Here's a summary of the key themes from the Hacker News discussion, with supporting quotes.
The Role of Media in Fostering Division and Dehumanization
The discussion centers on the power of media figures, like Rush Limbaugh, to create division and potentially incite violence through dehumanizing rhetoric. Several users draw parallels between Limbaugh's rhetoric and pre-genocidal speech.
- "It’s going too far to say Rush advocated genocide, but he absolutely preached that all who opposed him were not just wrong but evil, that ends justify means, that people with different views are subhuman." - brookst
- "What many in the US don't have conceptual familiarity with is pre-genocidal speech. Historically and empirically, the actual call to violence only happens at the end of a long period of collectivizing dehumanization via media, when people are already pliable for it." - energy123
- "He may not have advocated for genocide, but he did a lot to create a polarized political environment where anyone to his left was at best ridiculed and more often demonized. His general rhetorical strategy was to find some extreme example of something on the left, exaggerate it and then attribute his distorted version to everyone to his left." - dhosek
The Appeal and Impact of Rush Limbaugh
Several commenters discuss Limbaugh's appeal, noting his ability to make listeners feel intelligent and validated, while simultaneously demonizing opposing viewpoints.
- "One thing that rush did in an excellent way was making you feel like you were smart, special, and inherently in the right by listening to him and supporting him. It was much like listening to a preacher if you have any sort of religious upbringing (which I did)." - cogman10
- "He also knew his audience well and did a great job of hyping the 'us v them' notions. He knew a lot of his audience was rural, for example, so he'd spend a good amount of time talking about how much more wise country folk and truck drivers were vs people that live and work in the cities." - cogman10
- "I tuned in deliberately on Jan 7, 2021, just a few days before Rush passed away, and found he was shocked and aghast at what had happened to the day before... but did not draw the connection to how the culture he created contributed to it." - PaulHoule
Parallels to Historical Examples of Incitement
The discussion references the Rwandan genocide (via Simon Bikindi and RTLMC) and the potential for similar dynamics to occur in the US. Some users connect Limbaugh's rhetoric to the events of January 6th.
- "Not constrained to Rwanda, the late '80s and early '90s saw the (re-)emergence of this flavor of broadcasting in many places around the world - especially in the US on the AM bands... I do not believe for a second that the fact it went different in the US wasn't for lack of trying. The trying hasn't even stopped." - throwanda
Critique of Modern Political Discourse and Sloganeering
The conversation broadens to critique the current state of political discourse, particularly the use of simplistic slogans and the perceived superiority complex of those who promote them. Lawn signs and debates around transgender athletes are used as examples.
- "Complex issues get distilled into 3 or 4 word slogans with the total effect of suggesting that the person with this lawn sign is superior in every way to people who disagree with her, that there's one exact right way to think about every issue, people who disagree are evil, deluded, subhuman, affected by perverse psychology, etc." - PaulHoule
- "If you thought 'Science is Real' you might read something like [article link] and understand that the discourse of politically oriented folks about immigration is not at all evidence based. Tacking one cause to another cause tends to work terribly for progressive causes" - PaulHoule
- "There is a very small and vocal minority fascist-ish left, but this sign is in no way representative of it." - patcon (responding to the initial assertion that the "We Believe" yard sign implied superiority)
- "That doesn't seem to be the case... A good example of this is the international chess federation banning trans women from women's competition. [1] What advantage does higher testosterone offer for someone playing chess? That's where these concerns seem to be more 'I just don't want to accommodate trans women' and less 'I'm concerned about an unfair advantage'." - cogman10
Moral Absolutism vs. Nuance in Politics
Some users argue that certain fundamental values warrant an uncompromising stance, while others express concern about the dangers of oversimplification and the demonization of opposing viewpoints.
- "None of the slogans in that sign should be remotely controversial. Where exactly is the 'complex issue'? 'Water is life'? 'Science is real'? This sign is statement that some issues warrant absolutism - a line in the sand regarding fundamental values." - dTal
- "The real moral fight is 'you should care about others' vs 'fuck you I got mine', and this is what distinguishes left from right, rather than propensity to nuance." - dTal
- "Pre-2016, I might have agreed with you. We shouldn't be so strident. We should be more accepting. Today, yeah, fuck that. You take your +0.05 R and you reconsider your position. I'm fine with mine." - CalChris
The Universality of Dehumanization and Tribalism
One commenter argues that the potential for dehumanization and violence is not limited to any particular political ideology.
- "… because nominally socialist movements have never committed genocide? Go read Gulag Archipelago or listen to the recent Behind the Bastards podcast on Pol Pot... It seems to be something humans do, a kind of tribal warfare or “raiding” program deep in the brain stem that can be activated." - api
- "It seems possible to activate these behaviors with any pattern of rhetoric that dehumanizes a group of people and creates a powerful in group out group schism. That can be framed in any way — right wing, left wing, anything." - api
Defining and Addressing Hate Speech
The discussion touches on the complexities of defining and regulating hate speech, with some arguing that the causal links between dehumanizing speech and violence justify restrictions. One commenter argues that those who don't conceptually understand morality are being dehumanized.
- "In my view, those causal antecedents to genocide should be illegal due to their historically proven connection to genocide. This speech is more dangerous and leads to more dead bodies than other types of speech which are already illegal, like isolated calls to individual violence or libel." - energy123
- "I was being ironic, because their is an actual honest disagreement about morality but not being able to talk about it because it's considered by a some to be hate speech doesn't make it go away." - ryeats