Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by inigyou 1 day ago
I never saw it through this lens before but you might be right.
2 comments

You should read Amusing Ourselves to Death. It is the single most informative book on politics I've ever read. Unfortunately the conclusion it points to is not great. But worth reading anyway!
There's a fantastic web series that explains the whole dynamic: the alt-right playbook.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJA_jUddXvY7v0VkYRbAN...

It’s reductive to frame this as an alt-right only phenomenon. As long as we’re subject to modern ad-fueled social media, this is the basis for all non-retail politics.
The alt right playbook isn’t identical to other political movements because it’s facing different pressures.

Right now it’s dealing with second generation propaganda where much of the leadership believes the narrative rather than the underlying justification for that narrative. This is mitigating by the older generation retaining a great deal of power, but it creates some IMO really interesting dynamics.

> The alt right playbook isn’t identical to other political movements

Straw man. Nobody claimed this. Just that the factor identified, politics by attention economics as a result of social media, is not unique to the alt right.

> this is the basis for all non-retail politics.

My point was there’s an internal disconnect inside the alt right movement which makes this play out in very distinct ways. Dig into say China’s political to social media connections for some wildly different dynamics.

> is not unique to the alt right

Sure, that I can agree with but it’s a long way from your earlier blanket statement.

> Dig into say China’s political to social media connections

China regulates social media in a way we don’t. The fundamental dynamic doesn’t apply there.

That's a reduction that isn't being made.

This is a playbook that was utilised by the alt-right first, and adopted by nearly everyone else; particularly (though not exclusively) Republicans in the US, followed by most conservative organizations around the world.