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[Mael]

So "[person] not fit to be" = "no problem with [same person] being" in our brave new world.

If you put both candidate on the same level and claim both are unworthy of your support in a 2 person race.
It's functionally the same as saying you're ok with any of the 2.
A vote in this kind of election doesn't come with a poll at the end saying why you choose the way you choose.
It only says that you choose.
You can claim all you want that the choice you made was bad or whatever but the end result is the same.

 

[Dubbedinenglish]

What's funny is I had a to read this and had a few moments of doubt. The line between satire and crazy people is blurring way too much.

 

[Riddick]

I mean come on people. Pepe specifically was shouted at Clinton during her alt-right speech for a reason.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoLDX6RHTY4

...therefore white supremacist symbol. Makes perfect sense!

 

[benjipwns]

If you put both candidate on the same level and claim both are unworthy of your support in a 2 person race.
It's functionally the same as saying you're ok with any of the 2.
A vote in this kind of election doesn't come with a poll at the end saying why you choose the way you choose.

Nor does it come with a statistically meaningful impact on who the next President is.

You're twisting his position into presenting a false choice then demanding he privately and in secret choose your position for entirely symbolic reasons.

 

[War Eagle]

If you're not part of the demographic that Trump is going for and you still don't find the possibility of his presidency the worst thing that could happen in politics since...well Brexit or the SCOTUS weakening the Civil Right Act. I guess you don't really care about your vote at all.

I'm an upper middle class educated brown naturalized citizen, so no--I'm not part of his demographic. However, after spending time abroad in countries where there are civil penalties for not voting, I have learned that we have the freedom to not if we do not see a candidate we feel is personally worth voting for. I am leaning on choosing that option. There's still a fair amount of time for me to change my mind, of course, but if the election were tomorrow I would leave POTUS blank.

 

[Eidan]

...therefore white supremacist symbol. Makes perfect sense!

In that context.

And this one:

And this one:

And in the instances highlighted in the articles I linked to: yes, it's a white supremacist symbol. And yes, it does make perfect sense.

 

[Veritigo_X]

...therefore white supremacist symbol. Makes perfect sense!

How about the fact that it's commonly used by white supremacists to harass minorities on twitter? Does that make sense or nah?

 

[eBay Huckster]

Nor does it come with a statistically meaningful impact on who the next President is.

Unless you're a PoliGAF poster, in which case you get a hundred votes per thread you've posted in

Spoiler

Why else do you think Obama won Ohio?

 

[benjipwns]

How about the fact that it's commonly used by white supremacists to harass minorities on twitter? Does that make sense or nah?

Wow, I didn't know that Twitter was a white supremacist symbol and tool too. It's like the alt-right gators are literally everywhere.

 

[God Dayumm]

How about the fact that it's commonly used by white supremacists to harass minorities on twitter? Does that make sense or nah?

White supremacists also use Twitter to harass minorities.

Therefore, birds are the new swastika

 

[ebullientprism]

How about the fact that it's commonly used by white supremacists to harass minorities on twitter? Does that make sense or nah?

Hang on, if they start using Mario tomorrow, is Mario a Neo Nazi symbol too?

 

[erotic grandpa]

Augh, this is why I hated the reactions in the "KC Green reclaims It's Fine" thread.

It sucks that innocuous web comic characters get co-opted into this shit. And it sucks just as much when people say "lol it's a meme now, belongs to all of us, they ruined it" when artists try to say something about it.

At least Matt Furie doesn't seem too fazed by this.

 

[The Lamonster]

Wait, so people are actually arguing that Pepe is not the white supremacist mascot?

Hang on, if they start using Mario tomorrow, is Mario a Neo Nazi symbol too?

You sweet summer children.

 

[Riddick]

How about the fact that it's commonly used by white supremacists to harass minorities on twitter? Does that make sense or nah?

Again, they're using memes because of their affiliation with pol. Every meme pol uses isn't a white supremacist symbol. Pepe is an extremely popular meme which is why it's used more. An extremely popular meme that is being used by EVERYONE. Jesus Christ, I can't believe I have to explain this.

 

[Mael]

Nor does it come with a statistically meaningful impact on who the next President is.

You're twisting his position into presenting a false choice then demanding he privately and in secret choose your position for entirely symbolic reasons.

Not really, we're asked a binary choice.
If you don't care about the end result it means that you're ok with either choice.
It's the reality of the thing.
You can claim that it's not the case but it really is.
Then again if he's living in a solid state where the result is already known he might as well not bother (although in this election with Arizona being a swing state who knows really).

I'm an upper middle class educated brown naturalized citizen, so no--I'm not part of his demographic. However, after spending time abroad in countries where there are civil penalties for not voting, I have learned that we have the freedom to not if we do not see a candidate we feel is personally worth voting for. I am leaning on choosing that option. There's still a fair amount of time for me to change my mind, of course, but if the election were tomorrow I would leave POTUS blank.

This is your choice and you're perfectly free to make this choice.
Mandatory voting only really works if you actually take into accounts blank votes(and that you can invalidate the vote if blank is a significant portion of the vote).

 

[Omegasquash]

I had no idea about that being a thing.

Not being on twitter is a good and bad thing, it seems.

 

[Xisiqomelir]

This means /b/ wins, right?

 

[Riddick]

White supremacists also use Twitter to harass minorities.

Therefore, birds are the new swastika

Coincidence? I think not.

 

[ZerOmegaG]

Wow, I didn't know that Twitter was a white supremacist symbol and tool too. It's like the alt-right gators are literally everywhere.

It's crazy how easy they can claim these things. I just had a chilling thought, if they make lots of photoshops of Hillary supporting Trump then Hillary will become a white supremacist symbol too and they can win the election! Let's hope they don't figure that one out.

 

[Eidan]

Again, they're using memes because of their affiliation with pol. Every meme pol uses isn't a white supremacist symbol. Pepe is an extremely popular meme which is why it's used more. An extremely popular meme that is being used by EVERYONE. Jesus Christ, I can't believe I have to explain this.

You seem very hung up on why it's been co-opted by white supremacists, which is fairly inconsequential. The fact is that it has been co-opted, that it is used almost singularly for that purpose by this group, that it is racist symbolism when used by this group, and that Trump and his son have retweeted Pepe when it was being used as racist symbolism. I honestly don't know why you're struggling with this.

 

[Conor_Fool]

Matt Furie's response (creator of Pepe) is fucking incredible. My favorite line: "Racist, sexist, and homophobic people need to take mushrooms and go into the forest and look at their reflection in the pond water."

http://www.dailydot.com/unclick/matt-furie-pepe-the-frog-alt-right/

 

[brokenwatch]

I feel like we are now fully half-way to the world predicted by Idiocracy.

 

[Nafai1123]

Again, they're using memes because of their affiliation with pol. Every meme pol uses isn't a white supremacist symbol. Pepe is an extremely popular meme which is why it's used more. An extremely popular meme that is being used by EVERYONE. Jesus Christ, I can't believe I have to explain this.

Pepe is an antiquated meme. Nobody uses it anymore except for those who have claimed it as their own (aka. the alt-right).

Also, being affiliated with /pol doesn't negate the association with white supremacy, it merely reinforces it.

 

[benjipwns]

Not really, we're asked a binary choice.
If you don't care about the end result it means that you're ok with either choice.
It's the reality of the thing.
You can claim that it's not the case but it really is.

No, it isn't.

Let's take my ballot choices. (Which you'll note are only binary individually in that I can vote for or not vote for each. But collectively are not being offered as a binary choice in that I can only vote for one or I'll be asked to vote again.)
Donald Trump: Unacceptable.
Hillary Clinton: Unacceptable.
Gary Johnson: Acceptable in context, but do not support.
Jill Stein: Unacceptable.
Darrell Castle: Unacceptable, but most likely to vote for if I were to vote. (The latter is conditional on there not being a new sixth party on the ballot.)

This does not mean I'm okay with the four unacceptable choices. Nor does it mean I'm okay with all five choices. Especially since I've stated them to be "unacceptable" which is usually not considered to be "okay."

And none of it changes who the next President will be. (Donald Trump.)

 

[Riddick]

You seem very hung up on why it's been co-opted by white supremacists, which is fairly inconsequential. The fact is that it has been co-opted, that it is used almost singularly for that purpose by this group, that it is racist symbolism when used by this group, and that Trump and his son have retweeted Pepe when it was being used as racist symbolism. I honestly don't know why you're struggling with this.

Dude, something that is being used by everyone doesn't become a white supremacist symbol if used by the far-right. How can you fail to grasp that logic? Like someone else said, white supremacists use social media to spread their hate, are social media white supremacist?

 

[Futureman]

is there a way to trace back to the source who made these frog memes that Don and Don Jr retweeted? If those people are alt-right racists I don't see why it's so controversial to question why the fuck they are reposting the memes?

they could claim "Oh I didn't know the original source of the image!" but then they would have to apologize and delete their tweets which I assume hasn't happened?

 

[Flo_Evans]

This explains why when someone posted a sad pepe bulbasaur in the pokemon go thread someone replied "get that white supremacist bulbasaur out of here"

Still, I don't see this as any different than using bart simpson in your racist propaganda... its using a popular character in your shit, does't make bart a white supremacist symbol.

I mean if trump makes him the official campaign mascot or something we can talk.

 

[Mael]

No, it isn't.

Let's take my ballot choices. (Which you'll note are only binary individually in that I can vote for or not vote for each. But collectively are not being offered as a binary choice in that I can only vote for one or I'll be asked to vote again.)
Donald Trump: Unacceptable.
Hillary Clinton: Unacceptable.
Gary Johnson: Acceptable in context, but do not support.
Jill Stein: Unacceptable.
Darrell Castle: Unacceptable, but most likely to vote for if I were to vote. (The latter is conditional on there not being a new sixth party on the ballot.)

This does not mean I'm okay with the four unacceptable choices. Nor does it mean I'm okay with all five choices. Especially since I've stated them to be "unacceptable" which is usually not considered to be "okay."

And none of it changes who the next President will be. (Donald Trump.)

Again, you can claim that it is different but in the current system there's only 2 functional choices, the rest is basically wasted.
At the end of the day it's the people who vote for Clinton or Trump who will have their way and anyone who didn't vote for the opposite candidate will have helped them in a practical way.
It IS a zero sum game after all.

 

[Torokil]

Every symbol or icon a group of racists use is automatically a racist symbol, I just can't think of it any other way.

In other news, I've noticed anime avatars on youtube making harassing comments on multiple video. Someone get Hillary's team on this. We're gonna blow this shit wide open.

 

[M0nochromatic]

The notion of Pepe being a symbol of anything, is hilarious. I can't wait for history texts that teach about what happened in the Meme elections of 2016.

Here's the important question we're forgetting about. What abouts feels guy?

 

[Gorillaz]

The internet absolutely ruined this election.

Like seriously it did.

Can't imagine how bad it might be next cycle

This explains why when someone posted a sad pepe bulbasaur in the pokemon go thread someone replied "get that white supremacist bulbasaur out of here"

Still, I don't see this as any different than using bart simpson in your racist propaganda... its using a popular character in your shit, does't make bart a white supremacist symbol.

I mean if trump makes him the official campaign mascot or something we can talk.

A white supremacist bulbasaur. That sounds hilarious

I bet it likes to use vine whip on other pokemon. The swine.

 

[lastflowers]

I've lost a lot of respect for the Democrats (officials and hoi polloi) this cycle.

 

[benjipwns]

Again, you can claim that it is different but in the current system there's only 2 functional choices, the rest is basically wasted.
At the end of the day it's the people who vote for Clinton or Trump who will have their way and anyone who didn't vote for the opposite candidate will have helped them in a practical way.
It IS a zero sum game after all.

It is fifty-one separate elections in which a single vote will not even cause the slightest tickle upon the face of the collective result.

You seem to be under the impression that you get some special reward if you pick (in private, with no one knowing your choice) the overall summed "runner up" rather than third or ninth place. Or even the winner.

 

[AlphaDump]

You seem very hung up on why it's been co-opted by white supremacists, which is fairly inconsequential. The fact is that it has been co-opted, that it is used almost singularly for that purpose by this group, that it is racist symbolism when used by this group, and that Trump and his son have retweeted Pepe when it was being used as racist symbolism. I honestly don't know why you're struggling with this.

Well put.

 

[Nafai1123]

I've lost a lot of respect for the Democrats (officials and hoi polloi) this cycle.

I've gained respect for the Democrats for actually calling out clear pandering to hate groups by the Trump campaign.

 

[Ganzlinger]

It's fake.

I know. I was joking. lol

 

[Mael]

It is fifty-one separate elections in which a single vote will not even cause the slightest tickle upon the face of the collective result.

You seem to be under the impression that you get some special reward if you pick (in private, with no one knowing your choice) the overall summed "runner up" rather than third or ninth place. Or even the winner.

Keep thinking your vote doesn't count, the surest way to never be disappointed with the result.

 

[benjipwns]

Keep thinking your vote doesn't count, the surest way to never be disappointed with the result.

Don't worry your little head, I'd still be disappointed with the result even if I did throw my secret vote away by putting it on a ballot.

 

[Mael]

Don't worry your little head, I'd still be disappointed with the result even if I did throw my secret vote away by putting it on a ballot.

It's ok as long as you keep your hands pure and have the rest of the people do the heavy lifting for you.
It's win-win situation, whenever something bad happens you can always blame the people you never choose and claim your hands are clean in a situation you helped create.
The perfect deal!

 

[213372bu]

Keep thinking your vote doesn't count, the surest way to never be disappointed with the result.

For wanting to discuss politics for as much as you do, you sure don't know how politics on a basic level work.

Also memes are blank slates, it's why they are viral and why many groups, religious and political, use them. As an attempt at viral message spreading.

Saying "Pepe belongs to racist and antisemitic peoples" is moronic and lazy.

It's a fucking meme frog with a million variations.

You'd think its associated with people who live with their parents and eat tendies or even communism on a given day at 4chan.

Tendies not trendies... Auto correct on mobile

 

[Eidan]

Dude, something that is being used by everyone doesn't become a white supremacist symbol if used by the far-right. How can you fail to grasp that logic? Like someone else said, white supremacists use social media to spread their hate, are social media white supremacist?

Bad analogy. A better example would be the six-pointed star, which is also associated with the Trump campaign. The six-pointed star has been used by many, and in many contexts. In the context that Trump's campaign used it, it was currently being used by white supremacists as racist symbolism, and it was that context that the campaign retweeted. Same deal with Pepe.

You seem very concerned with preserving the integrity of this cartoon frog for some reason, which seems to be clouding your ability to acknowledge the obvious: Pepe has been co-opted by bigots to be used to communicate bigotry. They chose Pepe specifically. And though there are many ways to use the meme that aren't bigoted, the version that we saw Trump and his son use were in the bigoted context, and that is what he is being criticized for.

 

[Mael]

For wanting to discuss politics for as much as you do, you sure don't know how politics on a basic level work.

If you want to talk politics I'll be here all day.
This is a glorified plebiscite.

Bad analogy. A better example would be the six-pointed star, which is also associated with the Trump campaign. The six-pointed star has been used by many, and in many contexts. In the context that Trump's campaign used it, it was currently being used by white supremacists as racist symbolism, and it was that context that the campaign retweeted. Same deal with Pepe.

You seem very concerned with preserving the integrity of this cartoon frog for some reason, which seems to be clouding your ability to acknowledge the obvious: Pepe has been co-opted by bigots to be used to communicate bigotry. They chose Pepe specifically. And though there are many ways to use the meme that aren't bigoted, the version that we saw Trump and his son use were in the bigoted context, and that is what he is being criticized for.

Gotta make sure that if something is racist it really is.
Can't have you thinking what someone says or do is racist by accident or association.

 

[213372bu]

Bad analogy. A better example would be the six-pointed star, which is also associated with the Trump campaign. The six-pointed star has been used by many, and in many contexts. In the context that Trump's campaign used it, it was currently being used by white supremacists as racist symbolism, and it was that context that the campaign retweeted. Same deal with Pepe.

You seem very concerned with preserving the integrity of this cartoon frog for some reason, which seems to be clouding your ability to acknowledge the obvious: Pepe has been co-opted by bigots to be used to communicate bigotry. They chose Pepe specifically. And though there are many ways to use the meme that aren't bigoted, the version that we saw Trump and his son use were in the bigoted context, and that is what he is being criticized for.

lmaooo Pepe is the Star of David now.

OK l, I'm done.

Fine display of quality critical thinking and reasoning by some fine individuals.

Props for posting out your ass, great achievement.

 

[benjipwns]

It's ok as long as you keep your hands pure and have the rest of the people do the heavy lifting for you.
It's win-win situation, whenever something bad happens you can always blame the people you never choose and claim your hands are clean in a situation you helped create.
The perfect deal!

lol at periodically single-party straight-ticket voting for either the winner or the runner up in elections being the "heavy lifting" of anything

but it is so true, i couldn't keep my hands so immaculate if it wasn't for those of you circle jerking so hard over defending the powerful in their petty partisan and personal controversies

i'd have to wear gloves or something

 

[The Beard]

Every symbol or icon a group of racists use is automatically a racist symbol, I just can't think of it any other way.

In other news, I've noticed anime avatars on youtube making harassing comments on multiple video. Someone get Hillary's team on this. We're gonna blow this shit wide open.

That's true, anime is now an official symbol of hate speech. How can we get rid of it?

 

[Mael]

lol at periodically single-party straight-ticket voting for either the winner or the runner up in elections being the "heavy lifting" of anything

but it is so true, i couldn't keep my hands so immaculate if it wasn't for those of you circle jerking so hard over defending the powerful in their petty partisan and personal controversies

i'd have to wear gloves or something

The party trying to stop government from functionning is the same as the party trying to provide healthcare paid by the government.
You cracked the code.

 

[AppleMIX]

For as much disinterest/hate I have for the candidates in this election, this has to be one of the most entertaining elections ever.

 

[Riddick]

Bad analogy. A better example would be the six-pointed star, which is also associated with the Trump campaign. The six-pointed star has been used by many, and in many contexts. In the context that Trump's campaign used it, it was currently being used by white supremacists as racist symbolism, and it was that context that the campaign retweeted. Same deal with Pepe.

You seem very concerned with preserving the integrity of this cartoon frog for some reason, which seems to be clouding your ability to acknowledge the obvious: Pepe has been co-opted by bigots to be used to communicate bigotry. They chose Pepe specifically. And though there are many ways to use the meme that aren't bigoted, the version that we saw Trump and his son use were in the bigoted context, and that is what he is being criticized for.

Does everyone use the six-pointed star to entertain themselves? No they don't. Do I really have to spell everything out for you? This discussion is embarrassing, I'm out.

 

[JustenP88]

This means /b/ wins, right?

Oh god yes. Look at the tizzy they've got everyone in...

 

[BreezyLimbo]

So whos the first candidate who will stream themselves playing League of Legends

That one will get my vote.