Caroline Orr BuenoNov 21, 2022
We’re obviously still waiting for more details about the horrific Colorado Springs mass shooting at an LGBTQ nightclub, but based on everything we do know and everything we’ve seen in recent months and years, this looks like stochastic terrorism — and the persons responsible for the rhetoric are already targeting another LGBTQ org in Colorado Springs. 1/
Show threadCaroline Orr BuenoNov 21, 2022

Stochastic terrorism is “the use of mass communications to incite random actors to carry out violent or terrorist acts that are statistically predictable but individually unpredictable."

Trump & his supporters have embraced this tactic and I’ve written about it countless times over the years, like in this piece about Roger Stone. 2/
https://americanindependent.com/longtime-trump-ally-roger-stone-promises-violence-if-congress-impeaches/

Longtime Trump ally Roger Stone promises violence if Congress impeaches

Roger Stone says he wasn't advocating violence, but his style of rhetoric is known to incite it.

The American Independent
Show threadCaroline Orr BuenoNov 21, 2022

I’ve heard stochastic terrorism described as a pan of popcorn on a hot stove, where the pan is social media and the kernels are random members of the public. Far-right figures are the ones turning up the heat, pouring oil in the pan, and shaking the kernels around.

No one can really be sure *which* kernel will “pop” next, but you can be pretty damn certain that if you keep the heat on, keep adding oil, and keep shaking the pan around, one of those kernels is going to pop sooner or later. 3/

Show threadVAWeisman
@rvawonk The stovetop popcorn metaphor is the best explanation of stochastic terrorism I’ve ever heard.
Nov 21, 2022 at 2:04amWeb