The Card Says Moops is public!

Really, genuinely disturbing. Also... oh god, the super-speed scrolling when you're talking about 4chan. OH GOD. PLEASE no. It took all I had to keep watching. Be aware that super-fast scrolling and flashy lights are both really tough for anyone with migraines or neuro disorders of any kind.

One more thing: the inversion of truth > belief > argument. I can't recall another time when I had the simultaneous feeling of, "That's brilliant, exactly describes reality!" and "My god, that is so fucked up!"

This was the most disturbing essay of the series yet, mostly because I recognize every element you described in the comment sections of YouTube, in forums, on Twitter. That donning of the mantle of "rationalist" by people determined to win every argument, regardless of the facts? Seen it. Enemy of my enemy is my friend, even when their own positions are diametrically opposed? -- "Keep politics out of games" vs. "Games are racist against white men," being a prime example -- seen it. "He believes he believes it," scares the shit out of me too, but even more, much more, does, "Truth is a democracy."

Well done. I've been mulling it over and I suspect the reason that certain very online people on the right will take any argument that may "own the libs" is indeed because they simply don't care about the viewpoints they espouse - because it's not about ideology, ultimately, it's about power. They feel powerful when they get reactions, they feel powerful when they can derail or control the conversation. Might really does make right for many of them and any proof of might is an end unto itself. (And honestly I wonder if some of this is rooted in their sense of measuring themselves by their impact on their "enemies" above all else.)

Congrats on another phenomenal piece of work Ian. I really liked it, you've shined new light on what goes on behind anti-sjw online discourse. I've been thinking about a twitter thread I saw recently, on someone witnessing their little teenage brother adopting this type of faux-nihilist anti-sjw attitude from following certain gaming youtubers and the like. Your video has really answered a lot of questions I had on what was going on there.

I was struck by the photo at 8:50. Very nostalgic. Where is it from?

Damn, this was a LOT. I lost track a couple of times because your topic changes aren't framed as clearly (for me) as usually and I wasn't sure what you're talking about anymore. Otherwise, great video, as always!