Caroline Orr BuenoDec 3, 2022

Now seems like a good time to talk about how far-right extremists are using the Overton Window theory to force their ideas into the mainstream. The premise here is that today’s fringe ideas/beliefs can become tomorrow’s normal by shifting the boundaries of acceptable discourse. You do that by introducing people to more & more extreme ideas, so everything else seems reasonable in comparison.

eg, when “praising Hitler” becomes the comparison point, low-key bigotry suddenly doesn’t seem so bad. 1/

Show threadCaroline Orr BuenoDec 3, 2022
Elon Musk seems to think it’s ok to allow white supremacists and Nazis on Twitter as long as they aren’t tweeting overt hate speech, but the problem with that is that it inherently sends a message that their ideas are worthy of consideration — even though we know the endpoint of those ideas is violence, death, and ultimately genocide. Those ideas are not, in fact, worthy of consideration. 2/
Show threadCaroline Orr BuenoDec 3, 2022
The concern isn’t that letting Nazis back on Twitter (or any other major platform) is going to make people suddenly start thinking Nazis are good. The concern is that when people get used to hearing their ideas, other extreme ideas start sounding kind of reasonable and even acceptable. That’s the Overton Window, and it explains a lot about what’s going on right now. Far-right extremists use this tactic more effectively than any other group I’ve ever seen. 3/
Show threadTrent  🇨🇦Dec 3, 2022

@rvawonk Beyond Twitter or a given platform's responsibility and role in combating extremist ideas, what can rank-and-file people like us do to effectively counter it other than rage tweeting against it?

I'm assuming rage tweeting is not the answer?

Show threadSam AdamsDec 3, 2022
@trentbaur @rvawonk I advocate ignoring the bird site. It's a plaything that broke. Throw it away and get another one.
Show threadSpike
@Sameagle @trentbaur @rvawonk I go there and talk about Elon every day.
Dec 4, 2022 at 8:33pmWeb