Much of Online Discourse is Performative Outrage…or is it?
November 03, 2024_.png)
Key Takeaways
- Performative outrage dominates progressive discourse on Trump, with hyperbolic language and dramatic expressions that amplify emotions.
- Outrage serves as a mobilization tool, transforming political concerns into urgent calls for action that rally voters around shared values and identity.
- Genuine concerns exist within these discussions, but the structure of social media rewards exaggerated expressions, often overshadowing sincere debate.
Our Methodology
Demographics
All Voters, Democrats
Sample Size
100,000
Geographical Breakdown
National
Time Period
7 Days
MIG Reports leverages EyesOver technology, employing Advanced AI for precise analysis. This ensures unparalleled precision, setting a new standard. Find out more about the unique data pull for this article.
Campaign fervor is cresting just days prior to the election and MIG Reports data shows non-Trump partisans—liberals and Democrats—are leaning into performative outrage. Using dramatic language, hyperbolic expressions, and a repeated emphasis on extreme descriptors, this group is expressing high emotion.
Some do articulate reasonable concerns over some of Trump’s policies and potential influence. A substantial portion of liberals also seem to genuinely believe the outrage, calling Trump a fascist. However, much of the discourse skews toward performative expressions, crafted to amplify emotional resonance and foster a unified group identity.
Ana Kasparian clashes with Cenk Uygur on Trump, arguing that he isn't a “fascist” and the Democrat Party misrepresents him.
— AF Post (@AFpost) November 1, 2024
Follow: @AFpost pic.twitter.com/RPvzniKyge
Performative Elements in Language
The language deployed across these conversations frequently borders on theatrical.
- Terms such as “fascist,” “Hitler,” and “authoritarian” are common, imbuing Trump with a villainous aura that aligns with familiar tropes.
- Critics frame him as an antagonist in a moral and political struggle.
- Despite the existence of other authoritarian leaders like Pol Pot, Josef Stalin, Augusto Pinochet, Hitler is only parallel most use to depict Trump.
- The lexicon signals a collective identity that rallies around shared anxieties and moral judgments.
- Embellished phrases like “end of democracy” or “chaos in America,” tap into a performative mode designed less to analyze and more to evoke.
- The prevalence of these dramatized expressions suggests the intent is to stir reactions—likes, comments, and shares.
The tone of many online posts shows stylized indignation. Common keywords like “garbage,” “disgrace,” and “complete disaster” create an atmosphere that leans heavily on hyperbole to drive points home.
Much of the discourse can be categorized as “outrage posting,” where media and influencers exaggerate language to amplify emotional responses.
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Outrage as a Mobilization Tool
The performative outrage often functions as a mobilization tool.
- Posts pushing extreme discontent or alarmist tones are among the most engaging, with metrics indicating hyperbolic statements significantly boost reactions.
- The performative nature serves as a rallying call, mobilizing users by constructing Trump as a political opponent and existential threat.
- Posts often use an urgent tone, calling for action or moral imperatives that encourage followers to align with the collective response.
- Recurring terms include, “protect democracy” or “save America,” tapping into a mythology of resistance and survival.
Heightened rhetoric on both sides shapes voter responses, promoting a sense of duty among followers. The performative outrage is often a coordinated effort to convert emotional reactions into tangible support for the broader progressive agenda.
🚨 Warning - heavy TDS: Before my flight, this woman put her middle finger up at me. I ignored it.
— Melissa Robey (@Robey2020) October 31, 2024
After the flight, she walked by me before I could record and screamed that I was a “facist”. Here is the rest of the interaction: #TDS #5days pic.twitter.com/ra5zAa2OCv
Genuine Concern vs. Amplified Rhetoric
Certain topics, such as healthcare, education, and climate change, are discussed with less sensationalism and more emphasis on practical consequences. The language shifts subtly to discuss policies or potential impacts, emphasizing marginalized groups and vulnerable communities.
Moments of sincerity suggest that while performative outrage dominates, there is a genuine core that fuels these discussions, reflecting real fears and apprehensions among progressives.
However, the performative aspect tends to overshadow genuine concerns due to rage bait engagement. This dynamic suggests the structure of social media itself, with its emphasis on engagement metrics, incentivizes users to use a hyperbolic style.
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Outrage as the New Norm
Progressive conversations about Donald Trump are contentious and emotional. The use of exaggerated language, dramatized fears, and repeated calls to action suggest the discourse operates primarily to elicit reactions, reinforce group identity, and galvanize support. Genuine concerns do exist, particularly on specific policy issues, yet they are often subsumed within the larger spectacle of outrage.
Language analysis suggests discourse is disproportionately hyperbolic compared to real, normal life. However, it’s also possible to conclude that many anti-Trump voters who exhibit what some call “TDS” (Trump Derangement Syndrome), are genuinely disturbed. There are also growing discussions about mental health, anxiety, depression, and anger tied to political fears.
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