Julie Bindel and JK Rowling laughing about the Musk Nazi salute incident

[HumHU3]

Thought someone might have already done a thread on this. I don’t always agree with Bindel but had a lot of time for her, but this has really surprised me. Not sure why they would be finding it amusing - Musk and Trump are hardly figures of fun, for feminists especially, whatever you think of the (clearly far right!) salute.

Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a professor of history and fascism at New York University, took to X to say that the gesture was a “Nazi salute – and a very belligerent one too”.

But lets not listen to experts....eh @MioDioMio

I think they're laughing because all week people have attempted to excuse Musk and his gesture by saying it wasn't a nazi salute. I think they're taking a bit of a tongue in cheek approach, I don't think they're supporting Musk in the slightest...

This

Lots of very clever people at universities say women can have penises, as do politicians so excuse me if I don’t believe everything they say. I’ve watched the clip and I’d rather make up my own mind.

@7plusthinking and the ADL declared it wasn’t. I’ll take their word thanks over a professor at a University which saw student celebrations in the wake of October 7 before Israel had even retaliated.

This

Also this

The ADL say it wasn’t a Nazi salute. And for the record, the ADL are no friends of Musk- they campaigned hard for advertisers to leave X a few years ago and ended up having a legal stoush with Musk. They can’t stand him which gives more weight to them defending him on this. They have no skin in the Musk game.

You lost me at 'Lots of very clever people at universities say'

Yep

Interesting. Prior to the trans debate, were you active in the women’s movement? If so, have your experiences typically made you more sympathetic to people on the right?

Oh so acaedmics are to be judged by the actions of their students...wow.

What is about academics that MAGA fans hate ( I'm not accusing you of being a MAGA fan btw) its just a common thread in MAGA and Reform and all populist groups, a hatred for people who are obviously more intelligent than they are.

So many thoughts here.

I'm on the fence about whether he intended that to be the Nazi salute or not.

More telling, though, is his response. I'm not one for grovelling apologies for any slight offence by any means, but this not slight, and apology and backtracking is what is needed. He denies that it was intended, but has not felt to make a heartfelt apology for making such a grave error, instead using the fact that he has been criticised for it to attack his opponents.

Prominent right-wingers, meanwhile, are celebrating, and I fear we are going to see more such salutes, both on the streets and in political contexts.

Whether you believe he intended the salute or not, to make light of this major shift seems short-sighted at best, particularly by these public figures. And I say that as someone who supports their stance on women's rights.

Lastly though, OP, if you have a problem with Musk, get off X now, and deny him the oxygen of your engagement and the financial support. This is the one small, simple thing we can all do now to stand against him.

I thought it was very deliberately done. The man thrives on friction and upset. I expect he thinks he’s playing a very clever game turning opinion and chatter hither and thither. Maybe he is.

"Also find this repeated reference to autism pretty nauseating and offensive."

Why? Musk has Asperger's syndrome so he is autistic

This is where all the people screaming about Musk's 'Nazi Salute' were shown images of all the people they support and their 'Nazi Salutes'? And all to sounds of crickets?

I mean, he walks with alternate legs in front of one another just like Hitler did so you know...he must be a Nazi.

Desperate levels of derangement are coming to the fore and people need to sit down and have a nice cup of tea.

They're laughing because the people who could watch that and believe it to be a Nazi salute deserve to be laughed at.
Get a grip and stop letting the media manipulate you.

What was it then?

@7plusthinking of course I don’t hold academics responsible for the views of their students, how absurd. I’m just pointing out that this Professor was happy to stay silent while NYU students chanted “Gas the Jews” and other vile threats and yet felt compelled to speak out about Elon’s “salute”.

I can’t speak for MAGA supporters but I should think their distaste for Academics possibly stems from the fact that while misgendering someone or wearing a culturally insensitive Halloween costume can lead to someone losing their job, calling for the genocide of Jews apparently “depends on context”.

Yes thanks, a thoughtful reply and I agree with it. And you’re dead right about leaving X, I’ve been weaning myself off it but a straightforward delete account is needed!

The man is horribly right wing and unfortunately, so are many so called feminists. He is also pro natalist. Lie down with dogs and you get up with fleas.

Do you have a screenshot? Where was it?

I don't know a University in America or the UK where a staff member could call for the genocide of Jews and not be fired the same day.

I'm no fan of Musk, think he's a nob and a dangerous nob at that, but calling that gesture a nazi salute is bloody ridiculous, and I am also all over X ridiculing those that are up in arms about it. It makes you look pathetic and is detrimental to your cause, because if you cannot believe your own eyes, context, view the full video etc then why should anyone listen to anything else you have to say. Your own prejudices are showing, and showing that you cannot be trusted.

*I'm on the fence about whether he intended that to be the Nazi salute or not.

More telling, though, is his response. I'm not one for grovelling apologies for any slight offence by any means, but this not slight, and apology and backtracking is what is needed. He denies that it was intended, but has not felt to make a heartfelt apology for making such a grave error, instead using the fact that he has been criticised for it to attack his opponents.*

I feel exactly the same about this newrubylane and have been surprised more people haven't expressed this. If you stand very publicly accused of giving Nazi salutes you must acknowledge just how offensive and appalling those optics are and that you understand why there has been such upset. Not just double down and mock your critics with yawn emojis, as I've seen Musk do. Minimising this sets us off down a dangerous path.

It's this extreme lack of seriousness and understanding about it that concerns me. The Trump administration's idiotic, undiplomatic and self-serving behaviour will only trickle down through American society and the world.