/pol/ in no way started the American culture war. It was brewing for a while.

pol was made to contain all posting on the American culture war so it could be banned from the other (more active) boards

You’re acting as if https://doge.gov does not exist. Ask yourself under which presidency, administration and kind of politics such is allowed to even exist with a straight face.

It would've existed regardless of internet memes, just under a different and similarly obnoxious name.

You actually think if we replayed society and magically shut off internet memes it would have played out the exact same but under a different name?

More or less, but it depends on what is classed as an internet meme.

Well, broke the levee if you will. Otherwise, explain Pepe.

I hardly think an internet image of a cartoon frog heavily influenced American elections, despite a surface-level co-option by various Republican politicians.

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I agree completely.

I'm just saying, it's a symptom. The crazy found critical mass, broke containment. From there it was laundered in millions of Facebook groups and here we are.

In no way?