Currently Trending on Twitter: Swastikas
Twitter trending topics are often a great cross-section of racism, homophobia, and misogyny, but one of today's most popular hashtags has taken things to a delightful new level.
Swastikas are currently trending on Twitter. Not the word "swastika" but the actual symbol. My guess is that someone figured out how to embed a swastika in a tweet and countless others copy-pasted, because gosh, what a thrill.
As you might expect, tweets using the three-swastika hashtag are terrible — most are too dumb to be offensive, but the cavalier insensitivity and cultural ignorance is at least disheartening. Here's a sampling, for those of you who don't want to trudge through the depths of Twitter idiocy.
Memes (popularized by @DictatorHitler):
Click links for full comedic effect.
#卐卐卐 is top trend. I'm so happy: twitpic.com/b1zyuj
— Adolf Hitler (@DictatorHitler) October 7, 2012
I said #卐卐卐 before it was cool. #AdolfHipstertwitpic.com/b20jhs
— Adolf Hitler (@DictatorHitler) October 7, 2012
I'm releasing an album, with the song "Set Fire to the Jews", here is the cover: #卐卐卐twitpic.com/b20d63
— Adolf Hitler (@DictatorHitler) October 7, 2012
Bad jokes:
There are countless iterations of "I did Nazi that coming" and "Anne Frankly it's offensive." You know what's really offensive? Lazy jokes.
3 Jews walk into a bar..I lied its a gas chamber#卐卐卐
— Tyler (@TyAbercrombie) October 7, 2012
#卐卐卐 is randomly trending, I did Nazi that coming.
— Helen Keller (@CluelessHelen) October 7, 2012
#卐卐卐 How did Hitler tie his shoes? In little knotzies
— Mr. Mike (@ideawhore) October 7, 2012
#卐卐卐 if this trend is illegal, time to dial NEIN NEIN NEIN
— ror (@r0rza) October 7, 2012
#卐卐卐 is trending Anne Frankly i think it's disgusting although I did Nazi that coming.
— Alexander シ (@alexpicciarelli) October 7, 2012
Went to a beach in Germany, saw Adolfin #卐卐卐
— nicholas (@YoLefty_) October 7, 2012
#卐卐卐 This trend is way out of mein kampfort zone.
— Daddy. (@DavidPritchardd) October 7, 2012
So #卐卐卐 is just randomly trending? I did Nazi that coming...
— FOLLOW FOR OBAMA (@FollowMeOBAMA) October 7, 2012
Moral outrage:
First, let's note that @FollowMeOBAMA is choosing both outrage and tasteless jokes. Second, it's worth pointing out that the more people tweet a trending topic, the longer it stays trending. Tweeting that you're offended by swastikas while including swastikas in your tweet is one of the dumber things you can do online.
#卐卐卐 is a disgustingly disrespectful trending topic. R-T if you agree that it should NOT be trending. 6,000,000 killings is NOT a joke.
— FOLLOW FOR OBAMA (@FollowMeOBAMA) October 7, 2012
Er why is #卐卐卐 trending? That's disgusting
— Sophie McClymont (@sophiemcclym0nt) October 7, 2012
the fact #卐卐卐 is trending is kind of disrespectful. 6,000,000 killings is NOT a joke
— ℓew (@Lewis_McKinley) October 7, 2012
Why is #卐卐卐 trending? Its not funny...
— Amy Flores(@_amybby) October 7, 2012
honestly you can trend anything but not #卐卐卐 this isn't funny you might hurt other people where's your respect for the dead ones ?
— Lone Wolf ∞ (@RowlingsOwl) October 7, 2012
Stupidity:
These are probably the most depressing tweets — whether it's people who don't know the difference between Osama bin Laden and Hitler, or those who actually think swastikas are illegal.
#卐卐卐 this trend is disgusting, nobody wants to remember what Bin Laden did
— March 7th (@yalienn) October 7, 2012
You lot are so insensitive you know Bin Laden caused so much terror upon the world and swastika is trending SMH
— H to the O V (@souloh0e) October 7, 2012
#卐卐卐.... im pretty sure this trend is illegal
— Colette Townsend (@SmoshyFever14) October 7, 2012
Wtf #卐卐卐...isn't it illegal to use this symbol?
— ✌ (@JoannaStylinson) October 7, 2012
Oh ' #卐卐卐' is about Hitler.. awks
— Samuel. (@Samuel_James1) October 7, 2012
Like all trending topics, this is only temporary, so try not to let it get you down. And make sure to check out Twitter tomorrow, when we'll surely be back to hashtags like #UKnowSheAHo and #WhyDoBlackPeople.
[Image via Twitter]