The Internet Is Trying To Explain What #AltRightMeans — And Nobody Seems To Agree

If Social Justice Warriors are the people on the internet trying to get people to think outside of their own experiences, the Alt-Right are those who gleefully spit in their faces.

The alt-right, in many ways, is a reaction to the internet’s social justice movement. While so-called “Social Justice Warriors” urge people to think deeply about current issues and use more precise (some would say “PC”) language, the Alt-Right believes that the only reality should be the truth communicated in the coldest, harshest way — and that anybody who objects to such are just having their poor feelings hurt.

It was the Alt-Right — lead by Milo Yiannopoulos — who trolled Leslie Jones to the point of wanting to leave Twitter. Their ranks also boast many people who expound ideas that are overtly (and proudly) racist, sexist, and Islamophobic.

Everything about this is problematic.

Today on Twitter, the hashtag #AltRightMeans is trending. As you might imagine, you’re getting two very different responses.

On one hand:

#AltRightMeans pointing out that a woman who accepts hundreds of millions from a country that treats women like crap isn't a "feminist".

— Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) August 25, 2016

https://twitter.com/JoshNoneYaBiz/status/768847263082971136

https://twitter.com/cristinalaila1/status/768845708875014144

#AltRightMeans obsessing over fragile tumblr teens because they're the only people who get upset by your stale edgelordisms.

— crisp mattman (@cushbomb) August 25, 2016

On the other hand:

I don't know what #AltRightMeans– are those the ones who hate me b/c I'm a Jew, b/c I'm a woman or b/c I believe a hot dog is a sandwich

— maura quint (@behindyourback) August 25, 2016

#AltRightMeans scapegoating the government, poor people or minorities for bigotry, financial difficulties or lack of opportunity in life

— 💉♻️🇺🇸 Christopher Zullo (@ChrisJZullo) August 25, 2016

#AltRightMeans accusing the left of being PC crybabies then having a meltdown for two days over an interracial couple in an Old Navy ad.

— #RIPBassemMasri 🙏 (@Delo_Taylor) August 25, 2016

#AltRightMeans the slip on your hood is showing

— L O L G O P (@LOLGOP) August 25, 2016

Or, here’s perhaps a more balanced definition?

#AltRightMeans-A definition from @splcenter pic.twitter.com/ywKZc6AYfq

— Formerly 'AM JOY' on @MSNBC (@amjoyshow) August 25, 2016

What is the alt-right? In many cases, a philosophical excuse for bigotry.