Reactionaries use meme culture not just because they’re terminally online but also because it makes their behavior seem either benign or just confusing to outsiders. They find it hilarious that they can be really explicit and still fly under the radar. The Alt-Right did this with Pepe the Frog, the OK sign, even the milk glass emoji for a hot minute. The more inexplicable the meme, the better. You get the point where Stephen Miller is flashing Nazi signs from the White House and the [Trump] Presidential re-eletion campaign is releasing 88 ads of exactly 14 words and there’s still a debate about whether the administration is racist. Because journalists aren’t going to get their heads around that. You tell them “1488 is a Nazi number,” it’s gonna seem a lot more plausible that you’re making shit up.
I think I just learned the difference between neo-Nazis and Original Nazis.
Original Nazis are grim and serious. Neo-Nazis are “just joking.”
“It’s a prank, bro, it’s just a prank!”
“A prank? You invaded Belgium!”
It’s because they are cowards
https://www.tumblr.com/innuendostudios/660337457916706817/i-was-invited-to-give-a-talk-on-gamergate-over?source=share
I think this is super important that you figured that out. It’s how they get people to go along if they’re hesitant.