Pathology Dressed As Politics
Via Darleen and lifted from yesterday’s comments:
What’s interesting about Antifa’s mob assault of the journalist Andy Ngo isn’t that an organisation premised on recreational thuggery has once again indulged in recreational thuggery. That’s why it exists. What’s interesting is that so many left-leaning journalists have been so eager to excuse or diminish that thuggery and to frame Mr Ngo either as the aggressor or as somehow deserving of assault by people with borderline personality disorders.
The implication being that the poor, put-upon Antifa goons, who are all terribly oppressed, felt threatened by the presence of the unimposing Mr Ngo, and therefore retaliated, albeit pre-emptively, by jumping him from behind, robbing him, and putting in the boot. That’s why they went back in time to stock up on iron bars, knuckledusters and, it seems, cement milkshakes. Obviously.
Previously in the not-at-all-sociopathic world of Antifa:
“Are you willing to die for YouTube shit? That’s what’s gonna come, man. Death is coming to you, dude. Real shit. Feel that energy? That’s why your heart’s pounding.”
“You’re inherently violent,” screams an unhinged blue-and-purple-haired woman named Hannah McClintock, while repeatedly spitting on people and trying to punch them in the face.
Update:
If you poke through the comments, you’ll find additional illustrations of the psychology of Antifa and their cheerleaders, including contortions by leftist educators and the morally ludicrous Laurie Penny.
Also, open thread.
What’s interesting is that so many left-leaning journalists have been so eager to… frame Mr Ngo either as the aggressor or as somehow deserving of assault by people with borderline personality disorders.
Filming people while they kick the shit out of old men is ‘provocation’, David. Do you even social justice?
Filming people while they kick the shit out of old men is ‘provocation’, David. Do you even social justice?
Well, quite. It’s sort of, “If you film us being violent, violence will happen to you.”
Which all sounds rather familiar.
Is it still “hot” there? We’ll be in the ‘90’s all week.
Is it still “hot” there?
This week we should be averaging around 19/20°. Which suits me fine.
“Human Rights Campaign”
https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/1145410620495474689
And with great foresight this Rationally Speaking podcast just appeared in my feed:
“We typically think of violence as being caused by a lack of control, or by selfish motives. But what if, more often than not, violence is intended to be morally righteous? That’s the thesis of the book Virtuous Violence: Hurting and Killing to Create, Sustain, End, and Honor Social Relationships. Author Tage Rai debates his book’s thesis with Julia. Plus: What does The Iliad teach us about changing attitudes about morality over time?”
And if there was ever a group for whom the term Moral Licensing was coined it has to be Antifa and those journalists who excuse them.
And if there was ever a group for whom the term Moral Licensing was coined…
I lost count of the severely educated, left-leaning journalists, commentators and noted Twitter lefties – our self-imagined betters – who tied themselves in rhetorical knots in order to excuse or diminish gratuitous assaults on journalists and random strangers, often using the words “provocateur” and “antagonised.” Presumably on the basis that if you quietly film acts of mob thuggery by masked leftists, then, clearly, you deserve a kicking and a stay in hospital. According to a Slate contributor, Mr Ngo “creates an atmosphere of violence,” and therefore, presumably…
As if the LARPing misfits of Antifa need some lofty moral excuse to indulge in the thuggery they clearly exult in, extensively prepare for, and actively seek out.
As if the LARPing misfits of Antifa need some lofty moral excuse to indulge in the thuggery they clearly exult in, extensively prepare for, and actively seek out.
Quick-dry cement will burn you.
Quick-dry cement will burn you.
It’s not something you’d want thrown in your face. Even for “social justice.”
Note the long-haired grinning chap with the Star Wars T-shirt.
Graphic video here. As I said, it’s recreational.
The ganging up is essentially an outlet for their crusade – a mob able to turn on individuals, especially weaker ones or people making the bad choice to go in alone into the mob. And so those who individually feel impotent release it against those unable to defend themselves. In face, I would think that half the anger would come because of their individual impotence – the fact that what they do in their normal lives just doesn’t matter.
I would like to contrast this vs where two competing demonstrations have come into contact, where the Antifa have been handily cleaned up.
I would also call people who go into these mobs as idiots at this stage. They don’t deserve to be assaulted, but you have to expect the possibility, especially if you are a public figure.
This is violence carried out by communists and anarchists for political ends. It will continue until antifa get a taste of their own medicine and a few dozen of them end up in hospital. Then watch the leftie ‘journalists’ and politicians have fainting spells.
Self defence is not violence.
Self defence is not violence.
Self defense is *justified* violence. Ngo and those other two would’ve been fully justified in shooting the bastards who were attacking them.
Ah, but according to the organisers of Antifa’s not-at-all-violent day out, Mr Ngo is a “fascist,” far-right,” and an “active participant in fascist harassment.”
The people diminishing the thuggery and implying, or stating outright, that Mr Ngo had it coming – due to his being a “fascist” who “picked a fight” by merely being present – included a staff writer at Slate; a contributor to GQ; a senior reporter for Mother Jones; employees of Human Rights Campaign, a prominent gay rights organisation; the chair of Atlanta’s Democratic Socialists of America; a writer for the Independent; and at least two Guardian contributors. And most of the examples I can recall weren’t one-off quips; they were usually long and triumphal exchanges, often denying events for which video was widely available on YouTube and Twitter.
Tim Newman has some thoughts.
Ah, but according to the organisers of Antifa’s not-at-all-violent day out, Mr Ngo is a “fascist,” far-right,” and an “active participant in fascist harassment.”
They’re f*cking delusional.
…but the “real” journalists will continue to wring their hands on the “journalist” Kashoggi…
They’re f*cking delusional.
Well, it’s hard to tell where the bare-faced lies blur into self-flattering hallucination. They like to pretend that they’re selfless, heroic and fighting The Evil Empire, but they’re just enacting the livelier bits of A Clockwork Orange.
Because they enjoy it. Because it makes them feel powerful.
They’re f*cking delusional.
No, they’re Nazis minus the Joo hate.
Tribe.
No, they’re Nazis minus the Joo hate.
Give them time, it will show up eventually. Anytime you get a bunch of low-IQs dressed in black throwing things antisemitism is just around the corner. Unfortunately.
No, they’re Nazis minus the Joo hate.
I like the old label “red fascists”. Because “fascist” conveys how vicious they are to ignorant modern ears while “red” reminds that they are indeed commies.
Give them time, it will show up eventually.
Yes. They already hate Christians, so open hatred of Jews is inevitable.
Yes. They already hate Christians, so open hatred of Jews is inevitable.
Its inevitable under the victimhood hierarchy as well. Jews are so significantly over represented in Media/Finance that any claim to victimhood is laughable (from the progressive’s perspective), and so viciously coveted by all the other groups. See the UK Labour party. The perceived victimhood of the Palestinians is so all consuming (and one dimensional) that they have tipped over into naked Jew loathing.
We won’t get 20 degrees C till mid-late Oct. when I was a kid it was mid-late Sep, seasons here have shifted forward about a month in the last 50 years.
No, they’re Nazis minus the Joo hate.
No the “Joo hate” is already there. Antifa in the US and Momentum in the UK are overwhelming populated by people who think Israel is a white imperialist endeavour. They support PSC and BSD and wish for the destruction of that country. Further they look at antisemitic attacks on Jews (who have no connection with Israel) and blame anyone except the perpetrator.
As an example: Richard Zimler, an author who happens to be Jewish but with no connections, (eg. residence, family or financial) with Israel is boycotted, because he is Jewish
The fascist impulse is never far from the surface. The use of force and the retraction of democracy and civil liberties is like cocaine to those who are frustrated that some people think differently than them and just won’t do as they’re told.
It takes patience, maturity, and foresight to advance liberal democracy and the rule of law, things that these arrogant super brats seem to utterly lack.
The fascist impulse is never far from the surface… arrogant super brats
In case anyone missed it, this rather captures the psychology.
included a staff writer at Slate; a contributor to GQ; a senior reporter for Mother Jones…a writer for the Independent; and at least two Guardian contributors.
“Of all 15 verified national-level journalists in our subset, we couldn’t find a single article, by any of them, that was markedly critical of Antifa in any way. In all cases, their work in this area consisted primarily of downplaying Antifa violence while advancing Antifa talking points, and in some cases quoting Antifa extremists as if they were impartial experts”
https://quillette.com/2019/05/29/its-not-your-imagination-the-journalists-writing-about-antifa-are-often-their-cheerleaders/
I would also call people who go into these mobs as idiots at this stage. They don’t deserve to be assaulted, but you have to expect the possibility, especially if you are a public figure.
Yeah…no. If so-called “real” journalists showed an inkling of interest in reporting what is obviously news, or at least potential news, you know, the things that shan’t exist in darkness lest democracy die, then I might be inclined to agree with you. Calling him an idiot for doing so is as justifiable as calling those who do not do so cowards. And those who accuse him of seeking martyrdom may have a point, insofar as he may very well be seeking it. In the grand scheme of things, is that really so wrong? When the likes of antifa and such make a much more deliberate effort to incite violence at Trump rallies and similar, the general wisdom, even in the face of such antagonists becoming more and more belligerent, is “don’t let them become a martyr”. While I certainly would not encourage the likes of Ngo or others to engage in this manner, I certainly would not call him an idiot for doing so. The idiots are those of us who have been silent all these years lest our sticking-out-nail get pounded down.
This is all on the citizens of Oregon.
Your government has stopped serving in the public interest.
Your police department has stopped serving in the public interest.
Your state Senate has stopped serving in the public interest.
Your state AG has stopped serving in the public interest.
Your entire civil service at every level serves in self interest only.
YOU HAVE LET THIS CONTINUE.
No mansions of the champagne socialists who elected this mayor have been put to the torch.
City hall has not been put to the torch.
Your mayor, your police chief, your senators, your AG, have felt none of the pain any of you are feeling.
It is not up to the police to fix this.
It is not up to president Trump to fix this.
It is not up to CNN or the press to fix this.
It is not up to the National Guard to fix this.
It is not up to the judges to fix this.
It is not up to the county sheriff to fix this.
It is not up the PTA to fix this.
It is not up to the state or county prosecutors to fix this.
It is not up to California to fix this.
It is not up to Texas to fix this.
You have built an enormous 35 headed leviathan that employs 75% of the adult population in your state; HOW HAS THAT WORKED OUT FOR YOU?
I was told there were Page 3 girls here, but the only picture I’ve seen is of an Ironic Jesus so steeped in patchouli oil I can smell him through my screen.
The three most relevant quotes there will ever be in the world.
~ Aldous Huxley
~ Benjamin Franklin
The people of Portland and Oregon were hypnotized by the piper’s tune. They signed all their personal responsibility over to benevolent dictators.
~ C. S. Lewis
The opioid epidemic isn’t just about drugs you ingest or inject. What is antifa, if it is not a pusher of moral opioids? Offering throngs that most delicious of moral treats; the opportunity to destroy with good conscience.
In non-London Baseball sporting news..we actually got a great Austrian GP! There’s something about a Dutchman ripping the heart out of a Frenchman on live TV that really tugs the heart strings.
(Sorry, but I can’t bring myself to comment on these thugs. They disgust me to a degree I wish wasn’t possible.)
You have built an enormous 35 headed leviathan that employs 75% of the adult population in your state; HOW HAS THAT WORKED OUT FOR YOU?
What makes you think that the people of Oregon (the majority at least) are not sympatico with all of this? As far as they are concerned it’s working out just fine. So long as the other 25% continue to shoulder the burden.
I was watching an episode of “Engineering Catastrophes” on the Science Channel this weekend and one segment was in regard to the horrible roads in Portland. They’re little more than a series of potholes connected by alligator asphalt. They showed a “local resident” (hippie) who ran a doughnut shop featuring a special pothole themed doughnut from which he was donating (supposedly) some percentage of sales of such to the city so that they could fill some potholes (as if). At one point they took a couple dozen doughnuts out to a pothole in the street in front of the shop and dumped them in, pretending (I think) to “solve” one problem. These are not serious people. They will ride whatever misery is about them down to the bottom. They simply do not understand how anything works. This is how it has worked out for them and in their hippy-dippy world, you just groove with it, man.
Long-haired grinning chap, seen in action upthread, has apparently been identified.
It seems he has a history.
Again, recreational.
What makes you think that the people of Oregon (the majority at least) are not sympatico with all of this?
Something I’ve often wondered: what percentage of voters/citizens who identify as as bigoted collectivists is required to achieve SJW critical mass? Growing up in Austin, TX gives one insight into the amazingly small quantity of these dedicated marxists required to set the political tone of a city.
gives one insight into the amazingly small quantity of these dedicated marxists required to set the political tone
A contributing factor may be that saner people tend not to derive their sense of self-worth solely or largely from political agitation. For the most part, we have better things to do, and better people to spend time with. It’s rather like how the Mao-lings gain traction on campus committees, from the student union upwards. It tends to require belligerence and a kind of monomania. Given the kinds of personalities most attracted to such things, sitting through endless meetings with them isn’t everyone’s idea of time well spent.
The people diminishing the thuggery and implying, or stating outright, that Mr Ngo had it coming – due to his being a “fascist” who “picked a fight” by merely being present – included a staff writer at Slate; a contributor to GQ; a senior reporter for Mother Jones; employees of Human Rights Campaign, a prominent gay rights organisation; the chair of Atlanta’s Democratic Socialists of America; a writer for the Independent; and at least two Guardian contributors. And most of the examples I can recall weren’t one-off quips; they were usually long and triumphal exchanges
One of the main problems that people who are more to the right of Antifa and its media cheerleaders have — and will continue to have — is coming to grips with the fact that you can’t shame the shameless. All of the well-thought-out or just plain factual Twit responses, Flakebook posts, and other (anti-)social media writings will have absolutely NO effect on them because they are ideologically possessed creatures. The ideology, the narrative MUST be protected at all costs. Thus, they are bad-faith actors, and as such, attempts at reasoned discussion is a complete non-starter ab initio. You can absolutely prove them wrong without a scintilla of doubt on a point on Monday, and they’ll be back spouting as undeniable truth the same nonsense on Tuesday.
Power is all they’re after — the sheer, raw exercise of power and dominion over others. Period. And if they have to lie, cheat, steal, or employ violence in order to get it and in order to deny the reality that’s staring them right in the face, they can do it and with a clear conscience.
And for those of us who were reared to believe that words and reason are better than swords, that will be a hard lesson for us to truly learn.
You CANNOT shame the shameless.
Dare we hope?
For the most part, we have better things to do, and better people to spend time with.
It will just get worse, and then worse still, and then one day they’ll attack the wrong person. Maybe they trap a car in one of their roving traffic barricades, and when the driver panics and tries to escape they drag her from the car and leave her bloodied on the street. But maybe it’s a photogenic young mother whose toddler is screaming from the back seat the whole time, and the footage goes viral. Or maybe it’s a City Councilman’s favorite niece. Then I think the LARPers will be astonished at how quickly the backlash wipes them out.
This, of course, is a best-case scenario. The more likely path is that they try to drag a veteran out of his car, and he shoots three of them dead on the spot. This is the outcome they’re really after, since it will justify all their preemptive violence to this point, as well as the escalation of violence they’ve been working toward. I shudder to think about what that city will look like when the police are told that they can only intervene on behalf of Antifa, to prevent the townspeople from protecting themselves. At that point, open war between the citizens and the Mayor’s private security forces is only a matter of time, and the ramifications of that kind of violence will likely finish the unraveling of the social fabric that we’ve seen fraying lo these many years.
Which, of course, was the purpose all along.
I shudder to think about what that city will look like when the police are told that they can only intervene on behalf of Antifa, to prevent the townspeople from protecting themselves.
If the City of Portland actually did such a thing — y’know, with an actual order that was written and can be found and published or was verbal and can corroborated by credible witnesses — and somebody was to be harmed because of such an order, you couldn’t count the number of lawyers rushing in wanting to file a section 1983 action. Because that would be the easiest paycheck EVER.
Maybe they trap a car in one of their roving traffic barricades,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGUxYjPxzJ8
So, helicopters then? Yes. Helicopters.
Helicopters
Nah. Scoops
Words and reason are better than swords.
Debatable. What is not debatable is that a rifle is better than either.
Ain’t she a love.
An observation made by VTK in the comments at Ace’s:
“Odd that Antifa (allegedly anarchist and anti-capitalist) is claming that Andy Ngo isn’t a “real journalist” on the basis that he’s not sponsored by the Government or a large media corporation. “
If the City of Portland actually did such a thing…
The mayor is the police commissioner, unsurprisingly all the city commissioners (who allegedly have oversight of the police bureaus) are democrats and one of the commissioners is the mayor. What could possibly go wrong with that setup; it was reported the cops were given a stand down order.