white, whether it’s the insurrectionists at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6th, or the ANTIFA anarchists vandalizing/destroying Democratic Party offices, federal buildings, police stations and small businesses in places like Portland and Seattle.

Not to mention most mass-shooters are white too.

So what makes white people, especially white men, particularly prone to violence and extremism, both on the left and right? Why are white people causing so much trouble?
 
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There's a narrative amongst the Right that they have earned everything they've ever had while "others" are taking hand-outs or are being given an unfair advantage. "Their" freedoms and "their" rights are being taken away and eroded by the elusive "Them" which is constantly changing.

This is what White Nationalists have always exploited. People are always going to be on hard times if they consistently blame everyone else for their own misfortu es or errors and Nazis just happen to offer them a scapegoat in anyone that isn't white.
 

BussyPhilipps

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Terrible framing. Good luck with responses. (False equivalency alert)
How is it terrible framing? I clearly said I wasn’t making a false equivalency. My point was that white people, particularly white men, seem particularly prone to violence and radicalization.
 

BussyPhilipps

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I wholeheartedly agree: "White nationalist terrorism is currently more of a threat than ANTIFA or anarchists."

The rest of it, not so much.
But why are white people so prone to committing violence? I mentioned ANTIFA and anarchists not because they’re as dangerous as the white nationalists, but because most of them are white, and they’re vandalizing and destroying buildings and small businesses in cities such as Portland Seattle. That counts as violence too and it’s mostly white people committing it.
 

Industrialsize

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How is it terrible framing? I clearly said I wasn’t making a false equivalency. My point was that white people, particularly white men, seem particularly prone to violence and radicalization.
You have implied that right wing and left wing extremism pose similar threats. Terrible framing.
 

BussyPhilipps

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You have implied that right wing and left wing extremism pose similar threats. Terrible framing.
I clearly said that wasn’t the case. Did you not read what I wrote? “I want to make it clear that I’m not making a false-equivalency between neo-Nazis and people who identify as ANTIFA, as I realize most domestic terrorists belong to the far-right and white nationalist terrorism is currently more of a threat than ANTIFA or anarchists.”

You should work on your reading comprehension.
 

Industrialsize

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I clearly said that wasn’t the case. Did you not read what I wrote? “I want to make it clear that I’m not making a false-equivalency between neo-Nazis and people who identify as ANTIFA, as I realize most domestic terrorists belong to the far-right and white nationalist terrorism is currently more of a threat than ANTIFA or anarchists.”

You should work on your reading comprehension.
”the insurrectionists at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6th, or the ANTIFA anarchists ”
You equated them in the same sentence. “
 

Klingsor

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But why are white people so prone to committing violence? I mentioned ANTIFA and anarchists not because they’re as dangerous as the white nationalists, but because most of them are white, and they’re vandalizing and destroying buildings and small businesses in cities such as Portland Seattle. That counts as violence too and it’s mostly white people committing it.

I don't know whether most of the vandalism and destruction you mention was committed by white ANTIFA/anarchists. A source would help.
 
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BussyPhilipps

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@Klingsor @Industrialsize

You guys should read these articles. ANTIFA and anarchists don’t post as much of a threat as right-wing extremists, but they’re still a problem.

“Some activists have downplayed the damage to businesses from looting and arson in racial justice protests around the country. But some small entrepreneurs are struggling.” Businesses Trying to Rebound After Unrest Face a Challenge: Not Enough Insurance

Small businesses already hurt by coronavirus face more devastation due to looting
 

BussyPhilipps

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”the insurrectionists at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6th, or the ANTIFA anarchists ”
You equated them in the same sentence. “
I wasn’t equating them. I was recognizing that both pose a problem and that both are mostly comprised of white people. That’s a BIG and important difference.
 

Klingsor

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@Klingsor @Industrialsize

You guys should read these articles. ANTIFA and anarchists don’t post as much of a threat as right-wing extremists, but they’re still a problem.

“Some activists have downplayed the damage to businesses from looting and arson in racial justice protests around the country. But some small entrepreneurs are struggling.” Businesses Trying to Rebound After Unrest Face a Challenge: Not Enough Insurance

Small businesses already hurt by coronavirus face more devastation due to looting

The articles are compelling, but neither of them support your claim that most of the vandalism and destruction was committed by white ANTIFA/anarchists.
 

BussyPhilipps

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@Klingsor @Industrialsize

Please read the following article as well. White ANTIFA/anarchists are hurting BLM and have co-opted the movement in cities such as Portland and Seattle:


Racial justice activists told Wright they were afraid that if windows were broken or property destroyed, it would be framed as racial justice protesters committing acts of vandalism.

“The problem is breaking stuff,” Wright asked. “If we just don’t break stuff for one night, can we come together?”

He got on a microphone and tried to convince the mostly white, black-clad group of anarchists to refrain from doing what they seemingly had shown up to accomplish.

“For tonight, don’t break stuff,” Wright pleaded. “Stand with Black people. Set an example when Black people and Black organizers ask you to stand with their revolution.”

Some in the crowd cheered, but others turned away. Under the Burnside Bridge, Wright heard a smaller group of anarchists debating what to do next.

“I definitely heard them say, ‘We’re not here to just listen to Black people. We have no leaders, no one decides to tell us what to do.’”

The anarchists split away, smashing windows of businesses indiscriminately, prompting the governor to send in the National Guard.

In America’s whitest city, Black activists struggle to separate themselves from anarchists
 

Klingsor

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@Klingsor @Industrialsize

Please read the following article as well. White ANTIFA/anarchists are hurting BLM and have co-opted the movement in cities such as Portland and Seattle:


Racial justice activists told Wright they were afraid that if windows were broken or property destroyed, it would be framed as racial justice protesters committing acts of vandalism.

“The problem is breaking stuff,” Wright asked. “If we just don’t break stuff for one night, can we come together?”

He got on a microphone and tried to convince the mostly white, black-clad group of anarchists to refrain from doing what they seemingly had shown up to accomplish.

“For tonight, don’t break stuff,” Wright pleaded. “Stand with Black people. Set an example when Black people and Black organizers ask you to stand with their revolution.”

Some in the crowd cheered, but others turned away. Under the Burnside Bridge, Wright heard a smaller group of anarchists debating what to do next.

“I definitely heard them say, ‘We’re not here to just listen to Black people. We have no leaders, no one decides to tell us what to do.’”

The anarchists split away, smashing windows of businesses indiscriminately, prompting the governor to send in the National Guard.

In America’s whitest city, Black activists struggle to separate themselves from anarchists

That article does provide at least partial support for your claims--though it still makes the point that "anarchist protesters aren’t a homogenous group or all white."

I still see far-right extremism, not "white people" in general, as the real problem.
 
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BussyPhilipps

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That article does provide at least partial support for your claims--though it still makes the point that "anarchist protesters aren’t a homogenous group or all white."

I still see far-right extremism, not "white people" in general, as the real problem.
It’s true that not all of the anarchists are white, but the article states that most of them are. Not all of the insurrectionists at the Capitol were white either, yet most of them were.

And as I pointed out in my initial post, most mass shooters are also white men and boys. White people in this country appear to be more prone to commit acts of violence for some reason. There’s clearly something going on with white people, especially white men.
 

Klingsor

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It’s true that not all of the anarchists are white, but the article states that most of them are. Not all of the insurrectionists at the Capitol were white either, yet most of them were.

And as I pointed out in my initial post, most mass shooters are also white men and boys. White people in this country appear to be more prone to commit acts of violence for some reason. There’s clearly something going on with white people, especially white men.

Part of what's going on is that white men *get to* commit crimes, without being incarcerated at nearly the rate of black men.
 

BussyPhilipps

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Part of what's going on is that white men *get to* commit crimes, without being incarcerated at nearly the rate of black men.
Very true. However, I do think there must be a mental health crisis among white men in this country. Idk how else to explain why they tend to gravitate to violence and extremism.
 

ActionBuddy

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But why are white people so prone to committing violence? I mentioned ANTIFA and anarchists not because they’re as dangerous as the white nationalists, but because most of them are white, and they’re vandalizing and destroying buildings and small businesses in cities such as Portland Seattle. That counts as violence too and it’s mostly white people committing it.
I don't know whether most of the vandalism and destruction you mention was committed by white ANTIFA/anarchists. A source would help.

Most of the destruction of property and looting, last spring and summer, was committed by opportunistic, greedy, APOLITICAL thugs. They took advantage of the general populations' anger over even more Cop killings of unarmed Black people, wreaked havoc in some areas, and gave the mostly peaceful BLM marches and rallies a bad name.

A/B
 

halcyondays

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So what makes white people, especially white men, particularly prone to violence and extremism, both on the left and right?

Because we are a tribal species. Instinctually tribal. There has never been a time when our species has not been at war over something--territory, resources, power.

Add that the male of our species has 10-40x the testosterone--a hormone of aggression--than females. Is it any surprise our prison population is 90% male?

Fifty states in the US? When white people first arrived from Europe there were 500 nations here. It is our nature to split, split, split and Balkanize all over the fucking place--fighting for what we believe in. Tribal identity. In-groups and out-groups. Xenophobia.

Skin color, race and ethnicity have nothing to do with it.