Misanthropic Extremism, Something You Never Expected

The recent growth in nihilistic acts of so-called “political extremism” is not what it seems

Photo by Declan Sun on Unsplash

Another mass shooting by a white man with a high-powered rifle on a rooftop has people all over the internet debating whether the shooter is a so-called “leftist” or “MAGA extremist,” or, as in the case of the Charlie Kirk murderer, a “Groyper” (a fan of neo-Nazi Nick Fuentes, who is a self-proclaimed fan of Hitler). While much of this is relevant, the fact that mostly young white men are behind these acts is more pertinent in the current environment. That many of the most recent shooters are nihilists and misanthropes is an issue that continues to be overlooked.

According to a report by Ken Klippenstein, the shooter at the Dallas ICE detention center is described as a “vaguely libertarian” individual and fits the profile of someone who was nihilistic and misanthropic (a general hatred for humankind), challenging the White House’s narrative of “left-wing” violence. The Trump administration’s politicization of the event not only erases the migrant victims of the shooting but also glosses over the growth in young white mass shooters.

While much of the discussion right now is about violent rhetoric, we cannot overlook where most of it comes from and who…