Biker gangs and Nazis. What I learned from sub-cultures | Martin Pashley | TEDxDerby
Summary
TLDRThe speaker, Martin from Union Magazine, shares his experiences exploring various global subcultures, emphasizing how people are often different from initial perceptions. He discusses the impact of the internet as an echo chamber, how evolutionary psychology influences our tendency to group with like-minded individuals, and the diversity of subcultures he encountered—from Silicon Valley bikers and 'bronies' to American Nazis and UFO believers. Despite their differences, he highlights the humanity shared by all, advocating for empathy and understanding through dialogue with those we might initially find unusual or disagree with.
Takeaways
- 🌍 Union Magazine explores global subcultures, revealing that people are often not what they initially seem.
- 💻 The internet is a powerful communication tool but also creates echo chambers where people stick to their beliefs and avoid opposing views.
- 🔒 Evolutionary psychology suggests humans group together due to ancient survival instincts, fearing those who look or think differently.
- 👨🔬 Sociologists argue that people group together to be socially distinctive, resisting mainstream culture by adopting unique identities.
- 🏍️ The East Bay Rats Motorcycle Club in Oakland consists of members who appear rough but have professional jobs, showcasing the contrast between appearance and reality.
- 🐴 Bronies, adult fans of My Little Pony, find value in the show's lessons on conflict resolution, despite societal judgment.
- 🧢 Harry Hubbard, a member of the American National Socialist Party, displays a paradox of kindness and extremist beliefs.
- 👽 The Raelians, a UFO religion, believe in alien creators and engage in spiritual discussions, contradicting their media portrayal of wild gatherings.
- 🏍️ Baltimore’s illegal dirt bike riders, known as the Twelve O'Clock Boys, use their bikes for stunts and as a form of rebellion against local laws.
- 🤝 Despite their differences, people from various subcultures have common human concerns like work, family, and daily life, highlighting the importance of empathy and understanding.
Q & A
What is Union Magazine, and what does it focus on?
-Union Magazine is an independent publication that focuses on exploring different subcultures from around the world.
What does the speaker say about the role of the internet in modern communication?
-The speaker acknowledges the internet as one of the greatest innovations in communication, comparing it to the evolution of speech, but also highlights its downside—how it often reinforces existing beliefs and creates echo chambers, rather than fostering open dialogue.
Why do people tend to group with others who share similar beliefs online, according to evolutionary psychology?
-According to evolutionary psychology, this behavior dates back to prehistoric times when being part of a group that looked and thought alike was often a matter of survival. This instinct to fear those who are different has persisted in humans today.
What perspective do sociologists offer on why people group together?
-Sociologists believe that people group together to assert social distinctiveness, often as a way to rebel against the mainstream. Some groups even prefer to remain elusive or underground.
Who are the East Bay Rats, and what makes them notable?
-The East Bay Rats are a motorcycle club in Oakland, California, known for riding 'rat bikes,' which are intentionally made to look worn out. Despite their tough appearance and love of fire and Fight Clubs, many of them have professional jobs in Silicon Valley and the music industry.
What are 'bronies,' and why are some adults drawn to 'My Little Pony'?
-Bronies are adult fans of 'My Little Pony,' a cartoon aimed at children. Many bronies are drawn to the show because it teaches lessons on conflict resolution and overcoming life's challenges. Despite societal stigma, some continue to enjoy the show due to its meaningful impact on them.
Who is Harry Hubbard, and what are his beliefs?
-Harry Hubbard is a member of the American National Socialist Party and spends his time patrolling the Arizona-Mexico border. Although his views are controversial, he was described as a polite host during the interview, despite his swastika-emblazoned shield.
What are the Raelians, and what are their core beliefs?
-The Raelians are a UFO religion founded by a former French car journalist. They believe that all life on Earth was created by an alien civilization that will return in the near future. They have also been known for hosting alleged sex orgies, although this was not witnessed during the speaker's visit.
Who are the illegal dirt bike riders of Baltimore, and what role do they play?
-The illegal dirt bike riders of Baltimore, known as the '12 o'clock boys' due to their wheelie stance, were once involved in drug trafficking because their bikes allowed them to evade police. Although riding these bikes is now illegal, the riders still parade them as a form of protest against the authorities.
What is the main takeaway the speaker wants the audience to understand from their journey through various subcultures?
-The speaker emphasizes that despite different beliefs, practices, or lifestyles, people are fundamentally the same. They have everyday concerns and responsibilities, and the speaker encourages empathy and listening to others’ perspectives, rather than trying to change them.
Outlines
🌐 The Evolution of Internet Communication
Martin, a representative of Union Magazine, introduces himself and the publication, which focuses on global subcultures. He discusses the internet's impact on communication, likening it to the evolution of human speech. However, he highlights a downside: the internet has led to the creation of echo chambers, where people gravitate towards like-minded groups, reinforcing their beliefs instead of fostering open dialogue. This segregation is rooted in evolutionary psychology and sociology, where humans historically grouped together for survival and social distinctiveness. This tendency persists today, influencing online interactions.
🏍️ Discovering the Unexpected: The East Bay Rats
Martin shares his experience with the East Bay Rats Motorcycle Club in Oakland, California. Despite their rough exterior, involving pyromania and Fight Clubs, many members have surprising backgrounds, including jobs in Silicon Valley and the music industry. This juxtaposition of their wild lifestyle with professional success illustrates that people are often more complex than they first appear. The club's pranks, like placing a shopping trolley full of valuable beer cans on a lamppost for the homeless to retrieve, reflect their unique sense of humor and camaraderie.
🎠 The Secret Lives of Bronies
Martin delves into the world of Bronies, adult fans of the children's show 'My Little Pony.' Contrary to stereotypes, many Bronies are regular people with demanding jobs, such as working in the Oklahoma oil industry. They appreciate the show for its lessons on conflict resolution and personal growth. Despite fears of being ostracized, these individuals remain dedicated to the fandom, finding significant personal meaning in it. Martin explains that becoming a Brony involves watching the first three episodes of 'My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic,' after which viewers might be hooked.
🛡️ A Glimpse into Extreme Beliefs: The American Nazi
Martin introduces Harry Hubbard, a member of the American National Socialist Party, who patrols the Arizona-Mexico border to prevent illegal immigration. Despite his extreme views, Harry is depicted as a surprisingly personable individual who rejects the Nazi label as derogatory. Martin's encounter at Harry's home, humorously named 'Rancho Murieta' (Ranch of Death), underscores the contrast between Harry's disturbing beliefs and his seemingly ordinary interactions.
👽 Unconventional Beliefs: The Raëlians
Martin explores the Raëlians, a UFO religion founded by a former French journalist. The Raëlians believe that life on Earth was created by aliens, who will return to save humanity. Despite media claims of sex orgies at their gatherings, Martin finds them to be regular people, discussing mundane topics like dental care costs and showing a keen interest in TED Talks on future society and technology. This contrasts sharply with their belief in alien creators, highlighting the diversity of human thought and belief.
🏍️ The Illegal Dirt Bike Culture of Baltimore
Martin examines the illegal dirt bike culture in Baltimore, where riders, known as the 'Twelve O'Clock Boys,' defy police by riding banned bikes through the city. These bikes, once used in drug trafficking, are now symbols of rebellion. Despite their outlaw image, the riders share concerns typical of youth, such as education and road safety. Martin's difficulty in gaining their trust reveals the group's wariness of outsiders, yet his persistence uncovers the ordinary lives behind the dangerous stunts.
🧑🤝🧑 A Journey of Understanding: The Humanity in Subcultures
Martin reflects on his journey through various subcultures, emphasizing that despite their differences, people everywhere share common experiences. Whether it's a Nazi, a biker, or a Brony, everyone has everyday responsibilities and emotions. He advocates for empathy and open communication, urging people to engage with those who seem different rather than judge them. Martin concludes that by listening to others' stories, we realize that we are all fundamentally similar, despite our divergent paths.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Subcultures
💡Echo Chamber
💡Evolutionary Psychology
💡Sociology
💡East Bay Rats
💡Bronies
💡My Little Pony
💡American National Socialist Party
💡Raelians
💡Twelve O'Clock Boys
Highlights
The internet, while a revolutionary communication tool, often becomes an echo chamber where people gravitate towards like-minded communities, reinforcing their beliefs rather than fostering open dialogue.
Evolutionary psychologists suggest that the tendency to group with like-minded individuals is an ancient survival mechanism, where strangers represented danger.
Sociologists argue that people group together to be socially distinctive, to set themselves apart from the mainstream through appearance, behavior, or beliefs.
The East Bay Rats, a motorcycle club in Oakland, California, consists of individuals with high-profile jobs in Silicon Valley, challenging stereotypes about bikers.
Despite their tough exterior, the East Bay Rats engage in playful yet controversial pranks, such as attaching shopping trolleys filled with beer cans to lampposts, knowing the homeless would try to retrieve them.
Bronies, adult fans of My Little Pony, find solace and life lessons in the show, despite the societal stigma and potential ostracization they might face in their personal and professional lives.
Many bronies are regular individuals with families and jobs, like the two men working in the Oklahoma oil industry who find comfort in the show's messages about conflict resolution and stress management.
Harry Hubbard, a leading member of the American National Socialist Party, patrols the Arizona-Mexico border, reflecting a stark contrast between his extreme views and his friendly demeanor.
Harry Hubbard prefers not to be called a Nazi, despite his association with the American National Socialist Party, highlighting the complexity of individual identities within extremist groups.
The Raelians, a UFO religion founded by a former French car journalist, believe that all life on Earth was created by aliens, and that religious figures like Jesus and Buddha live together on another planet.
Raelians, despite their unconventional beliefs, are regular people with jobs and everyday concerns, such as the cost of dental care and the convenience of TED Talks.
The illegal dirt bike riders of Baltimore, known as the '12 O'Clock Boys,' use their bikes to challenge the authorities, protesting against laws that prohibit dirt bikes in the city.
Despite their rebellious activities, the Baltimore bikers are like any other teenagers, concerned about their futures, road safety, and the impact of elderly drivers on the streets.
The speaker emphasizes that people from diverse and often extreme subcultures are still fundamentally human, with everyday concerns and emotions similar to anyone else.
The overarching message is to engage with people from different backgrounds and beliefs with empathy, listening to their stories without judgment, to better understand our shared humanity.
Transcripts
my name is Martin I'm from Union
Magazine so in case you haven't heard a
Union magazine for an independent
publication that focuses on different
subcultures from around the world
tonight I'd like to talk about my
journey through some of those
subcultures and have found that people
often aren't what you first perceived
them to be but first a little bit about
the internet now yeah that isn't
actually that's VR but you know the
internet now internet is rightly held as
one of the greatest innovations in
communications ever you know comparable
to the evolution of speech in humans but
you know you can scout your grunya in
Australia update your Facebook do your
Instagram order 28 weeks of shopping
it's amazing you know we couldn't live
without it
but there has been a downside people
online tend to gravitate towards those
that share similar beliefs so to put it
simply right-wingers go to right wing
websites the left fingers go to
left-wing websites so instead of being
an open medium of communication it
actually becomes a reinforcing tool and
echo-chamber and people online are often
not seen as real humans with emotions
and feelings but rather as avatars of
particular beliefs and instead of being
brought together by algorithms were
actually being forced apart so why is
this what is what's behind this grouping
now I always want to use the picture
came in so there it is now an
evolutionary psychologist believes it
goes back to the days of decay bed and
prehistory to be more correct and back
then being part of a group or tribe that
thought and looked like you was often
the difference between life and death
you know strangers meant danger you know
strangers red hair we're coming to kill
you so keep away from them so it was
better to keep with the people you knew
now even issue psychologists believe
this trait has come down to us till
today and leaving us with an inbuilt
trigger to fear those that look or even
think differently from us so there you
go but sociologists think of it
differently they believe people group
together to be socially distinctive to
kind of you know be different from the
mainstream to I would stick two fingers
up to it with the way they look the way
they dress or even that sometimes
be totally out of the mainstream be
unknown one sociologist in the sixties
George makes me laugh he tracked down
this particular elusive group who when
they were found weren't happy to be
found he had to change their entire lobe
they said now you've found as you've
earned it the matrons going to find out
please go away
so what have I learnt in my journey
okay now this is the East Bay rats
motorcycle club during Oakland
California
they're called the rats not because well
obviously not because they're rodents or
anything because the right rat bikes and
these bikes that are made to look like
they've been been over a thousand miles
and they're really knackered and they're
really into fire as well especially
setting fire to the pavements and the
night we went and visited they were
holding a Fight Club so you can imagine
what that was like
now despite being pyromaniacs into fight
clubs and bikers and the sort of guy
didn't run away from we just saw on a
dark street a lot of the rats had really
good jobs in Silicon Valley a couple
work for you know a very famous search
engine you'll use every day in other
word for that social network that begins
with a fan ends in ka1 was a tour
manager for bands some of the best bands
and most successful bands in the last
ten years so what you see is not what
you often get but they weren't the
nicest guys in the world well they were
but they did have a particular prank
that you may find offensive in
California beer cans are worth money so
what they would do they would fill a
shopping trolley full of beer cans and
then take that big that shopping trolley
I should say and stick it to a lamppost
well the reason they did this was
because the local homeless valued beer
cans and they would sit back and watch
the homeless try all different types of
tactics to get this shopping trolley
from the top of the lamppost
apparently the records for days that's
the quickest anyone ever did it so yeah
but I just want to say now that idea I
really do love them I want to go back to
California please don't kill me
right so has anyone heard of bronies yes
okay well if you haven't they're adult
fans of My Little Pony now
which is a cartoon designed for kids
aged six to nine as you probably all
know and it's probably more designed to
sell soft toys than anything so why
these adults into My Little Pony
well the convention I went to they told
me because the cartoon taught them
lessons about conflict resolution and
how to overcome stresses in trials in
their lives now I've gone along thinking
everyone will be dressed like this guy
here and that they're all super freaks
into it but most of them were sort of
regular people with you know families
mortgages lives and jobs you know they
just really live the show really meant
so much to them so for example these two
guys here they both work in the Oklahoma
oil industry now on the rig so they've
got some of those dangerous jobs in the
industry but they're burners so one of
them got into it because their daughter
told him you know he sat on his daughter
on his nearly watched it and yeah they
couldn't tell their colleagues their
colleagues state said to me and said if
my colleagues find out we were bronies
we'd be ostracized they would think we
were gay or you know just very strange
people but they were determined to stay
into the show they they believed it
brought that much than they're willing
to take that risk and the guy on the
right told me the formula to be a brony
so if you want to know I'll tell you now
basically watch the first three episodes
of My Little Pony Friendship is Magic
and if you want to watch anymore
then you were burning and you will
probably end up looking like that guy
but you thought too bad and anyway not
all the subcultures I've met have been
that fluffy this isn't Harry Hubbard now
Harry's a leading member of the American
National Socialist Party
so Harry's an American Nazi now Harry
spends his day patrolling the border
between Arizona and Mexico looking for
illegal immigrants he feels it's his
patriotic duty to you know stop for me
doesn't even there's got like a giant
gun there he doesn't shoot them or
anything he gives them water and cause
the Border Patrol
now Harry had lots of uses I found
really reprehensible but he was a nice
guy you know invited into his
which I don't know if you can see that
it's called Rancho Murieta which for you
non-spanish speakers means Rancho death
so yeah he told us his views on life the
universe and everything and a great
length he told us even though he has a
swastika on that shield why he doesn't
want to be called a Nazi he found it
derogatory but there you go he was a
nice guy very nasty
now the next book well we're familiar
with Harry in 20th century German
politics and what happened but these are
the regions they're a UFO religion and
they were started about four years ago
by an ex French car journalist so kind
of imagine if Jeremy Clarkson just when
he left the BBC didn't go to Amazon
actually started a UFO religion and then
you're kind of getting where it is home
they believe we're all created by aliens
all life on Earth was created by an
alien civilization that is going to come
back with it I think the next thirty
years and savers but there probably have
been in the press a few times over the
last four decades mainly for having
allegedly having gigantic sex orgies at
their gatherings now I can't say well
that's true because the gathering I went
to I did not see any sex orgies or I
wasn't invited to anything but what I
did fine they could have been having him
all around me the way but what I did
find what people lose well is believing
that Jesus Buddha and Moses are all
living together on a planet a few
light-years from Earth were we're down
here on this planet
Carl mechanics public relations
consultants and worked in the fashion
industry and over dinner the main topic
of conversation was it about Moses and
Buddha's liver living arrangements it
was about how expensive dental care was
in America and whether it was worth
flying down to Mexico to get your teeth
fixed and I think everyone agreed it was
so that's probably why they've got such
good teeth and and also they're really
big fans of TED Talks
they watched him continuously when I was
there especially the ones about future
society and future technology so if
you're watching hello aliens
please invite doing that
pleasing my business technology I know
this is turning into like like a parade
of holiday snaps almost but this one
final group of lights thought about talk
about these are the illegal dirt bike
bikers of Baltimore now I'm sure a few
of you have heard about Baltimore it's
problems with drugs sue the TV show The
Wire now these bikes here once played a
pivotal role in that trade they were
used to ferry packages packages of
narcotics Heather and liver across the
city they were really prized because
yeah you can see there's parkland on the
left they can dodge cop cars cops will
chase them and they can just go up go
across the ground the cops will lose
them
so obviously the police wised up to this
and banned them within the city so it's
illegal to have one within the city of
Baltimore they just pick him up and take
him away and crushed him so the kids
weren't really gonna stand for this so
what they do every Sunday is come out on
their bikes and parade and pulling
wheelie said they actually called the
twelve o'clock boys because of the
position of the bike and they dare the
cops to chase them and everything now
this was one of the hardest boots we
ever tried to interview what we did into
the other side they thought we were
undercover FBI agents so despite we used
to Instagram them sending pictures of
ourselves holding newspaper saying we're
British journalists were British
journalists please please let us come
Peters were interested so what we did we
just went to Baltimore listened out for
the bikes and what we found was a group
of kids like kids anywhere else on the
world they were worried about going to
college they were worried about you know
what their parents thought of them you
know just normal children but they were
very particularly concerned about road
safety in Baltimore they felt that there
were too many elderly drivers allowed on
the road and a couple of them like one
of these guys his friend had broke his
leg the week before because what he
describes as a mr. Magoo and running off
his bike and broke his leg now I didn't
know what was more shocking the breaking
of the leg or someone still talks about
mr. Magoo
you know so what have I learned on this
journey
well one there's a lot of people out
there that are into a lot of different
things in the world which I know it's
very try and obvious thing to say and to
even more obviously people are just
people you know you can be a Nazi
patrolling the border between Arizona
and Mexico but you still gotta pay your
water bill you can be a biter who's you
know sticking up shopping trolleys on
top of lampposts and setting fire to the
street but come Monday morning you still
gotta get up and go to work you know
that's that's what their lives are they
know no different from us and what I
found is people should get on the
internet and talk to these people not
try and change them or change their
opinions or anything like that just
listen hear their journeys hear what
they've been through and hear what they
say show you know show some empathy and
then you'll find it like the brownie the
Nazi Deranian well maybe not the
reallying they're not any different from
us they're not a different species they
are us
so I basically what I'm trying to say is
get out there and go and say hello to
them thank you
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