Hate groups in the US show explosive growth

[August]

Originally Posted by NeonSamurai

As Tribesman pointed out, They seem to be counting different branches separately, which I think is fair if you are trying to map how much hate groups are spreading/growing as they are unlikely to give you a member's count. Also they are counting all intolerant groups that spread a message of hate of someone or something. I would also certainly include publishers of hate texts as separate entities, as they often are associated with many different groups.

The only way I would see an issue with their counting scheme is if they have changed the way they do the counting, and did not properly update previous counts so as to inflate the changes.

I didn't read what Tribesman pointed out but you bet that nobody is giving member counts, on either side.

Really it's nothing but an accounting trick played by both the counters and those being counted. No, you don't have one group of 10 people you have 10 groups of undetermined size. Sounds scarier. It helps the SPLC get funding and it makes the hate group seem far larger and therefore more relevant than they really are. Win - win.

[tater]

I assume everyone has seen Life of Brian...

"We're the National Patriot Militia! The only thing we hate more than minorities is the National Militia of Patriots!" (where both groups have 2 members—it was a 4 member, single group until Obama was elected, then they disagreed on whether to call the President a Muslim, or a monkey, hence the violent split).

[August]

Originally Posted by tater

I assume everyone has seen Life of Brian...

"We're the National Patriot Militia! The only thing we hate more than minorities is the National Militia of Patriots!" (where both groups have 2 members—it was a 4 member, single group until Obama was elected, then they disagreed on whether to call the President a Muslim, or a monkey, hence the violent split).

Emo Phillips does a comedy routine like that:

Once I saw this guy on a bridge about to jump. I said, "Don't do it!" He said, "Nobody loves me." I said, "God loves you. Do you believe in God?"
He said, "Yes." I said, "Are you a Christian or a Jew?" He said, "A Christian." I said, "Me, too! Protestant or Catholic?" He said, "Protestant." I said, "Me, too! What franchise?" He said, "Baptist." I said, "Me, too! Northern Baptist or Southern Baptist?" He said, "Northern Baptist." I said, "Me, too! Northern Conservative Baptist or Northern Liberal Baptist?"
He said, "Northern Conservative Baptist." I said, "Me, too! Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region, or Northern Conservative Baptist Eastern Region?" He said, "Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region." I said, "Me, too!"
Northern Conservative†Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1879, or Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912?" He said, "Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912." I said, "Die, heretic!" And I pushed him over.

[nikimcbee]

Does the list include the SEIU, AFL-CIO, IEBW. They all seem to be pretty active now.

[Growler]

Again, the issue boils down to ignorance of the causes of the problems while throwing stupidly large amounts of money at fixing/addressing symptoms.

SPLC spent money to produce that report, money which they will need to replace... so, if they can lean the report more towards a way that makes it look like they're providing a vital national security service, that cash flow'll be a'comin' on in.

[NeonSamurai]

Originally Posted by August

I didn't read what Tribesman pointed out but you bet that nobody is giving member counts, on either side.

Really it's nothing but an accounting trick played by both the counters and those being counted. No, you don't have one group of 10 people you have 10 groups of undetermined size. Sounds scarier. It helps the SPLC get funding and it makes the hate group seem far larger and therefore more relevant than they really are. Win - win.

Originally Posted by tater

I assume everyone has seen Life of Brian...

"We're the National Patriot Militia! The only thing we hate more than minorities is the National Militia of Patriots!" (where both groups have 2 members—it was a 4 member, single group until Obama was elected, then they disagreed on whether to call the President a Muslim, or a monkey, hence the violent split).

While I do not disagree with both of you, it probably is a safe bet that the numbers are increasing if the number of groups are. Particularly if they are new chapters of an already existing group (like the KKK). Problem is no one can say by how much the numbers are increasing.

[Freiwillige]

I can tell you that Neo Nazi's are a non issue, Like the lochness monster an occasional sighting but generally extinct. The groups that do exsist and protest and march are outnumbered 1,000 to 1 by protesters.
I'm just speaking about my part of the world of course but I would think it would be similar across the nation.

Its a money scam, always was always will be.

[nikimcbee]

Originally Posted by Freiwillige

I can tell you that Neo Nazi's are a non issue, Like the lochness monster an occasional sighting but generally extinct. The groups that do exsist and protest and march are outnumbered 1,000 to 1 by protesters.
I'm just speaking about my part of the world of course but I would think it would be similar across the nation.

Its a money scam, always was always will be.

I think the Idaho ones just keep to themselves. But you are correct, the protesters will always out number them.

[Growler]

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

I think the Idaho ones just keep to themselves. But you are correct, the protesters will always out number them.

I hate Illinois Nazis.

[Gerald]

Originally Posted by Growler

I hate Illinois Nazis.

I also,but not Illinois!

[krashkart]

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

I think the Idaho ones just keep to themselves. But you are correct, the protesters will always out number them.

I haven't been back out there enough to know for sure. But I do remember when one of their compounds was bulldozed.

[UnderseaLcpl]

Originally Posted by Freiwillige

I can tell you that Neo Nazi's are a non issue, Like the lochness monster an occasional sighting but generally extinct.

Do not be so quick to discount us.

[tater]

Originally Posted by NeonSamurai

While I do not disagree with both of you, it probably is a safe bet that the numbers are increasing if the number of groups are. Particularly if they are new chapters of an already existing group (like the KKK). Problem is no one can say by how much the numbers are increasing.

Not an unreasonable assumption, but the total membership numbers are not statistically significant. Nor are the number of people who support their views but are not members (unlike, say, double digit support numbers for Muslims towards terrorists).