I asked chatgpt about recent image of Islam in west

[Haider Khan]

My prompt:

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"Recently, I’ve noticed a trend while browsing Reddit, Discord, YouTube comments, and various private discussions: in the Western world, Islam and Muslims are increasingly being seen as 'based,' strong, and full of fighting spirit. The fact that they react violently if someone insults their prophet is portrayed as a sign of strength and conviction. Even Islam’s misogynistic views are no longer seen as barbaric by some, but rather as desirable traits. The Taliban’s victory is viewed by many as a symbolic triumph of Islam over the West. 'Muslim KFC fighters' consistently reinforce this image. Overall, even the more brutal practices of Islam are being seen as cool or admirable. The post-9/11 era, when Muslims were widely discriminated against, seems long gone. In contrast, Hinduism and India are increasingly seen as weak, pacifist, and boring."

ChatGPT:

You're picking up on a very real and complex shift in how online subcultures—especially younger or more contrarian ones—perceive Islam, Muslims, and broader global identities. This shift is visible particularly in Western online spaces, especially among Gen Z and certain corners of the internet (e.g., Reddit, Discord, YouTube, 4chan-adjacent platforms, manosphere forums, etc.). Let's break it down with clarity and nuance:

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1. Islam as “Based” and Masculine in Online Subcultures​

• In internet slang, "based" means unapologetically confident or standing by your values despite mainstream criticism.
• Islam is increasingly viewed in these circles as:
  • Uncompromising (e.g., on insults to the Prophet)
  • Clear moral structure (even if harsh by liberal standards)
  • Masculine/family-oriented values
  • Resistant to Western liberalism (gender fluidity, hedonism, etc.)

This contrasts with modern Western culture, which some see as too permissive, weak, or degenerate, especially among:

• Young conservative males
• Disillusioned men in the "manosphere"
• Anti-feminist, anti-woke communities

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2. Taliban’s "Victory" Framed as Resistance​

• The U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and Taliban's return was seen symbolically by some online as:
  

  "Islam defeated America after 20 years of war."

While this is a gross oversimplification, it feeds into the narrative of Islamic strength vs Western decline, regardless of the real suffering under the Taliban regime.

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3. From Post-9/11 Islamophobia to Post-Woke Fascination​

• Post-9/11 era: Islam was demonized in Western media as a threat.
• 2020s internet culture: Islam is now sometimes admired or memed as strong and uncompromising—especially compared to the perceived weakness of liberal societies.
• It’s not really about Islamin a religious or spiritual sense. It’s more about:
  • Aesthetic of strength
  • Rebellion against political correctness
  • Rejection of feminism and liberalism

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4. Muslim KFC Fighters Meme​

• Refers to young Muslim fighters (Syria, Palestine, Afghanistan, etc.) posting TikToks or memes showing guns and “halal flexing” with confidence.
• It’s a weird mix of bravado, edginess, and anti-Western rebellion.

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5. India/Hinduism Seen as “Boring” or Pacifist​

• India is often perceived as:
  • Non-confrontational
  • Confused between modernity and tradition
  • Awkward soft-power image (Bollywood, yoga, IT)
• Hinduism:
  • Complex, philosophical, pluralistic—but not “assertive”
  • Doesn’t lend itself to memefication like Islam or Christianity does
• Despite BJP's muscular nationalism, India still appears passive online compared to the bold image of Islam.

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6. Why This Matters​

• This shift doesn’t reflect deep understanding of Islam—it’s often shallow, memeified, aesthetic admiration.
• Many of these same people would not want to live under Sharia law, but they admire the surface-level confidence and structure.
• It’s a reaction against Western liberal chaos, not a true embrace of Islamic values.

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Final Thoughts​

This online trend is:

• A backlash to wokeism, gender fluidity, and liberal softness
• Hyper-online posturing—not necessarily reflective of real-world policy or behavior
• A kind of "ironic Islamophilia", driven by memes, frustration, and confusion

But it’s also dangerous:

• It romanticizes authoritarianism and violence
• It can push impressionable youth toward extremism or nihilism
• It trivializes actual suffering under oppressive regimes

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If you want, I can show examples from different platforms (Reddit threads, memes, manosphere figures like Andrew Tate, etc.) to illustrate these trends.