Who supports ISIS?

[Sam Slater]

As the title asks......who would actually support ISIS? And what would you think of anyone who speaks favourably about ISIS? Do you know anyone who sympathises with them? No? Well, you might if you have Arabic-speaking friends.

It seems that nearly 1-in-4 Arabic-speaking people in the UK speak favourably about ISIS. Not a paltry minority of a few percent, but 1-in-4 (23.8% to be fair). Now, we all know that Chelsea fans have had a history and problem with racism and we rightly condemn it, but the numbers have never been anywhere near 1-in-4. Any club that had that number of racists would clearly have a race-hate problem that should be looked into. It would be a scandal. My point, of course, is that 1-in-4 Arabic-speaking people being ISIS sympathisers is scandalous.

I do find it odd that merely speaking a certain language makes it more likely you'd support such a murderous gang of thugs such as ISIS and I can't quite work out the connection. Anyone any ideas?

[David Johnson]

"It seems that nearly 1-in-4 Arabic-speaking people in the UK speak favourably about ISIS."

This is a total misrepresentation of what the article states.

The article states the following

"almost 24% of posts from UK and 21% from the US were classified as being supportive of the jihadist organisation compared with just under 20% in Jordan, Saudi Arabia (19.7%) and Iraq (19.8%)."

This is not stating that 1 in 4 PEOPLE in the UK speaking favourably about ISIS. It means that 1 in 4 of the tweets, many of which could be from the same people are in favour of ISIS.

It is a bit like suggesting that someone like myself banging on endlessly about Labour, say, who posts 4 times as many posts in support of Labour compared to those who post the opposite, means that 80% of BGAFD forumites support Labour. I don't think that is true, do you?

[Sam Slater]

David is correct in what he says. Of course it could be some people multiple tweeting. Except, the stats do not find this when talking about non-Arabic tweets.

Also the number of pro-ISIS tweets from Syria is far lower than in far away places like Pakistan (more than 1-in-3) and the UK (nearly 1-in-4). One would expect that lone-wolf multiple tweeters would skew the results just as much in Syria as the UK. This isn't what we find. In fact, given the number of ISIS fighters in Syria and how much they use social media to spread propaganda one would expect at least similar levels of pro/anti tweets. Instead we see the support for ISIS drop to more than a half of what it is in the UK. My guess is that this is because the idea of ISIS and the reality of ISIS are very different. UK Arabic-speakers only have the idea and don't have to live it. Parallels to Iraqis in Ba'athist Iraq compared to Western supposed liberals........but I digress.

Back to my other point........why does speaking Arabic make you more likely to support ISIS?

[David Johnson]

"David is correct in what he says"

Thank you.

It is clearly a waste of time trying to have a discussion with someone who is so cavalier with the "facts".

A bit like trying to argue with the Pope that God doesn't exist. A waste of time.

[Sam Slater]

As everyone can see, me admitting that David was correct in saying it could be certain people multiple tweeting to skew the results, David has used this to say I'm cavalier about 'facts'.

Is this him being disingenuous again? Because, admitting something is possible is not admitting it's a fact. And as everyone can see, I gave a little more thoughts on why I don't think this is just a few multiple tweeters.

But anyway.......onto the interesting bit. Why would speaking Arabic make it more likely to support ISIS in the UK?

[David Johnson]

In short, it was a lie to say that the article states 1 in 4 Arabic speaking people in Iraq are in favour of ISIS.

Whatever your weasel words as you try to divert attention from this, you cannot counter that you have been found out.

[David Johnson]

Correction. I obviously mean the UK rather than Iraq. Daft mistake on my part.

[Sam Slater]

As everyone can see, I admitted David could be right. There was no weaselling. And, again, while agreeing it could be a possibility, David now talks about it like it is a fact. THIS is weaselly. Notice the difference.

And my original post had two points. The numbers and the cause. David pulled me up on the former but as yet has avoided attempting to answer the latter. You need to ask yourselves why he's done this.

So, for a 4th times, why are Arabic-speaking Brits, Europeans and Americans more likely to be supportive of ISIS than non-Arabic speaking people from the same countries?

[David Johnson]

"And my original post had two points. The numbers and the cause"

!laugh!. A rather pathetic attempt to weasel away.

Your original post had one point. That one in four Arabic speaking PEOPLE in the UK were supportive of ISIS.

I trashed the validity of your post. Why should anyone answer your points based on a total misunderstanding of the link you provide?

End of.

[David Johnson]

"Except, the stats do not find this when talking about non-Arabic tweets. "

The report you link to provides nothing about non-Arabic tweets. It is purely about Arabic social media and news articles.

"Also the number of pro-ISIS tweets from Syria is far lower than in far away places like Pakistan (more than 1-in-3) and the UK (nearly 1-in-4"

Why do you think the enthusiasm for World War I was much less for those in the trenches compared with those young lads in Britain who had not yet joined and had no real idea of what conditions were like?


"why does speaking Arabic make you more likely to support ISIS"

The report makes no mention at all of non-Arabic views on the support of ISIS. It is purely about Arabic social media. The content of the report has nothing to do with your statement.