Did you feel Twitter grew ever-so-slightly gentler last night? The service banned a gay troll who’s been responsible for inciting attacks and abuse for years. Alas, this isn’t as important a move as anyone seems to think — sure, one mean guy’s gone from Twitter, but that’s only because he was the most recognizable among countless other abusive accounts. One troll isn’t what matters here; what matters is that Twitter still lacks the tools for responding to abuse.
The user who was banned yesterday wrote for the right-wing blog Breitbart about his hatred of Muslims, for the government, and for treating people with respect. He picked the wrong target earlier this week when his community inundated Leslie Jones (star of the new Ghostbusters) with vicious attacks. Mobs of unpleasant tweeters have harassed plenty of women, people of color, and queers in the past; but this time their victim was famous enough that for the first time, Twitter had to care.
And so, just like that, poof, the one most noticeable member of the harassing mob was gone. How does that help all the other people who’ve been flooded with cruel tweets over the years? It doesn’t, not really. Twitter acknowledged as much in a statement and promised better moderation in the future. We won’t hold our breath.
In a twist of weird timing, at the same time that his account was getting suspended, that same Twitter troll was attending a pro-Trump party in Cleveland. Guests included Geert Wilders, a wildly anti-Muslim Dutch politician; and also Pam Geller, who runs what the SPLC has designated a hate group. They stood in front of a wall plastered with willowy shirtless men, part of a photo series that someone entitled “Twinks for Trump.” (And just in case you were wondering: Donald Trump is terrible for gays. And Mike Pence is even worse.)
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Geert Wilders speaks at a “Twinks for Trump” party. Check out the art. pic.twitter.com/146EZMS7cj
— daveweigel (@daveweigel) July 20, 2016
Is this trolling IRL, and who’s trolling who? The original Twinks for Trump twitter account was a parody, and it tweeted a news article about the photos as though they were all part of the joke. But the photographer, Lucian Wintrich, seems to legitimately approve of Trump & company, and is not actually joking around. So who’s serious? Who’s not? Impossible to tell. Fortunately, almost all parties involved are deeply unimportant.
Related: Twinks4Trump Creator Asks: “How Do You Troll The Master Troll?”
AtticusBennett
gay republicans are nothing but wimps. the lot of them.
PRINCE OF SNARKNESS aka DIVKID
B..B..But Milo’s just being his bravely effeminate authentic self! Unlike those cowardly mascs with no balls because they live to appease their republican daddy! LOL
Maybe things are not as simplistic as simpletons like to assert?
Seriously though I hate this intellectually dishonest c*nts and the Alt-Right ..but they’re winning the kids…by employing irreverence and iconoclasm and HUMOUR(!)… remember that? Remember when our side used to be the funny countercultural ones?!
Harley
Yea, those pics were definitely NAMBLAesque.
PRINCE OF SNARKNESS aka DIVKID
Singular C*nt
AtticusBennett
the best part is the video you can find online of the “dance party” that happened after these abysmal speeches. oh gay republicans, no balls and NO RHYTHM. LOL
Hussain-TheCanadian
Why am I not allowed to comment?
Hussain-TheCanadian
@Harley: I agree, should be a SNL sketch.
Brian
People are accusing Twitter of being homophobic. It doesn’t surprise me.
Brian
@PRINCE OF SNARKNESS aka DIVKID: Gay men ceased being countercultural a long time ago. Today, gays are the obedient and abiding class.
chrisbarker609
This article is a piece of garbage. It’s absolutely laughable really. The hypocrisy and bias is outrageous. I find it easy to identify Milo’s support for gay culture and attempt to recapture it’s value. It’s official, Queerty is a complete joke.
Dave Downunder
I am amazed that politicians agreed to stand on a stage with those ridiculous photos that are verging on soft porn as their background. I bet there are a few regrets now.
Bob LaBlah
Were I the girl from Ghostbusters I would have fired back with “and tell us how much did YOU make so far this year”. That would have shut his ass up quick. You see, when your a minority doing better than poor white trash you have to REMIND that poor white trash of his status versus yours in capitalist America. It will work every time.
Kangol
@Bob LaBlah: Unfortunately it didn’t. Lesley Jones was bombarded with extremely r@cist, misogynistic tweets, so hateful, cruel and monstrous that no amount of response would stop them. The queer white supremacists, including perhaps Yiannopolous, behind the attacks paid the price.