I think the problem is with our hyper polarized culture, the single Christian from Arizona snowballs into a real movement, because we reflexively and reliably take up our respective corners no matter how absurd. One of my concerns is that journalists (especially center-left types) seem to be unwilling to acknowledge their role in creating these movements rather than merely reporting on them.
I think this is very possible as well. An amusing/sad example is how 4chan trolled the left into thinking the “ok” gesture actually means “white power”. The left took the bait and started policing this gesture, and then right-wing folks would start using it to trigger them—which the left wing folks took to be “proof” that the symbol was a white power symbol (look! the right is using this symbol! vindication!) and indeed even had a hispanic utility worker fired for absent-mindlessly making the gesture. Self fulfilling prophesy.
