It appears that a user by the name of Kalcifer on lemmy.world is using several smurf accounts to force in a Gadsden flag (175, 175), the same carried by violent Proud Boy thug types, such as Alan Swinney, Enrique Tarrio, Tiny Toese, Joe Biggs, and many others, which I don't feel should be represented here, and it's clear that many agree because there were many who rejected the art and attempted to cover it, but it seems Kalcifer couldn't take that. I think it’s clear that he’ll just make more smurfs, so I’d suggest an IP ban from the canvas, but barring that, I think it would be funny if people tried to thwart his attempts to cheat his way in because it flies in the face of everyone who’s had to put in the time to do it right.
Probable alts include at least the following:
u/anonymous1691293996
u/anonymous1691294527
u/anonymous1691295108
u/anonymous1691296202
All were registered to lemmy.world within the last hour or two, which coincides with the return of Kalcifer after a short break, and all place in rapid succession of each other, displaying eyebrow-raising levels of coordination.
I think you need to read up on what the Gadsden flag actually represents -- your information is rather flawed. The Gadsden flag is a historic symbol representing independence, and liberty and it has historical roots that go all the way back to the American revolution. I have no idea why the proud boys, among others -- who are all quite non-libertarian imo -- decided to adopt it. It is indeed rather curious, and also unfortunate for this very reason; the misrepresentation of the symbol is staining it's public image -- as is evident by the existence of this thread, and the degree of harassment, and defacement that it received on the canvas -- and it is quite a shame.
I can forgive simple lacking in education on the topic, but what really baffles me are those who know the true meaning of the Gadsden flag, but still choose to hate it. Why someone would willingly chooose opression over liberty is beyond me.
Regarding what you said about alt-accounts, the rules don't prohibit them. The rules state
Considering the fact that I was constantly trying to fend off those that were attempting to deface my picture, I feel that my use of the alt accounts is justified -- if I didn't have them, my single account wouldn't be able to handle it all on its own.
Yeah and the swastika was originally a Buddhist symbol, but when a nazi uses it I’m gonna disapprove.
I think you might be assuming that OP doesn’t know the history, when they really seem to understand how/why it’s being used in the current context.
the "true meaning" of things like symbols is always opinion. you seem to be arguing, for the sake of the gadsden flag, that symbols only ever mean what they were originally intended to mean, and that just isn't the case.
In my opinion, the gadsden flag belongs in the past. Hateful modern use of the flag has tainted and ruined any positive association it could have brought. Now it means antisemitism, homophobia and transphobia, sexism, political extremism, anti-intellectualism, and more, a symbol of the values of the people who use it most often.
By what metrics is a relatively tiny group the most frequent use of it? Or do you just mean "this is the use the media shows me the most often"? Because I encounter multiple, entirely innocuous uses of it daily.
You obviously have your own bias if you encounter it multiple times daily. That isn't average.
I don't know what you mean by "the media" but I'd like to see a clearer description. I'm not talking about what I see in the news or on tv shows and movies, I'm talking about what I see in real life and occasionally places like facebook or something.
And it isn't just the proud boys tarnishing it. I saw it used by a lot of antivaxxers during the height of the pandemic side by side with their science denial and misinformation, as another example.
Here in Virginia, it's one of the most common license plate options that isn't the (utter dogshit) default option.
Which means seeing it that often is average just for people who live in your state. Personally I can't even be certain the last time I saw one that wasn't on a screen. Maybe a few weeks ago on the back of a truck with some trump flags and stuff? All I can think of.
So then why is your opinion of what the flag means any good, considering you openly acknowledge having near zero interactions with it?
It's exactly as good as your opinion, which is to say both completely unimportant and extremely important at the same time.
Its all opinions, IDK what you want me to say. We could argue about it forever or stop talking right now and it would never be a settled fact either way.
But really, what does that even mean? I can only have opinions about things I regularly observe specifically when not on a screen? I hope you would hold yourself to that same standard about things you don't see in your day to day life.