Sure, I suppose I can make an attempt…
In modern internet culture, it’s an overwhelmingly common[^1] practice to mentally classify things with as few labels as possible (ideally just one label), ignoring the possibility of misclassification or nuance.
Applying that practice to the flags in the photo, the meme author likely[^4] mentally classified each flag like this:
- Thin Blue Line flag = Pro-authority
- Gadsden flag = Anti-authority
Because the possibilities of misclassification and nuance are ignored, we can assume that these labels are correct.
Because the labels are correct, we can assume that it is actually the owner of the flags who is confused – not the meme author, nor us beholders/doomscrollers with whom the meme resonates.
Thanks to the logic of our “chain of assumptions”[^2] being correct, we can feel validated because our team wins again, and their team loses again[^3]. We are drawn to this feeling. We are more likely to upvote things that make us feel this.
This sort of mindset is not only socially acceptable, it is strongly encouraged[^1].
Footnotes
[^1]: Example: This post has 640 upvotes and 5 downvotes. (By the way: Those 5 down-voters are alt-right, Trump-supporting, boot-licking, racist, homophobic, transphobic, xenophobic, misogynistic, fascist nazis[^4][^3].) [^2]: There might be an actual name for this. I’m just making this name up without bothering to research because I assume that most readers won’t care. [^3]: Warning: If you are wondering, “How?”: Stop. It is socially unacceptable to ask this. It can only mean that you disagree[^4], and you risk being shunned and classified/labeled accordingly. [^4]: This is considered correct because the possibilities of misclassification or nuance are safely ignored.[^3]
nummy@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Non-nuanced explanation: Top flag - pro-cop. Bottom flag - libertarian, “anti-government”. You can’t be both.
Vreyan31@reddthat.com 1 month ago
…You can but only in a really shitty way.
Which likely largely applies to the guy flying these flags.
Blue Line flag: “Authority should tread on THEM” Gasden flag: “Authority should respect ME”
I think Lindsay Ellis has a video that catalogs a lot of video of drunk conservatives who have behaved badly and are getting arrested, and their shock and horror that they do not get a free pass for being from the right “team”.
There absolutely is a large segment of our society that implicitly believes that they deserve rights and that others are ‘too dangerous’ and deserve harsh oppression.
I think a lot of us further on the left forget that the concept of equal rights is fairly new to our species, and that humans will readily absorb ‘rules for thee but not for me’ - especially when it’s encouraged by 24/7 propaganda outlets that we can’t stand to watch.
Thebeardedsinglemalt@lemmy.world 1 month ago
With the fucked up part being large sections of the right believe that if someone else starts getting more rights (that they themselves already have) it means they now have fewer rights because they’re being taken away.
When in fact, they still have more rights than the other group, they just don’t have as many more as they used to
abigscaryhobo@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Same thing applies to finances a lot as well “I don’t want a burger flipper making $15! I only make $16 and I’m a (other job)!”
Like yes, but that means you’re both being underpaid. Them getting paid enough to live doesn’t mean you get paid less, if you feel your skill deserves more money, then fight for that money, don’t hold other people down to keep your frail sense of superiority alive.