You only need to read the Table of Contents to know the ACLU of West Virginia’s Amicus Brief on the case where coal company CEO Robert Murray, of Murray Energy, is suing John Oliver for defamation is gonna be special.
(x) Oh wow. Tbh I don’t think there’s a single thing I wouldn’t apply to antis? Amazing.
I wanted to c/p the text and discuss it, but springhole won’t allow me to that so, sorry.
Honestly I would recommend this entire page as a must-read for anyone. It’s entirely possible for any group to become this toxic and you could end up swallowing extremist ideologies without even realizing that it’s happening.
I know this isn’t an exact answer to the questions you’re still waiting on from me, but I think this website is definitely directly addressing some of your thoughts on how to identify your community as being abusive in the first place.
Here’s the text of the section being discussed above:
The group fosters and nurtures irrational hatred and fear of anyone or any outgroup (often by creating an atmosphere where negative generalizations are the norm).
The group fosters and nurtures the belief that it is inherently superior to any outgroups, and that members of outgroups are inferior by default.
The group justifies actions that in any other circumstances would be considered morally wrong or abusive.
The group ignores or minimizes flaws within its own members and ideology that would be harshly criticized if they came from anyone or anything else.
The group’s narrative and ideology are more important than facts, truth, and logic; and they demonize anyone, inside or outside of the group, that questions it.
The group thinks little to nothing of exploiting people to achieve its goals – eg, by defrauding them, by overworking them, or by pressuring them into giving up absurd amounts of money and assets “for the good of the cause.”
The group takes a “shoot first, ask questions later” or “guilty until proven innocent” attitude, especially toward dissenters and outsiders.
The group doesn’t consider it possible to go too far in what they do to spread their beliefs or agendas, or they have no concept of what would constitute unethical means of spreading their beliefs or agendas.
The group doesn’t consider it possible to go too far in what they do against their opponents, or they have no concept of what would constitute a crime or wrong against their opponents.
Scientists
conducted two meta-analyses examining previous research on the possible
links between loneliness and health. In the first meta-analysis, they
looked at 148 different studies and found that more social connection is
associated with a 50% reduction in the risk of early death.
The second
meta-analysis examined 70 studies and found that three factors — social
isolation, feelings of loneliness and living alone — were all associated
with higher risks for premature death. Read more (8/7/17)
Professional hockey players eat 5000-6000 calories per day.
Carbs for energy. So many carbs. Protein for muscle-repair. 12 oz. steaks for breakfast. Six meals a day. Eating even when you’re not hungry, because you must.
Probably not candy or greasy fast food, but fat is fine. Fat is great. Fat is calories. Fat-free yogurt and delicate egg white omelets have no place in this diet.
Bitty comes home from the farmers’ market flushed with success. “I bought a cow,” he announces. Jack peers over the back of the couch, struck, momentarily, with a vision of Bitty coaxing a Jersey cow on a rope through the kitchen door. Perhaps it could live in the guest room?
“That’s, uh,” says Jack. “That’s good?”
“She’s currently an adorable moppet’s 4H project, but she’ll be butchered in June, and delivered in boxes, so I have to go shopping for a chest freezer next weekend. Summer project: I’m going to learn how to make sausage! And you, Mister Calder Memorial—” Bitty points both index fingers at Jack and beams like a maniac, “are going to eat even more protein!”
…bitty, who shows love by feeding people southern home cooking….and jack, who has to eat 5000+ calories a day…the ultimate power couple honestly
Honestly my favorite part of this post tho is the idea that Jack was totally prepared to accept that a live cow was going to be living in his guest room.
PHIL KESSEL (A STANLEY CUP CHAMPION] WAS TREATED BADLY BY THE TORONTO MEDIA DURING THE 14-15 SEASON [HIS LAST FOR THE LEAFS]. THEY CALLED HIM UNCOACHABLE, LAZY, FAT, AND CANCEROUS TO THE TEAM [this last one is especially offensive because Phil Kessel (a Stanley Cup Champion) is also a cancer survivor] because Phil Kessel (A Stanley Cup Champion) was meant to be a top-scoring forward, a real playmaker, but he was having a really bad dry spell.
After he was traded, a lot of people were happy to see him out of Toronto and kinda thought that’d be the end of the Phil Kessel (a Stanley Cup Champion) story.
Boy howdy were they wrong.
Phil Kessel (A Stanley Cup Champion), fucking blossomed in the Pens franchise. He fit right in, made friends. His brand of dry humor has been loudly appreciated in interviews, both with himself and other players. I’m not Phil Kessel (A Stanley Cup Champion) but it really seems like he’s happy in Pittsburgh.
The really awesome shit, however, happened during the playoffs, where Phil Kessel (A Stanley Cup Champion) led the team in scoring. When the Pens lifted the Cup, it was an ultimate “Fuck You” to the Toronto media and fans who had booed, scorned, and given up on him. Phil Kessel (A Stanley Cup Champion), who had been called fat, lazy, unmotivated, uncoachable, cancerous, was a Stanley Cup Fucking CHAMPION. It’s a redemption arc that ends in the biggest fucking trophy in professional sports. It’s a redemption arc that ends with the President of the United States standing onstage and saying “Phil Kessel Is A Stanley Cup Champion,” a phrase we utter to remind the people who gave up on him just how wrong they are.
There’s a pretty great addendum to this in terms of the meme.
There’s a well-known hockey YouTuber and podcaster called Steve Dangle, who’s gotten enough of an audience that he gets to interview players and do Official Hockey Shit. Steve is awesome. Anyway the Leafs are his primary team (so he knows all about Phil), but one time at a press event he got to talk to Sidney Crosby, and he was able to ask ONE QUESTION of the greatest hockey player in the world, and this is what happened:
Steve: I’m here with Sidney Crosby, Stanley Cup champion Sidney Crosby…*snaps fingers, pretends to be puzzled* Hey, who else is a Stanley Cup Champion? Hey, is Phil Kessel a Stanley Cup Champion?
Sid: *grins* Phil Kessel is a Stanley Cup Champion.
Steve: That’s right! Phil Kessel is a Stanley Cup Champion.
hartbeat (gay black woman, makes vlogs and sketches, you might recognise her from that gifset where she wore watermelons and danced)
ash hardell (nb bisexual, makes videos about lgbt+ education)
dodie clark (bisexual, queen of music on youtube, you’ve probably heard ‘she’ and ‘sick of losing soulmates’ already, just a wonderful person tbh)
riley j dennis (lesbian trans/nb woman, makes social justice videos, trans lesbian sex education, she gets a lot of hate though so seriously send her a nice message if you like her vids)
neonfiona (bisexual, makes vlogs about both serious and light hearted topics, dating riley dennis and they’re so fucking cute)
missfender (bisexual, has a satirical ‘i don’t bi it’ series, super funny and cute)
thomas sanders (gay, former viner, makes short sketches and cute stuff)
hannah hart (lesbian cutie of youtube, makes videos of her getting drunk and cooking badly, wonderful person)
ingrid nilsen (lesbian/queer woman, makeup guru, lots of vlogs about being femme)
jordan shalhoub (bisexual woman, makes videos about fitness and health, you probably recognise her from buzzfeed)
kat blaque (black trans woman, makes videos about feminism and racism)
maggie mcgill (lesbian, reviews plus-sized clothing, vlogs about gay stuff sometimes but its not the focus of her channel)
marina watanabe (bisexual woc, makes vlogs about racism, feminism, lgbt+ issues)
miles chronicles (trans guy, you probably know him already, soo many videos about memes)
kaitlyn alexander (nb person, queer, does covers and original songs, vlogs about gay stuff and occasionally does lets plays, you probably recognise her as lafontaine in carmilla)
rose and rosie (lets be real you know exactly who they are lol)
this list is already amazing as it is, but hey, a few more names wouldn’t hurt anybody:
alex bertie (trans guy, also makes videos about his transition, has some fun videos with his partner jake edwards, a great and fun guy)
shannon beveridge (lesbian, you probably know her, she is funny and makes amazing videos about being a wlw and just other great, fun content)
mitch & scott (they are the guys from Pentatonix, I am not sure if scott is bi or gay but he is definitely queer, and mitch is gay, they are amazing singers, and they make funny videos)
mandi & tara (both lesbians, married, it is a family channel, they have a daughter called Lennon Ray, 2 dogs, and they are gonna have twin girls in a few months, they are really cute family vloggers)
domo & chrissy (married, woc, have a kid, family vloggers, you probably know them already)
jamie raines (trans guy, makes videos about trans issues and also has videos with his fiancee Shaaba, they both are very cute and funny)
dulceida (hispanic vlogger, I don’t speak spanish so I can’t tell much actually lmao, but she is a beauty vlogger and sometimes makes videos with her wife Alba, they are really cute)
mosco moon (scottish vlogger, queer, makes great videos about everything scotland and has the cutest scottish accent)
just moving along like everyone else 