I endured an English public school. But that's not the only reason I'm unsurprised about the Farage allegations | Musa Okwonga

The Allegations Against Farage Reflect a Larger Problem with Toxic Masculinity and the UK's Class System.

As I reflect on Nigel Farage's alleged teenage behavior at Dulwich College, where he allegedly used racist insults against fellow pupils and sang a song with the lyrics "Gas 'em all", it's hard not to feel a sense of déjà vu. The attitudes of some of my peers at Eton, where I attended several years later, were not dissimilar. A pupil boasted that his great-grandfather was a slave driver, while another referred to black people as "piccaninnies" with "watermelon smiles".

These incidents are all too familiar in the UK's elite institutions, where young men are often socialized to believe they are superior to others. The notion of "lad culture" has created a toxic environment where masculinity is reinforced through aggression and bullying. This toxic masculinity has been perpetuated by politicians like Boris Johnson, who has used racist stereotypes to describe black people.

Farage's behavior as a teenager was a precursor to his adult career in politics. His ability to stir up hatred and intolerance has made him a effective politician, but it also reveals the darker side of British politics. The damage he has caused as an adult is staggering, from inspiring a xenophobic backlash against European migration to fueling a surge in far-right extremism.

What's truly concerning is that Farage's classmates have not moved away from their racist views with age. Instead, they've become more extreme and entrenched in their opinions. This is the result of social media algorithms that amplify toxic content and create echo chambers where people are only exposed to like-minded views.

The UK's media culture has also contributed to this problem. The proliferation of "entertaining" politicians who prioritize style over substance has created a culture of sensationalism and clickbait journalism. This has led to a decline in serious discussion about complex issues, and a rise in simplistic, divisive rhetoric that fuels extremism.

Farage's ultimate goal is to create a society where only the wealthy can benefit from open borders, while everyone else is forced into ghettos. It's a simplistic, yet damaging message that reflects the worst excesses of British politics. As the UK grapples with rising economic inequality and soaring racism, it's clear that Farage's ideology is not a solution, but a symptom of a deeper problem.

The question is, will we take Farage seriously as an adult? Or will we continue to dismiss him as a relic of his extremist past? The answer lies in how we respond to the toxic masculinity and classism that has fueled his rise. By acknowledging these problems and working towards a more inclusive, equitable society, we can begin to build a future where Farage's ideology is no longer tenable.

ugh I'm so done with this UK politics the way they're always glossing over Farage's toxic teenage behavior as if it's just some embarrassing phase he went through and now he's some kind of respected politician Newsflash: his behavior wasn't a phase, it was a preview of the hate he'd peddle as an adult.

and can we talk about how class comes into play here? The fact that Farage got to attend Eton (one of the most elite schools in the UK) and didn't face consequences for his racist antics is just another example of the privileged elite using their power to silence marginalized voices .

social media algorithms amplifying toxic content is not a new thing, but the problem is it's only getting worse with everyone jumping on the echo chamber bandwagon . And don't even get me started on the UK's media culture – sensationalism and clickbait journalism are the ultimate winners here

anyway, Farage's whole ideology is just a bunch of hooey and I wish more people would call him out on it instead of just dismissing his past antics as if they're not relevant. we need to have a serious conversation about toxic masculinity, classism, and how they're fueling this far-right extremism

I'm only reading this now because I'm so late to the party . Anyway, Farage's behavior sounds super dodgy and it makes me think that he's not an isolated case of toxic masculinity. Like, what if it's a problem that's been perpetuated by British politics and society as a whole? I mean, those Eton and Dulwich College stories are pretty wild... how did they get to be like that?!

I'm also kinda shocked that his classmates didn't change their ways with age. It's like, we're all supposed to grow up and become more nuanced humans or something . And don't even get me started on social media algorithms - they're like a toxic soup that just gets worse and worse.

The thing is, Farage's rise to power isn't just about him being a bad guy; it's also about how we, as society, have allowed things to become so extreme. Like, why do we prioritize style over substance in politics? And what's with the "entertaining" politicians who are more interested in being popular than actually doing the job .

I don't think Farage's ideology is going anywhere anytime soon, but I hope we can keep talking about it and working towards a better future. Maybe we can even learn to take him seriously (but not literally ).

UK politics needs a serious overhaul Farage's party of one isn't going anywhere fast His views are a symptom not the disease, and he's just a symptom of a bigger issue... Toxic masculinity and classism run deep in those elite schools Eton & Dulwich are breeding grounds for entitled, racist arseholes . Social media's amplifying the hate, and clickbait journalism is making a joke out of serious issues The UK needs to confront these problems head-on before Farage's brand of extremism takes over

I'm still trying to process what's going on with this guy . Like, how did someone so young be so messed up? And it's not just him, it's all these other rich kids who think they're above everyone else because of their parents' money. It's like, hello, you're not better than anyone else just because your family is wealthy .

And don't even get me started on social media . I mean, I know it can be a great tool for connecting people and stuff, but sometimes it feels like it's just amplifying the worst parts of human nature. Like, we need to take responsibility for what we post online and not just let algorithms decide what we see.

It's also frustrating that politicians like Boris Johnson are still able to get away with racist stereotypes . I mean, come on, if you're going to use a word, at least have the decency to spell it right and not just make stuff up.

But yeah, Farage's ideology is really messed up . The idea that only the wealthy should benefit from open borders is so selfish and exclusionary. We need to start thinking about how we can create a more equal society where everyone has access to opportunities .

I don’t usually comment but I gotta say, Farage's behavior is super worrying . It makes me think about how toxic masculinity has been normalized in the UK's elite institutions and how it affects people's attitudes towards others. The fact that his classmates still hold racist views after all these years is unsettling .

Social media algorithms are definitely part of the problem, but our media culture isn't helping either . It's like we're more interested in sensational headlines than having serious conversations about complex issues. I don't think Farage's ideology is just about immigration or borders – it's about how he wants to create a society where only the wealthy can thrive and everyone else is left behind .

It's time for us to take a closer look at these issues and have some tough discussions about what we want our society to be like . Can't we just try to understand each other and find common ground? It's not that hard, right?