That's an average of 386 per year/1.02 per day well before the recent fire that had a direct connection to Luigi-thought. Since then I don't think I've seen any others where there's a suspect with a message. The background incidence rate is too high already in a country that has only gotten worse economically since 2024. I'd expect it to increase from insurance fraud and undermaintained/vacant buildings. I'm staying agnostic on it being a new trend until more of these are connected to some kind of statement.

[–] RedWizard@hexbear.net 7 points 2 weeks ago

From what I was reading about this specific fire is that it could have been accidental.

According to one of employees of the company, there were 47 workers inside the building at the time of the fire. All have been accounted for. One of those workers, according to a co-worker, was taken to an area hospital to be evaluated.

"It's magnesium, so when you spark magnesium, I guess one of the sanders must have sparked some dust, and it's real fast. One guy couldn't get out, and he got all full of soot and black smoke, he inhaled a lot of it, so they took him in an ambulance," described Victor Degandiaga, a worker in the building.

[–] WalleyeWarrior@midwest.social 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Maybe, but I would say that putting property destruction as a valid form of proletariat protest in the media is ultimately a good thing even if people aren't doing it. Once people realize that direct action is possible they will be inclined to start organizing.

[–] happybadger@hexbear.net 9 points 2 weeks ago

Put me on the jury and I don't think it's a crime. What I'm wary of is making a spectacle out of perceived adventurism and it making us think there's a revolutionary moment that isn't actually there. Agitating around Luigi and by extension the one arsonist we can name is its own thing. Those are real events with real public support behind them. If we start indulging patterns that don't actually exist we misread the situation and end up looking silly.