When conservatives fearmonger about immigrants and brown people, one of the current favorite talking points is to say they're "military-aged." It's vague and meaningless, but it implies something sinister, and plays into just about any conspiracy theory an audience member might be inclined to believe.

On top of that, they're afraid from merely seeing these people. They're just scared to death of brown and black kids and young adults.

[–] sukhmel@programming.dev 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

In this context that probably means something around "traumatized and depressed by the military regime in the place where they come from"

But they don't always come from places with such regimes and/or wars, while local citizens are also traumatized and depressed just for a different reason

[–] Lianodel@ttrpg.network 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

At least in the contexts I'm talking about, and I've never seen it used in another, it's really not that. It's coming from talking heads fearmongering about nonwhites, portraying nonwhite immigrants as criminals, ginning up a "border crisis" narrative, and even calling it an "invasion."

[–] sukhmel@programming.dev 2 points 6 months ago (2 children)

Ah, well, I'm wrong then. Maybe they mean something like "it's those guys at war with us [white supremacists]" then?

[–] Lianodel@ttrpg.network 2 points 6 months ago

Yeah, pretty much. It ties into the "white genocide" and "great replacement" conspiracy theories, where the mere existence of nonwhites is taken as violence. It also often blames Jews for orchestrating it. It doesn't make any sense, but it appeals to paranoia and supremacy, and provides a scapegoat for literally any actual systemic problem.

[–] theneverfox@pawb.social 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Well I just learned the term today, but it seems to have the implication "these are men who could be military. They could be hidden insurgents

[–] sukhmel@programming.dev 1 points 6 months ago (1 children)

How convenient when nothing should be proven right

[–] theneverfox@pawb.social 2 points 6 months ago

"We're just asking questions!"