While the alt-right may be an actual force on the Internet, it’s tough to find them in real life in the same abundance that they have on the web.
Oscar Wilde said it best, “Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.”
This is the embodiment of alt-right members. They use the Internet and a few outspoken leaders to push the bulk of their agenda.
For those of you unfamiliar with the political ideologies of the alt-right: It is a belief centered around isolation of the white race and stark opposition to ideas such as political correctness that can infringe upon a person’s ability to freely do anything that they please.
The bulk of “doing anything that they please” is hating minorities and immigrants.
The alt-right has existed on the fringes of the political spectrum for several years now. However, it has managed to become more prevalent and visible in the political world with Stephen Bannon, the former executive chairman of Breitbart, leading Donald Trump’s campaign effort.
It makes me curious how many legitimate alt-right-leaning people exist in real life and not exclusively on the Internet with their use of hate-filled memes to spread their message.
It’s easy to be a jerk on the Internet. It’s painless to talk a good fight and spew malignity without seeing how it personally affects the victims. Being that much of a jerk in real life would no doubt have serious professional consequences at the least.
Acts such as “echoing” to target Jews for harassment on the Internet are nothing short of ridiculous. Characteristics like that, which are cornerstones of the alt-right, have no place anywhere.
The only place where alt-right members are truly abundant is on the Internet. The only reason for that is, on the web, there is no accountability for these actions.
Hopefully, reality will set into the alt-right to where they will be able to, some day, express their opinions and beliefs without using hate-filled drawings of frogs.
Assistant opinion Thom Dwyer broadcast journalism sophomore and can be reached at [email protected]
