# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-up-with-these-proud-boys-anyway/921896/41 "2020-10-01T04:27:22Z")
Guess you missed all the shit they’ve been starting in Portland. That’s ok, we don’t expect much of you. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-up-with-these-proud-boys-anyway/921896/42 "2020-10-01T04:47:12Z")
I mentioned in another thread that they held a rally near Portland last weekend. One of their leaders (don’t recall which) boasted there would be attendance of around 20,000. About 500 showed up. I’ve seen estimates of up to 1,000, but from what I saw of the crowd photos, I thought 500 was being generous. Of course, this doesn’t account for those who claim affiliation but weren’t in attendance, and it was before they received the big boost from their Number One Proud Boy last night. It’s worth noting the Proud Boys were behind the Charlottesville nastiness and – I learned only tonight – it was their movement behind the Oklahoma City federal building bombing carried out by Timothy McVeigh. And don’t forget overlap with Three Percenters, Boogaloo Bois and, as already mentioned, Patriot Prayer. All these groups are spoiling for a violent confrontation with “libruls.” ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-up-with-these-proud-boys-anyway/921896/43 "2020-10-01T11:09:52Z")
The bit that I find weirdly amusing is the origin of their name - a second-rate song from _Aladdin_ (that didn’t make the film, although it’s in the stage show) about wanting his mother to be proud of him. And then, having started from that, their response is to act like massive immature violent dicks. I suppose it’s possible that their mothers are proud of that sort of thing but I wouldn’t put any money on it. ---
**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:** [October 1, 2020, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-up-with-these-proud-boys-anyway/921896/44 "2020-10-01T12:18:18Z")
I’d love to make some shirts with their design in a rainbow colour scheme and change their name to Pride Boys. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-up-with-these-proud-boys-anyway/921896/45 "2020-10-01T12:32:15Z")
> [@Icarus](#): > > Sorry, I read that as “overfap”. Ha! 😭 ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-up-with-these-proud-boys-anyway/921896/46 "2020-10-01T12:37:53Z")
And of course, Trump doesn’t know who they are. Uh-huh. > **[Trump says he doesn't know who Proud Boys are after telling them to "stand...](https://www.axios.com/2020/09/30/trump-proud-boys-debate-stand-by)** > > "I can only say they have to stand down and let law enforcement do their work." ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-up-with-these-proud-boys-anyway/921896/47 "2020-10-01T12:38:11Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > It’s worth noting the Proud Boys were behind the Charlottesville nastiness and – I learned only tonight – it was their movement behind the Oklahoma City federal building bombing carried out by Timothy McVeigh. Wait, what? Did they go back in time? The Proud Boy group is four years old. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-up-with-these-proud-boys-anyway/921896/48 "2020-10-01T12:41:03Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > And don’t forget overlap with Three Percenters, Boogaloo Bois and, as already mentioned, Patriot Prayer. > [@Gyrate](#): > > The bit that I find weirdly amusing is the origin of their name - a second-rate song from _Aladdin_ > [@anny\_m](#): > > For some reason, I’m thinking that a Venn diagram with Proud Boys and Incels would show a lot of overlap. I don’t know anything about Three Percenters and Patriot Prayer but like Proud Boys, I heard the name Boogaloo Bois started out as a joke. And I agree with anny\_m’s assessment that there’s probably a huge overlap between these groups and the incel movement. There’s an undercurrent of immaturity to it-- It’s like they are a bunch of unhinged frat boy types who grew up lonely and sheltered, on their computers all day, not getting laid, and instead of making positive changes in their own lives they turn all their angry energy and frustration outward towards the rest of the world. ---
**Author:** ![Mickyfinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e19b73/32.png) [@Mickyfinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mickyfinn)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-up-with-these-proud-boys-anyway/921896/49 "2020-10-01T12:43:10Z")
> [@solost](#): > > According to the article, there are 4 levels of initiation, one of which is to “get a tattoo and agree not to masturbate”. They lost me at level 1. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-up-with-these-proud-boys-anyway/921896/50 "2020-10-01T12:51:17Z")
SEDITION - “An illegal action inciting resistance to lawful authority and tending to cause the disruption or overthrow of the government.” It’s amazing how this man can do anything, and I mean ANYTHING, he wants without consequences. ---
**Author:** ![Find\_Friends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@Find\_Friends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Find_Friends)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-up-with-these-proud-boys-anyway/921896/51 "2020-10-01T13:30:19Z")
On t On the sperm of the moment! ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-up-with-these-proud-boys-anyway/921896/52 "2020-10-01T14:18:34Z")
> [@Mickyfinn](#): > > > [@solost](#): > > > > According to the article, there are 4 levels of initiation, one of which is to “get a tattoo and agree not to masturbate”. > > They lost me at level 1. Yeah, your org is going to have to require compulsive masturbation if it wants me to join. Who wants to join a group of folks where a requirement is the vast majority of the group lies about whether they’re masturbating or not? I don’t believe that even a 10th of the group is holding to the revised once a month policy. They’re basically racist skinheads without the guts to shave their heads and with an attachment to a political party. The second part is pretty worrisome. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-up-with-these-proud-boys-anyway/921896/53 "2020-10-01T14:23:25Z")
> [@Mickyfinn](#): > > > [@solost](#): > > > > According to the article, there are 4 levels of initiation, one of which is to “get a tattoo and agree not to masturbate”. > > They lost me at level 1. Me, I’m fighting back. I _didn’t_ get a tatoo…and well… ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-up-with-these-proud-boys-anyway/921896/54 "2020-10-01T14:26:14Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > > [@Mickyfinn](#): > > > > > [@solost](#): > > > > > > According to the article, there are 4 levels of initiation, one of which is to “get a tattoo and agree not to masturbate”. > > > > They lost me at level 1. > > Me, I’m fighting back. I _didn’t_ get a tatoo…and well… You’re holding onto your anti-racist principles with a death grip? ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-up-with-these-proud-boys-anyway/921896/55 "2020-10-01T14:31:59Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > You’re holding onto your anti-racist principles with a death grip? WOOOO! I’m holding onto my anti-racist principles like a motherfuck! ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-up-with-these-proud-boys-anyway/921896/56 "2020-10-01T14:34:38Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > It’s worth noting the Proud Boys were behind the Charlottesville nastiness and – I learned only tonight – it was their movement behind the Oklahoma City federal building bombing carried out by Timothy McVeigh. Cite? Where did this come from? ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-up-with-these-proud-boys-anyway/921896/57 "2020-10-01T14:36:24Z")
I also did not think that sort of thing was part of either their tactics or strategy not to mention the timeframe, although of course the membership of radical groups overlaps. Now, on the other hand, it does track better with the goals of the Boogaloo Bois, even though they also were not around to the best of my knowledge back then. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-up-with-these-proud-boys-anyway/921896/58 "2020-10-01T14:55:22Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Wait, what? Did they go back in time? > > The Proud Boy group is four years old. > [@MindsEye\_Watering](#): > > Cite? Where did this come from? I think @Aspenglow means far-right groups in general rather than specifically those guys. > **[President Trump's debate comments about known hate group 'Proud Boys' face...](https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/election-2020/trumps-proud-boys-comments-face-continued-scrutiny)** > > After he was asked to condemn white supremacy groups at Tuesday’s debate, President Donald Trump tried to clarify his remarks on Wednesday. > [Dr. David Licate, a professor of criminal justice studies at the University of Akron,] said there was “a rise in right-wing extremism during the Clinton administration, which really culminated in the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Building in Oklahoma City,” and that the FBI was “very aggressive in rooting out those groups after Oklahoma City.” ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-up-with-these-proud-boys-anyway/921896/59 "2020-10-01T14:59:43Z")
Do we know what are they proud of, exactly? ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-up-with-these-proud-boys-anyway/921896/60 "2020-10-01T15:00:16Z")
First the Boogaloo bois co-opted Hawaiian shirts as their uniform. Now the Proud Boys have co-opted polo shirts as their uniform. I wildly stand against what these idiots stand for, but in the meantime, as a middle-aged Engineer, what the hell am I supposed to wear to work now?!? 😡 Tripler Damn. Time to upgrade my wardrobe. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-up-with-these-proud-boys-anyway/921896.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-whats-up-with-these-proud-boys-anyway/921896.md?page=4)