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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 February 2024
This final part of the book attempts to cast some light on some of the darkest, most disturbing corners of the internet.
The first chapter of this part, “The use of humor by the alt.right,” considers its strategy used to recruit new followers to present their propaganda under the guise of humor, taking advantage of the retractability of humor (“I was just kidding”).
The second chapter considers some of the humor on 4chan, a website that allows anonymous posting. In particular, we examine the practice of trolling that is, the posting of deliberately inflammatory posts to elicit outrage, and lulz, the laughing at the victim of a trolling incident.
The last chapter considers the adoption of cartoon mascots by right wing groups.
In many ways, these were the hardest chapters to write. One of the nice perks of studying humor is that one's data tend to be fun, amusing and entertaining. The humor we will consider in this section is rarely so wholesome. In fact, short of snuff movies, it comprises some of the vilest, most disgusting, most depressing material in circulation. Yet it is crucial that it be examined and brought out into the light.
Nietzsche said: “Beware that, when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster … for when you gaze long into the abyss. The abyss gazes also into you.” As I delved into the cesspool of the alt-right humor, I found myself fondly remembering the “asteroid for president” memes I had seen in 2020 (Figure P4.1). Perhaps humanity is not worth saving, if we go by these specimens.
It is very difficult to maintain a detached, objective, dare I say, scientific stance when dealing with this sort of material. I tried my best to do so, because to simply reject trolling or racist humor as not funny means forgoing the possibility of understanding the phenomenon and/or understanding why some people find it funny, let alone what they do with it. Having said this, I will issue a blanket disclaimer: I do not endorse, approve or even find funny any of the humor discussed in this part. So, holding our noses pinched firmly shut, let's dive in.
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