I also object to your use of the word. It is offensive. Even in the Pit slurs related to a disability are beyond the pale. Don’t be a jerk regarding this @Tripler, even in the Pit.
I’m not sure if this adds to the thread; ignore if it doesn’t. Earlier tonight I was out on a take-out food run… and while I was driving I observed something.
Every guy in a p/u truck… or work van… or tradesman van… or a box truck that I saw had their window down with their pudgy fingers hanging outside of it… scrunched up into that “WP” sign.
I guess it could just be the “bad joke of the day” but I didn’t like it at all.
I understand, and I apologize. I withdraw the comment, understanding that I cannot ‘unring that phone.’
Trip
Accepted. 
My first instinct would be that this means they were related to NoFap, a group pushing the idea that not masturbating was better for your mental health. And while I’m sure it could those who had made it into a compulsion, I do remember some touting it more that it would help “maintain testosterone” and “make you more manly.” I could see this as part of the reason it would catch on here.
Yes, in other words, I’m saying it sounds like there’s Incel involvement here.
As for why it sticks around, I actually think similarly to that 1984 quote. I think that’s why it gets pushed so hard by cult-like entities. It’s an aspect of pleasure that is not under the control of the cult. Cults are set up where they create displeasure by feeding you propaganda, but then make it where the only way to feel better is to be part of that cult. It thus makes sense to try and strip away pleasures that people can do on their own–and masturbation is the one most widely available. But see also strictness on alcohol or other drugs. It is very 1984-esque.
It doesn’t actually matter that they can’t really check. Because they can use any noncompliance as a way to make you feel guilty, to help wash out those who won’t listen, and get the others to come to “absolution,” where they then redouble their efforts to be part of the faithful.
And now I want to take a shower after thinking about all that.
In probably the most shocking development in the last several months, Individual 1 actually called in to Hannity and condemned white supremacy.
Is delirium a symptom of COVID?
Of course, Trump also denounced far-right agitators at Charlottesville before his infamous “fine people” remark. Let’s see how long it takes him to backpedal on this one.
I agree that dynamics of the whole “no masturbation” commandment include the “control of pleasure” and the “make their members feel guilty about violating a prohibition they will almost certainly all violate”. (“Aw man, I did the Bad Thing! Again! I…I’ll make up for it by really cracking heads at the rally today!”) An additional thing, though, may be precisely that such a prohibition seems so weird and frankly silly in 21st century America. It sets up that whole Don’t you hear their mockery?!? The “world” calls you fools! dynamic which can be useful in isolating cult members from the broader society and reinforcing their identification with the cult.
Nice, tidy summation, especially the bolded. Scapegoating’s a scary thing.
Thanks for that list - there were a few that were new to me. Revolting to think how many more smaller nascent petri dishes of scummy hatred are given agency and validated and flourish in that climate. Hoping as many of them as possible stay in their mom’s basement, watching Teletubbies or Duck Dynasty.
Appropriating (misappropriating? same thing?) the OK sign is so…whatevs: use the thumbs-up sign, instead, as a just-pulled grenade. Or for Der Leader to sit on and rotate.
(SIt on it, Ponzi!)
(no - Sit on it, Bronzi?)
Do you have a link to a picture of the “WP” sign? Two reasons:
- I want to be able to recognize these chowderheads for what they are. . . and,
- I drive a pickup truck, and want to make sure I don’t do anything similar to their sign.
Criminy, at this rate, the surfers’ “hang loose” sign I sometimes use is gonna be co-opted, ain’t it?
Tripler
Of course, half the vehicles on the road 'round here are pickup trucks.
It’s the OK sign.
https://www.adl.org/sites/default/files/styles/open_graph_image_1200_x_628_/public/2019-04/OkayLarge267x296.jpg?itok=WLf-njmM
Oh fer fuck’s sake. Really?
I thought it might have been one of those signs like the old, sophomoric “look at the circle” game. The one where you look at the similar circle, and get slugged in the arm. I also thought it might have been more involved, like spelling “Bloods” with two hands.
Tripler
I need to get out more.
Some years ago, during the web’s infancy, when I was younger and, shall I confess, less confident about my own aptitude in relationships with the opposite sex, I recall that I started digging around on the internet for some self-help guidance.
Most of what I found was just harmless (but probably useless) advice, with a side order of gender-typing. But some of the stuff I encountered was just straight up misogynistic, borderline psychotic. I remember there were one or two ‘gurus’ writing things like: "Women don’t really want to be independent. Their desire for “independence” is just a test for you, to see if you’re really man enough to control them. Women want to be dominated, and a woman won’t love you until she respects your male dominance." Some went so far as to suggest that gas lighting and being a total fraud were necessary methods to ‘control’ a woman, especially if she thought she was ‘out of your league.’ “You have to show her that you can control her.” Just really nutty stuff. And there were very active message boards with these kinds of creeps talking to each other about this kind of stuff.
I think that Proud Boys is what these message boards turned into. Wouldn’t be surprised of Gavin McInnes or these other founding fathers of this clan were at one time administrators for these kinds of message boards and dating guru sites. They feed off of the frustrations of young, under-educated, under-skilled, under-employed, and under-sexed guys. The leaders at the head of the organization know it’s schtick, but the true believers really buy into this new identity of theirs.
Haven’t read the whole thread because proudboys needs to find the tree making the oxygen they’re using and apologize to it.
But has anyone been paying attention to their twitter lately? It’s been taken over by some real proud boys and I’m laughing so hard I’m crying.
No, I hadn’t paid any attention to their twitter until some of the pics made it over to imgur.
A local Portland comedian went out to the Delta Park rally and interviewed those idiots. Here ya go, nine minutes of Proud Boys in their own words.
I noticed it on Reddit, but didn’t think to check Twitter hashtags. I had no idea who started it, so thanks for that link.
Edit: one even posted this:
I don’t fear Proud Boys specifically; they don’t strike me as major league. But I worry a lot what something like Proud Boys, QAnon, and other related groups can eventually turn into, particularly if economic conditions deteriorate for the average young male.
It’s intended to keep them in a constant state of frustration.
Meanwhile, the #ProudBoys hashtag has been…hijacked. In a very good and totally fabulous manner. Heh heh.
Here’s hoping their nofap policy gets strained by all this hawtniz. 