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Comment by at_a_remove | Hacker News Reader

It is an amazing way to show how paranoid people are over "dogwhistles." Witches are everywhere!

People want to have something to fear or wave pitchforks at. It's simple mob psychology, and it's scary.

Perhaps you'd care to explain why this guy has it emblazoned on his helmet. As I have pointed out many times, simply ignoring people whose ideas you find disagreeable doesn't necessarily make them go away.

https://theintercept.imgix.net/wp-uploads/sites/1/2021/08/08...

Because we're all idiots who got taken in on this by 4chan.

The symbol became irresistible to that guy after watching liberals lose their minds at it. If it hadn't bothered the libs, it would have no use to him.

I think you're missing the point that they would have just rolled with some different symbol instead. People like this don't become violent as a result of liberals losing their minds, obviously.

Semantic quibbling over the provenance of the symbol is a distraction from the violent ethos and activities of those who adopted it.

The leader of the proud boys once stuck a dildo up his ass, on stage, in order to "own the libs". It's documented, you can look it up.

I think you're underestimating lib owning as a motivational factor for these guys.

For the same reason people like him fly the Army of Northern Virginia Battle Flag (which was carried into battle against the Nazis). It makes people like you upset, which is hilarious to them.

Are you saying I should ignore that this guy and his ilk have a habit of beating on people, because they're just trolling?

Let's see, that flag was used for:

1. An army supporting the continuation of the enslavement of black peoples.

2. A group (KKK) who would ride out and lynch black people.

3. A very small number of people who fought Nazis.

4. Neo-nazis.

1 out of 4 isn't bad, I suppose...

I'm not defending the flag, just explaining that outrage over symbols simply makes the symbols more powerful. It was flown by some very good people at one point, and I think that bears mentioning, given the context.

But witches are obviously fictional, whereas white supremists are very real.

Do white supremists float?

Not sure why you claim witches aren't real. I know plenty of witches. While they may not be green skinned and fly on broomsticks that melt in water, there are plenty of people that call themselves witches nevermind whatever characture you have in mind.

The "witches" people were afraid of during the witch-trials were accused of worshiping and consorting with the devil to cast harmful spells or undermine the Christian virtue of a community. Those witches were the product of mass hysteria and opportunistic hatred, and almost certainly never existed.

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