#MuslimRage Turns To Humor On Twitter

What's all the buzz over #MuslimRage? People?s reactions to the film 'Innocence of Muslims' by Nakoula Basseley Nakoula in 2012 varied widely. Initially, many in the Muslim community were disgusted and angry about the way Muslims were depicted in the movie. There were several hateful and negative responses shared all over Twitter. However, humor also managed to balance the mood with the hashtag #muslimrage. Newsweek magazine featured the words 'MUSLIM RAGE' on its cover this week, spurring Twitter fans to use the same line for various interpretations on the social media site. Muslims were given the chance to incorporate humor by tweeting the different instances and situations that generally make them angry. The hashtag was originally intended to discuss serious matters, particularly about the magazine feature by Ayaan Hirsi Ali. Hirsi shares how she successfully overcame Muslim rage and how others can also suppress or eliminate it. The hashtag trended on Twitter with both serious and funny comments by users from different parts of the globe. Ali is the author and politician who made the screenplay for the short film 'Submission,' which was directed by Theo van Gogh and is meant to point out the different flaws of Islam. The director was assassinated by a Muslim fundamentalist because of his creation. Discussions over the Newsweek story started out somber until users changed direction and used the hashtag to discuss regular nuisances compared to the violence and other potentially dangerous circumstances that are exaggerated by news reporters. Here are some of the posts incorporating #MuslimRage. The trend sparked retweets by the thousands, hitting as many as 1,955 per minute at its peak. Here's a graph that shows its activity in the first 12 hours it started to trend and the related hashtags used with it. Images with funny captions were also spread throughout Twitter by Muslim fans to help lighten the mood. Topics ranged from Muslim food, Muslim practices and traditions and Islam. It was a good break for everyone to eliminate the tension at least as far as social media enthusiasts are concerned. Do you agree with how #MuslimRage proliferated on Twitter? Tell us in the comments!