Apparently Youâre A Nazi
I just encountered a tweet with a gif that showed a woman in a âMake Bitcoin Great Againâ hat being blindsided and pepper-sprayed by some guy, with a reply saying âyou dont often see female nazis getting what they deserveâ
Originally, a âNaziâ meant someone who wanted to create a fascist state and commit genocide. Any decent person would hate these guys, so we all understood that Nazi=Evil.
Then âNaziâ meant someone who endorsed racist beliefs, regardless of policies. This was transparently diluting the meaning from its original form, but we didnât really mind, because racists suck and we were going to be pissed at them anyway.
Then âNaziâ meant someone who supported Donald Trump for any reason. ie: Over a third of the USA.
Now âNaziâ means someone who wears ~edgy~ hats supporting bitcoin.
And, regardless of your opinion on genocide - or literally anything else, for that matter - in a month, âNaziâ is going to mean you.
It literally does not matter what you believe. Not a single bit. You could be the most fervent anti-racist in the world. You could hate Hitler with all your heart. You could have been completely certain that no one in their right mind would call you a Nazi.
And then someone wearing a dumb hat got pepper-sprayed.
So, the next time you see the punching discourse, remember this: All of those arguments in favour of punching Nazis are encouraging people to punch anyone in a silly hat. Even if the person making the argument doesnât endorse punching people in stupid hats, this is where it leads. And saying âBut I thought theyâd only punch the real Nazis!â is no excuse.
Saying âYou can punch Nazisâ means âYou can punch people you call Nazisâ. Simple as that. There is no ledger in the sky listing the True Nazis and distinguishing them from the Fake Nazis. If there was, people in stupid hats wouldnât be pepper-sprayed. Any and all endorsement of punching Nazis on sight is an endorsement of âUse your judgement to decide who to punch, because no oneâs judgement is ever flawedâ.
And then people wearing the wrong hat will be punched. And people wearing the wrong shoes will be punched. And people eating the wrong food will be punched. And people listening to the wrong music will be punched. And you will be punched. You will always be someoneâs Nazi, and this is the political climate in which they will feel justified in assaulting you.
So, if being a fucking decent person who doesnât attack strangers based on their hat doesnât compel you, at least let a little self-interest do it. Do you want a jacked up whiteboy with a saviour complex to beat your ass for walking down the street the wrong way? No? Then donât contribute to the culture that wants to make that happen.
Because when you ride with the disintegration of the social order, you ride with Hitler. ///