Hate Group Recruitment on the InterNet
The typical Web site is colorful; black, red and white
are very popular on the neo-Nazi sites. Filled with pictures
or symbols, handsome typography and, occasionally, sound,
these sites are perfect for presenting a propaganda message.
The interactive features of the Web permit immediate
responses and so on-line membership forms are found at
several "hate" sites, making it even easier to order
material or join.
Ease of use is a major selling point for the Web. Once
a user gets to a Web site, moving around in "cyberspace"
becomes relatively uncomplicated, but finding a particular
site isn't always simple. The
National Alliance is aware of
this. Its July 1995 Bulletin, mailed, the old-fashioned way,
to members, encouraged "the Alliance's seasoned cybernauts"
to The USENET, or newsgroups, refers to the collection of
thousands of computerized "chat" sites where users express
ideas, argue and, often exchange insults. Anyone with a
computer and Internet access can "join" one or more of
these. A newsgroup is usually devoted to a single topic,
some serious, such as talk.politics.mideast and others, less
serious, such as rec.art.comics. The neo-Nazis have several
newsgroups where they, and their opponents, go at each
other. Some of these haters have argued that they will never
recruit new members on the traditional on-line racist haunts
such as alt.politics.white-power where the participants have
already chosen sides. It is time, they say, to search for
new members. To do this, they are developing a new tactic
designed to direct people to sites such as the
National
Alliance.
The
original plaintext version
of this file is available via
ftp.
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Nizkor
© The Nizkor Project, 1991-2012
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An Attractive Medium
"spread our new [Web] site address around as widely as
possible.... Imaginative and energetic members should be
able to think of many novel ways to provoke other Internet
users to go to our new site and examine our materials."
Several devoted followers, taking this to heart, have hit
upon a device that they hope will spread the group's
propaganda but also lead sympathizers to the Web sites of
the
National Alliance and similar groups. They have decided
to exploit the USENET.