Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with rightwing

The propaganda machine or my imagination?

drpynchon — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 11:19:23 -0800

Am I imagining things or has there lately been a surge of right-wing opinion dominating the forums of popular sites like digg and reddit? It seems like people are voting up weird random articles like this one and then circle jerking away about regulation=bad, government=bad, Obama=BigBrother=communism, taxes=bad, etc. usually talking points.

Are these sites always prone to just being anti-establishment regardless of the party in power or is this a planned tactic on the part of American conservatives to address their prior failings in handling the internet? I've seen some links to what appear to be goon squads doing this but has anyone written a substantive evaluation of this phenomenon and how organized it may be? Also have the folks that run such sites addressed the fact that they may be used as propaganda devices and attempted to develop means to combat this?

What's the deal with: Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West?

cjorgensen — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:20:28 -0800

What should I do with the DVD "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West"? I got this DVD in the mail. From what I understand it borders on hate speech and xenophobia (which is why I am not linking to their site). So what do I do?

1. Watch it and decide for myself?
2. Throw it away?
3. Mark it "Return to sender," and hope this cost the racists a bit of cash?
4. Invite all my friends over for a viewing?

I like to imagine myself as an open minded type of guy, and I am not afraid of having my world view challenged, but I also would rather not waste my time sitting in front of a propaganda piece (for or against anything).

I'm less worried about what this will do to my world view, and more concerned with: if it really is the vitriolic piece of crap I am expecting it to be, what's the best way to cost them extra cash? Even a buck for return postage would be fine with me (that's one less DVD they can send out).

If I am wrong on my perception, then I would like to know that as well.

Thanks.

Translate this

Artifice_Eternity — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 11:59:48 -0800

Question for people familiar with the Polish language and/or political scene: What are the "Patriotyczny Ruch Polski" newsletters I recently found in my heavily Polish neighborhood (Greenpoint, Brooklyn) all about? Here's a scan of a front page. I haven't been able to find out anything about this publication online. It seems to be mostly targeted at the Polish diaspora -- the masthead says "Nowy Jork, Chicago, Toronto, Berlin, Warszawa." The numbered list near the top (which I've outlined in red) represents the table of contents.

I get a nationalist, possibly right-wing vibe from these newsletters, but I can only make out a few words (even with the help of an online Polish/English translation program). But I find the issue linked above particularly weird, given its lead story clearly relating to Judaism (note the photo), and references to "Jewropie," "(homo)seksualna," and a reference to a site called Nacjonalista.pl.

I know there is a strong strain of rightist extremism in Poland, and I've previously seen hints of it here in Greenpoint (casual anti-Semitic remarks from Polish guys at bars, etc.). Do these newsletters represent this kind of thinking?

What's the deal with the popularity of Moonbat?

Astro Zombie — Wed, 24 May 2006 23:11:52 -0800

Explain to me the popularity of "moonbat." I mean, I know the right wing, particularly those with libertarian leanings, like to use it against anybody even remotely to the left of them, and I know the mean those people are crazy. I know the history of this weird little phrase. I just don't get its popularity. I also don't understadn why it seems to be applied exclusively to the left -- the comparable phrase "wingnut" seems likely to be applied to the radical fringe of the left and the right alike.

So what's the dilly?

Did you hear the one about Kerry looking like a horse?

longbaugh — Sat, 17 Sep 2005 13:08:16 -0800

Are there any funny right-wing comedians? I have been looking all over for new funny stuff to keep me entertained on long journeys to work and back but all my comedy seems to come from left-wing/atheist/anti-bush sources (David Cross, Lewis Black, Patton Oswalt etc). I'd like to know if there are actually any funny right-wing/religious/pro-bush comedians so that I don't end up laughing at just one thing all the time. I don't want the usual suspects saying "Bushisms are funny hem-hem-hem", I'd like genuine suggestions if there are any - bonus points if the jokes aren't all about Bill Clinton since he is an easy whipping boy for all comedians. The comedian doesn't even have to be from the USA, as long as it's in English.

Republicanism 101 for Teen Liberals

stet — Mon, 07 Mar 2005 14:22:11 -0800

CogentRightWingThinkerFilter: A friend of mine has a younger sister who is a well-educated and politically savvy 16-year-old liberal Democrat. In the interests of broadening her horizons, what sources for Republican or right-wing politics would you recommend for her? Since this young woman resides deep in the blue territory we've all heard about, she has little exposure to the American right other than the trained monkeys that infest television and the popular media. Obviously, this isn't limited to the right, so I'm not looking for right-wing equivilents to Michael Moore or Jon Stewart. Something like a conservative Harper's magazine would be more the goal. Or, if there is some sort of seminal book on conservative politics that is well-reasoned and well-argued, that would also fit the bill. Polemic works or anything that uses the word "Liberal" as a synonym for evil are not what I'm looking for. I'd like her to have an understanding of the reasons the good, honorable, and thoughtful conservatives exist.

Watching the evangelicals

Miko — Tue, 15 Feb 2005 09:19:45 -0800

I'm worried about the aggressive attempt at cultural and political dominance being perpetrated by evangelical groups like this. Can anyone point me to grassroots watchdog groups / info clearninghouses / think tanks? Basically, I'm looking for any organization that is tracking and analyzing the strategies and propoganda of evangelical christian groups. I want to start paying some serious attention.

(No matter how I construct my terms, My Google searches are only returning grassroots watchdog groups made up of evangelical christians who are keeping an eye on the rest of us). And if there aren't any ...wanna start one?

Is Matt Drudge Gay?

the fire you left me — Mon, 13 Sep 2004 16:34:54 -0800

Is Matt Drudge gay?