# So what's up with these 'Proud Boys', anyway? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 30, 2020, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-up-with-these-proud-boys-anyway/921896 "2020-09-30T15:58:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2020, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-up-with-these-proud-boys-anyway/921896/21 "2020-09-30T19:23:09Z")
They are very litigious when it comes to their trademarks and copyrights. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2020, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-up-with-these-proud-boys-anyway/921896/22 "2020-09-30T19:44:38Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > Brownsharts. I was ready to go all in on “Brownshorts” until I read this. Brownsharts ftw! ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2020, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-up-with-these-proud-boys-anyway/921896/23 "2020-09-30T20:22:07Z")
> [@solost](#): > > OK, I was curious about the ‘no masturbation’ thing-- inquiring minds want to know, and all that. So I started up Opera with VPN, opened a private browser window, went to [duckduckgo.com](http://duckduckgo.com) and searched the question. > > According to the group, it is meant as a way for members to get off the couch or away from the computer and interact with members of the opposite sex. Or the same sex, as the case may be-- surprisingly they’re pro-gay. > > But I also read the real reason is that masturbation bans are popular among organizations that seek to enhance group loyalty- “Masturbation is, on a fundamental level, a radical act of individuality”. Not good when group-think is being encouraged. The thing that disturbs me is: _how do they check?_ ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2020, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-up-with-these-proud-boys-anyway/921896/24 "2020-09-30T20:48:22Z")
I’m afraid they might be. How many of them are there? ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2020, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-up-with-these-proud-boys-anyway/921896/25 "2020-09-30T20:48:52Z")
Never trust a man who doesn’t yank his chain. -Abe Lincoln ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2020, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-up-with-these-proud-boys-anyway/921896/26 "2020-09-30T21:18:15Z")
They’re probably afraid that the government will steal their precious bodily fluids. ---
**Author:** ![Strassia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@Strassia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strassia)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2020, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-up-with-these-proud-boys-anyway/921896/27 "2020-09-30T22:17:36Z")
I heard stories about these guys even before Trump was elected. They used to show up to clubs and bars in L.A. in their polo shirts and try to antogonize the people their into starting a fight. They sounded like guys who looked down on street gangs for being poor and mostly minorities, but really wanted to get in on the group belonging and violence. ---
**Author:** ![anny\_m](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@anny\_m](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anny_m)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2020, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-up-with-these-proud-boys-anyway/921896/28 "2020-09-30T22:20:48Z")
For some reason, I’m thinking that a Venn diagram with Proud Boys and Incels would show a lot of overlap. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2020, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-up-with-these-proud-boys-anyway/921896/29 "2020-09-30T22:31:34Z")
Sorry, I read that as “overfap”. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2020, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-up-with-these-proud-boys-anyway/921896/30 "2020-09-30T23:06:01Z")
Here’s a couple of minutes of charming video. [https://twitter.com/TheTNHoller](https://twitter.com/TheTNHoller) This guy is crazy and he is encouraging drastic violence. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2020, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-up-with-these-proud-boys-anyway/921896/31 "2020-09-30T23:12:41Z")
The “Proud Boys” will take my…uh…when they pry it from my… Well, you know. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2020, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-up-with-these-proud-boys-anyway/921896/32 "2020-09-30T23:27:36Z")
Well, at least this one’s been arrested. > **[Proud Boy Arrested On Six Felony Charges In Portland](https://www.forbes.com/sites/jemimamcevoy/2020/09/30/proud-boy-arrested-on-six-felony-charges-in-portland/#465587806e2f)** > > Alan Swinney is a member of the right-wing group President Trump told to “stand by” at the presidential debate. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2020, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-up-with-these-proud-boys-anyway/921896/33 "2020-09-30T23:42:38Z")
Looks like they took Trump seriously. > > > nikki mccann ramírez @NikkiMcR ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-up-with-these-proud-boys-anyway/921896/34 "2020-10-01T00:18:05Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > How many of them are there? This is what I want to know, too. And where are they? I mean, is it a couple dozen widely scattered, or hundreds on the east coast, ready to storm Wash, DC if there’s a protest? Please, someone who’s already researching them, find out for us! ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-up-with-these-proud-boys-anyway/921896/35 "2020-10-01T00:33:30Z")
Look who’s selling merch on Amazon. And banned already. That’s quick turnaround. > **[Amazon Removes Proud Boys Merchandise Displaying 'Stand Back and Stand By'](https://www.newsweek.com/amazon-removes-proud-boys-merchandise-displaying-stand-back-stand-phrase-1535433)** > > Proud Boys merchandise displaying the "stand back and stand by" slogan was removed from Amazon on Wednesday afternoon following a viral tweet. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-up-with-these-proud-boys-anyway/921896/36 "2020-10-01T02:04:08Z")
I thought he said, “_stand down_ and stand by.” Can’t even get their racist propaganda right. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-up-with-these-proud-boys-anyway/921896/37 "2020-10-01T02:10:29Z")
Trump said stand back. [Youtube clip](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlyNq9diR9Q). ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-up-with-these-proud-boys-anyway/921896/38 "2020-10-01T02:55:12Z")
Oops. Can’t even get my complaints about their racist propaganda right. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-up-with-these-proud-boys-anyway/921896/39 "2020-10-01T02:56:21Z")
When he said “stand by”, I thought of these very proud boys… [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PvmvxMNU0sw/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGEQgSChlMA8=&rs=AOn4CLCs1HEJ0bQvcgUyN_zw0spmr_7doA "Roman Holliday FRESH LIVE VIDEO MTV "STAND BY"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvmvxMNU0sw) ---
**Author:** ![agzem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a8b319/32.png) [@agzem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/agzem)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-up-with-these-proud-boys-anyway/921896/40 "2020-10-01T03:10:17Z")
I am extremely concerned that these “Proud Boys” will start rioting, burning cities, looting stores, and harassing people in restaurants. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-up-with-these-proud-boys-anyway/921896.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-up-with-these-proud-boys-anyway/921896.md?page=3)