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More and more (online) threats? ‘It’s copy-paste behavior’

“The annoying thing is: the threats actually have an impact.” Although the threat is clearly an empty gesture, it has an intimidating effect. Brenninkmeijer, for example, can imagine that OMT members after yet another threat think: is it worth it to appear in the media?

In the first wave you saw a lot of social solidarity, but now it is more focused on “your own group”, says Kees van den Bos, professor of social psychology at Utrecht University. “Solidarity has become an ugly thing. You put yourself extra against people from other groups.”

For example, against people who you think are restricting your freedom, such as the OMT. Or the imam, who is in a different subculture.

President Trump

Threats are increasingly being made after moderate reports, Van den Bos sees. As an example, he gives a message that he himself posted on LinkedIn about US President Trump. Van den Bos wrote that Trump refused to admit that he had lost the presidential election. “You are a leftist professor” and “You have to retract this message or I will report it,” people responded.

“It’s been pretty high for me recently,” says Van den Bos. He sees around him that colleagues dare to express themselves less. “I was only in a news program to talk about the supporters and opponents of Zwarte Piet. People responded afterwards: that you dare to do this.”

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