If you don’t have a problem with milkshaking, how do you feel about this?

[Jillyhilly]

I was struck by the fact that some mumsnetters didn’t seem particularly bothered by assault when it’s “just” a milkshake - particularly when the target of that milkshake is someone whose politics they don’t agree with.

I just wondered if the latest milkshaking attacks recipe - adding quick drying concrete - might change minds?

A group of masked Antifa “protestors”, attacked Andy Ngo- a right-leaning journalist with Quilette - in Portland, that lovely hotbed of radical left wing politics.

Ngo was punched and kicked. Eggs and concrete-infused milkshake was chucked at him. (When wet, concrete acts as a chemical that burns skin.) But hey, it’s all perfectly understandable because Antifa didn’t like the fact that he’s a conservative. And, understandably, wanted to silence him. So they attacked him. A whole masked gang of them against a small, effete gay Vietnamese immigrant. He spent the night in hospital with a bleed on the brain.

That was day 1. On day 2, they beat up an elderly man with a crowbar. All in the name of anti-facism. Heroic!

Did anyone really think that milkshaking wasn’t always going to lead to something worse? And what the hell is going on in Portland? And why are some left-wing journalists celebrating Ngo’s attack? And why in the world are people are worried about their kids being radicalised by little conservative Ben Shapiro when they really ought to be looking in the opposite direction?

@DameFanny so if beating up a journalist isn't violent then what is it?

And lets get real here - antifa are a bunch of little boys playing revolutionaries. Where have they been in progressing class struggle? Would be interested in some examples if you have any.

If the fascists weren't there - putting children in cages, prosecuting women for pregnancy loss, attacking synagogues and mosques with guns and bombs

What a strange, garbled conflation of ideas. No wonder you’re confused.

Fine with milk shaking and egg throwing not fine with beating people up and using corrosive chemicals against them.

There fixed it for you.

Ohhhhh........!!! This is really not what I thought “milkshaking” was referring toon the thread title

I thought it was a feminist throwback reference to the Kelis song and clicked on it wondering what the hell type of horrible new trend I was going to learn about!

Why are you ignoring the fact this didnt happen OP?

You know these are all things that fascists are doing right now in the US? Both the white supremacists in the White House and the right wing terrorists they've encouraged?

The term "antifa" is a US political term often virtually spat out to mean anyone who protests against Trump.
For what it's worth, I am completely against assault by milkshake or anything more solid.

@Patroclus are you saying that Nyo wasnt beaten up?

@DameFanny and what exactly are antifa doing about these atrocities? Cause all I see them doing is turning up at a weekend protest, assaulting people then going back to their privileged lives. Absolutely no working class consciousness there.

Marching against the Proud Boys to show that they're opposed?

What are you doing? What will you do?

If it had actually happened it might be worth discussing.

Im talking about the repeated bullshit and deliberate lies about 'milkshaking' like this and that old war criminal who poured strawberry yoghurt on himself.

CurlyhairedAssassin
OMG I'm so glad I wasn't the only one thinking it was about bringing boys to the yard

@DameFanny well I won't be beating up journalists for starters.

I just think it is hilarious that antifa are being given such a free pass yet emulate the very tactics of those who they are meant to oppose.

No wonder the left is in such a state in the US and UK.

I still think that a fresh milkshake acts as a good tool for humiliating people who would very much like to kill everyone who isn't them. Perhaps if Hitler had been ridiculed a bit more we wouldn't have spent the 30s and 40s killing people in their millions.

Yes, if only there was McDonalds in Munich and Berlin in the 20s and 30s, the holocaust could have been avoided!

Ffs!!!!

The question wasn't what extreme interpretation can you make of antifa tactics based on one dubiously reported incident, the question is what will YOU do to counter the rise of fascism?

@Patroclus
Who poured strawberry yoghurt on himself, I missed that.

Ngo was assaulted check his selfie on Twitter, however not with concrete

@Lifecraft I know - its depressing isn't it! Because of cause Hitlers rise to power had nothing to do with economic/social issues etc

Some arguments are so hopelessly weak that the only way to argue them is to throw a milkshake at someone...

@DameFanny you can deflect by turning the focus on what I will do if you like but that doesnt change that antifa are just a bunch of privileged boys out for the day who think wearing a Che tshirt and balaclava makes them members of the vanguard.

Whatever you think of antifa, don't you think we should ALL be thinking how we can counter fascism? Given that it's now undeniably back?

Because if you're only interested in criticising some anti fascists for doing it wrong, maybe you'd like to suggest ways they can do it right?

Or are you not concerned with the fresh rise of fascism?

Of course I'm worried about the rise of fascism but I think challenging it lies in understanding and challenging the existing ruling classes and the tools of the state. Challenging fascism requires a united front and raising political consciousness. It requires collective action and not just random attacks on individuals who say things that we disagree with.

I don’t know what to think about this, because when I’ve tried to google it, virtually the only coverage I can find is from right wing US sources that I wouldn’t usually necessarily trust. The only sources that seem to be even vaguely trustworthy are the US Spectator and the UK Independent. And that really worries me. Because I don’t believe that the right wing sources faked the photos. SOMETHING happened. But four or five pages of googling don’t help clarify. And that’s scary, that even when I go looking, I’m not confident I’m finding it.

"If you don't have a problem with an action that doesn't hurt anyone, then how do you feel about this totally fictional harmful action?"

@Lifecraft I know - its depressing isn't it! Because of cause Hitlers rise to power had nothing to do with economic/social issues etc

I know @Iloveruby. All these years, uneducated fools like us have thought it was due to the Treaty of Versailles, the unrealistic reparations, leading to the hyperinflation of the Weimer Republic, and the subsequent poverty of the working classes, who wanted an outlet for their frustrations.

But no.....it was the lack of thick strawberry, chocolate and vanilla drinks, available to order quickly, that was the cause.

Who knew?