Picture: Mick Tsikas/AAP
If the dreadful attacks on Christchurch taught us anything, it is that there is a global pandemic of destructive narcissism, anti-social personality disorder and histrionic personality disorder.
The first normal human response to events such as Friday’s attacks on Muslims going peacefully about their business, many shot dead while kneeling in prayer, is empathy and a deep sense of grief and sorrow.
This was callously interrupted by a wave of YouTube ersatz celebrities, self-serving internet warriors and egomaniacs dripping with conceit and intellectual vanity.
In the wake of the attacks on the Masjid Al-Noor and the Linwood Masjid in Christchurch, there has been a lot of blame apportionment that doesn’t pass muster by any sense of logic.
Presently, the attacker’s motives are not fully understood. While he prepared a 78-page manifesto and posted it online, it is an unreliable guide to his conduct without further forensic investigation of his life.
What we can conclude at this stage is the gunman was a terrorist, an ultra-nationalist, right-wing extremist. But even this obvious and self-evident truth is subject to bizarre scrutiny.
I have been writing about the risk right wing extremism poses to the community for some time. Australia has a long and unhappy history with right wing extremism from the paramilitary New Guard in the 1930s, the vicious anti-Semitism and exclusionism of the Australian League of Rights post-war, through to its bastard children fanning off into various extreme and ultra-nationalist groups like the United Patriots’ Front.
It never pays to take your eye off these people. To regard them as amusing clods who dwell on the fringes of society as well as on the extreme right of the political spectrum may hold some truth, but we should not underestimate the menace they pose to our communities.
It is not so much what they say and do in their eternal struggle for the spotlight and a whiff of legitimacy, but who is quietly listening and fervently clinging to very appalling word they utter in the background.
Rather than acknowledge and attempt to quantify the risk, we wasted our time and energy on dismal polemics about whether Nazism is from the right or the left.
We largely ignored the hate speech in our federal parliament after the 2016 double dissolution election foisted some of the worst people on the country into red chairs and gave them a platform.
It’s not just Anning’s disgraceful clawing for publicity. There have been many others. Back in March 2016, the ineligible One Nation senator, Malcolm Roberts, got to his feet and railed:
“If your Muslim Sudanese neighbour is engaging in female genital mutilation or your Syrian Muslim cafe owner is a terrorist building a bomb or maybe just the Afghan Muslims in the public housing flat next to you are molesting small children, chances are that you are afraid to speak out.”
The fact this garbage was largely allowed to go through to the keeper shows our political institutions are sick and our media too cynical to condemn. Rather, it was situation normal.
The hate speech doesn’t exist in a vacuum. If we really want to understand how events such as terrorist massacres occur but how they trigger our communities to resort to vitriol and ugliness in their wake, we need only look at the narcissists with their YouTube accounts who sit about drooling over bloody events so they can tell a world that seems to have lost its capacity for reason, what we should think.
Social media becomes a cesspit at times like this. It was the same after the Islamic State inspired Paris attacks in November 2015, the Islamist outrages in Brussels in March 2016 and the Manchester bombing in May of 2017.
Ambulances were still ferrying the wounded across Hagley Park to Christchurch Hospital when Melbourne-based YouTuber, Sydney Watson decided to pipe up on Twitter. She has 160,000 subscribers on YouTube.
“What is happening in Christchurch is SO wrong,” she tweeted. “But before I see anyone else say this is the result of “anti-immigration” sentiments – I’ll counter that this is the result of politicians making people feel unheard & marginalized. You push some people far enough, they snap.”
The massacre was less than two hours old when Watson decided she had the answer. In her twisted world, feeling “unheard and marginalised” is a precursor to shooting dead a three-year-old child and 49 others.
As night fell in Christchurch, up popped Gemma O’Doherty, an Irish ‘journalist’ and 9-11 ‘truther’, who decided she could sniff another one world order conspiracy from 19,000 kilometres away.
“Has all the hallmarks of a classic false flag operation,” she tweeted. “To incite fresh #IS attacks, create chaos and fear, allow the globalists take more control over people and remove freedoms a la 9/11. A professional job. The public are no longer fooled.”
O’Doherty went on to babble and continues to do so that calls for people not to view the shooter’s helmet cam footage of his attacks on the mosques were not due to the appalling nature of the mayhem and death he wrought, but because some fictitious One World government had descended from the grassy knoll to clean up the crime scene.
By then, the finger pointing on social media had well and truly started. Canadian ultra nationalist, Lauren Southern, was beset with angry tweets calling her complicit in the Christchurch massacre. She fired off a response early Saturday morning.
“I am utterly disgusted by those sending tweets along the lines of “Are you happy?” to right wingers. Would you send this to a Muslim that has never advocated violence on the day of an Islamic terror attack?”
I’d be happy to agree with her except for one thing. A quick flip through her twitter account showed she had done exactly the same thing albeit in another scenario.
On 24 March 2016, and in the wake of the Islamist terror attacks in Brussels, she tweeted, “I confronted a Muslim woman yesterday (in Canada). Asked her to explain Brussels. She said, ‘Nothing to do with me.’ A mealy-mouthed reply.”
These are just examples but all three have large social media followings. They are not peddling ideas or opinions, they are self-promoting for some grim lunge at fame. If shunned, they and others like them would wither into anonymity where frankly, they belong.
While most of us struggled to comprehend what had happened and why, we were being trolled by narcissists and look-at-me wannabes, pushing opinions that were driven by a desperate grab for publicity.
They can have their forums and their free speech. The rest of us need to develop the capacity to turn our backs on them.
This article was first published on 21 March 2019.
On a positive note the Cats have a great win, although I thought Collingwood botched it.
Great game of footy. I am a fan of the rule changes. Early days, but the 6-6-6 rule in particular has really opened up the game. Both the Cats and the Pies should have good seasons.
Correct Milton. Both teams had extraordinarily bad radars around the goals, but the Pies were worse. If they’d even kicked behinds with some of those shots in the second quarter, they’d have won.
Nice to see Brisbane wallop the Weagles though.
Pies were wasteful in front of goal. Moving Ablett further forward worked well, as did putting Harry Taylor on Mason Cox. Both gf teams had a hard return to work. WCE flogged by a relentless Lions outfit.
Another lovely quiet “do nothing” Political Week here in gorgeous QLD, Mr. Insider as we “glide” along smoothly under the astute Labor Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, whom I have voted for twice and most likely will do if she seeks a 3rd term.
Dear Ms. Deb Deb Frecklington, Leader of the QLD LNP, pops up from time to time to say something silly and is immediately shot down by Annastacia.
To put it bluntly, Mr. Insider the QLD LNP is “rooted”, rudderless, directionless and leaderless.
Yes QLD where we join Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk in a quiet “tiptoe through the tulips” and of course we stop to smell the roses too.
Besides its best not to upset the chaps up in “Katter Kountry”!
Wraith, I see from your earlier comments that you appear dissatisfied with Waleed Aly’s recent interview with our PM and I can understand the basis for your disaffection.
It does seem that Mr Aly’s present opinion regarding terrorist tragedies has significantly changed from the belief he held a few years ago. One of his more notable preceding viewpoints, published in the Sydney Morning Herald on 19 April 2013, included:
” Gone is the triumphalist rhetoric of the ”War on Terror”, with its ridiculous promises of a terrorism-free world and the ultimate victory of freedom over tyranny. In its place is a far more sober, pragmatic recognition that terrorism is a perpetual irritant, and that while it is tragic and emotionally lacerating, it kills relatively few people and is not any kind of existential threat. Perhaps we’re learning to avoid being sucked into terrorism’s radicalising vortex, where attack brings overreaction, and the violence rapidly escalates.”
Well, that needs to be seen in context I would suggest. Is there anything wrong with that quote?
I know, you arent going to print me. Sokay, I lost it for a bit. Want to know something funny, that program I was talking about, even if you go on wiki and try and see results for Salam Cafe, its all redacted. There is a list of awards it won, then, if you click to any screen to see an episode, no no no……. not for you. The whole lot is gone. Doesnt matter if you go through a ppv site or anywhere, all gone, every episode. Not strange at all is it? Award winning show, not a scrap of it anywhere.
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So I called Lib headquaters and told them to rifle through the production archives at SBS, pretty sure the PM’s office can order this done, its there. All in ugly big black and white lettering.
I mean, if we are going to play he said, she said and want to be a big boy in taking on politics, Ally better be ready to know his skeletons are well and truly still in the closet. But not for long.
????????
So how about sharing some memories Wraith. You make it sound really bad.
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Sorry Wraith…me again. Just googled Salam Cafe…yep every episode available
That had me too, it’s all over Youtube.
” we were being trolled by narcissists and look-at-me wannabes, pushing opinions that were driven by a desperate grab for publicity.” As the PM claims the ACTU Sally McManus sits in on Labor Party meetings. The PM knows this is a lie but restates it and will continue to run the lie to the people of Australia.
Sally McManus did give a speech to the ALP National Conference last year Dismayed so one would think the head of the ACTU possibly would sit in on Labor Party meetings.
How do YOU know she doesn’t lad or lassie, ScoMo would be better placed than you to know if she does am sure.
What sort of meetings? Cabinet or general party meetings?
Cabinet. morrison repeated several times McSally sat in on Labor caucus meetings.
I read the article by Lana Tatour and Na’ama Carlin that you retweeted, JTI. I would urge others to do so, too. It does make rather confronting reading, but when I reflect on it, I think they are right. It is also a powerful counter to those who believe that freedom of speech should outweigh all other considerations.
Michael Gerson asking similar questions in https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/why-should-a-republican-stay-in-a-party-that-has-gone-off-the-moral-rails/2019/03/21/2b854bd4-4c02-11e9-b79a-961983b7e0cd_story.html ie, there are some *can* become part of the political process in order to salvage ideals, but why would they bother when the personal costs (to lifestyle & reputation) are so high?
A similar conundrum in my kitchen today. “When a high-profile person nominates for a Reps electorate, why don’t all the other wannabees and the other Parties just fold, save themselves the expense & bother, also save taxpayer from paying out on handfuls of votes to losers?”
Nihilism is fuelled by the realisation that the “free speech” mantra is bullshit, since only *some* are chosen (not by democratic ballot, either) to have *their* views broadcast.
A Republican going off the moral rails! The only ones who have ever been on “moral rails” suspended disbelief before they became Republican reps. Same applies to most Dems as well, it’s just a matter of degree.
Nihilism? You have to wonder if the High Priests of the churches, mosques and synagogues really do believe in the existence of God , more or less then the High Priests of the Press seriously believe in “truth” and freedom of speech.
Those few that do, I suspect are regarded with much wry amusement by their pragmatic peers.
Seems like I wasnt the only one upset by Waleed Ally and his ‘interview’ last night. Its all over the chat rooms today. And, it brought back something to me, something I saw waaaay back, back in the time they were airing “Shalom Cafe” on the SBS.
Now, I’ll admit it, Im a bit of tryer when it comes to other cultures, and I love the SBS because of that. Its an open door for an open mind so to speak. So, being curios, I watch the Shalom Cafe episodes, and although I found the humour cringeworthingly unfunny there was some worthwhile substance there. Then it stopped. Gone. No more episodes.
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It seemed weird to me that it disappeared like that, so I went looking for it on the net. I found it. The next series, it was so offensive. They had gone from being a variety program to, ….. I dont know, how do you describe a show that showed Australians as complete bigots, then cut to black screens with white lettering in hard caps ‘NEXT TIME YOU SEE A MUSLIM WOMAN, YOU BETTER TREAT HER WITH RESPECT!” and so it went on. I was gobsmacked by what I was seeing, where was the ‘happy barrista’ now? (a previous character on the show).
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After I had seen it on the net I wasnt at all surprised SBS had refused to air it. Then, even stranger, in the time frame that I managed to show it to a few friends, a week perhaps, it was gone from the net never to be seen again either. Someone who saw it for what it was, and the drama it would cause, must have taken it down.
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But its out there Scomo, or anyone else who wants to show Ally for what he is, you just have to find it. I would start at our government paid SBS, they would have to have some record, because Im sure the oz public paid for this trash to be made. Hunt hard little reporters. Scomo and his mob might have a problem with the muslim religion, Im not going to judge, because clearly after living with them for twenty years in our country, and hearing about the way they carry on, so do I.
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But, when someone tries to pull you into something like Christchurch, because of politics, like Ally has done to our PM. It goes beyond disgusting. Those poor people are not even in the ground and he was trying for political scores using their blood! He deserves no quarter given, I really hope that tape shows up.
cheers al
Wraith, you really do need to pull yourself together. You are displaying quite extraordinary ignorance with regard to understanding Islam. You once had a go at me for posting about sharing an office with a Muslim woman and me feeling priveleged to witnessing her praying to her God. By all means have your own opinions on religion Wraith, but don’t sprout garbage and display your total ignorance of the Muslim religion
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4rMfrERpG8
Warning swear words!
I saw a guy stop a Detroit Diesel doing this by stuffing his overalls and a beach towel into the air intake. If it helps at all.
gemmies come with a sprung loaded air shut off flap for emergencies…..guess what happens when you trip them? hehehe ….clangg ssshhwwooopp…straight into the supercharger…..engine stops after that funnily enough…forget about restarting for the journey home tho
Detroit diesels have emergency air intake shutdowns just for that purpose JB. When they “run away” they will start using the oil in the sump as fuel if the diesel fuel is isolated. Fairly spectacular when they self-destruct apparently.
In this case the technology was mainly cotton.
I’m not saying they aren’t fun or anything.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCyzwGJHGp0
Some folk may even consider WA’s interview with SM last evening was an attempt to capitalise on the NZ tragedy.
Indeed they may, Carl.
If it’s true, it’s a not a nice thing for a PM to do.
Nice try TO.
Another thing that Christchurch will teach us is that we have the attention span and empathy of a gnat; that the numbers of deaths matters, as does a lame manifesto, and a religion. It will also point out that despite the shock and horror and distaste of what happened in Christchurch, for the majority of us, if honest, it has’t affected us one iota. Life, love, hate, work, dinners and other social activities carried on as before, and when you woke, unless you are family or friend of the dead and the many still needing care, those headline grabbing events did not enter your mind. Nor will it concern many that the old Rudd/Gillard/Greent govt is guilty of the deaths and incarceration of thousands of Muslim’s and seem keen to carry on the culling. If you like that sort of thing vote labor or green and kids drowning at sea.
Spot on there, Milton and I remember when 911 happened so many said they would change their lives in so many ways to live the “moment”. Barely a fortnight went by and they were all back to their old ways and habits.
Unless it happens directly to us we soon move on the other things, as does the Media. Cheers