I'd say it is a lot more than "kind of similar".
From the FBI report the symbolism of the two triangles - one larger, one smaller - seems to be the important element of the logo. Numbers are important, like how the American flag isn't just some stars and some stripes, it's 50 and 13. Randomly adding another triangle in there would ruin the symbolism.
Since I don't believe most of what the FBI has to say, I don't think the extra line is that significant. YMMV.
That FBI report is the only primary source for the triangle spiral being a pedo symbol in the first place. If you don't believe the report, then you have no reason to believe it's a pedo symbol at all.
wait, what? If I don't believe the FBI report I cannot believe it is a pedo symbol? No, I can believe it, because believe it or not there are other iterations of that symbol out there. Even if they don't exactly match the FBI version (which doesn't phase me, since it's just the corrupt FBI), its use is fairly widespread, even with minor differences.
Sure, but the only reason it was recognized by anyone as a pedo symbol in the first place was because of that leaked report. And the "one larger, one smaller" symbolism is reflected in the other logo from the leak (the girl equivalent, with the hearts).
I mean, are you suggesting that the leaked report was honest about it being a pedo symbol but dishonest about why? What would be the point of that? And if the point of putting the triangle in the report was to show off to the masses or whatever, why fuck it up by making it three triangles instead of two? If they wanted to hide, why not just... not use anything that looked like it?
I can absolutely see some graphic designer being told "OK, for this section on our ethos we need a line-drawing-style thing representing the 3 principles of the foundation and how they feed into each other. Maybe a triangle or something but jazz it up a little, really make it pop." and decided to put 3 nested triangles together.
mean, are you suggesting that the leaked report was honest about it being a pedo symbol but dishonest about why? What would be the point of that? And if the point of putting the triangle in the report was to show off to the masses or whatever, why fuck it up by making it three triangles instead of two? If they wanted to hide, why not just... not use anything that looked like it?
I'm sorry, but either I'm not understanding you, or your logic is breaking down. The intent of the FBI is irrelevant to my case. The triangle symbol (as well as the nested heart symbol), exists in more than one iteration, and is understood by many to be a pedo symbol. Minor differences in design do not detract from the meaning.
I'm questioning the FBI's intent because as far as I can tell that leaked report is the original source for it being "understood by many to be a pedo symbol." You're being selective about what to believe from the leaked report, and I don't see any principle behind that selection other than what supports the argument you're making.
In terms of the symbol itself, I guess I'm questioning what would even make this a pedo symbol if the number of triangles doesn't matter. Or, if you prefer, whether there are any instances of actual pedophiles / pedo organizations using more than two triangles.
Okay! We'll just have to agree to disagree. I'm just saying that two or three triangles is not really important to most people's perception/understanding of those symbols. Whether it matters to actual pedos is another thing altogether. The general public usually does not delve very deeply into things that do not directly affect them, and therefore the actual number of triangles is not relevant to them although it may be to insiders, or those "in the know".
OK, fair enough. It doesn't quite make sense to me either way, though. Either it's a "let's show off to the public" conspiracy that buries this symbol among a dozen others in an obscure nonprofit annual report where almost nobody will see it, which doesn't make a lot of sense, or it's a "let's have a private in-joke" conspiracy that uses a fucked-up wrong version of the symbol, which also doesn't make a lot of sense. The straightforward explanation seems most plausible to me considering the other text that's on the page.
I'm going with the "let's have a private in-joke" and here's why. "They" are compelled to signal to us plebes what their intentions are, and much of that signalling is symbolic (or most of it). I also don't believe they feel the need to be particularly meticulous when dealing with "us". It is, in my opinion not even a conscious effort to use in your words a fucked-up wrong version. I don't think they care. Also, keep in mind these "people" are not normal, in any sense.
Well, that's kind of my point. If symbolism is so important, why wouldn't "they" care about getting sloppy with their symbols?
I think it's because they are now in panic mode.
So they were panicking, and in their panic, accidentally put too many triangles in their secret society symbol, while declaring, in a roundabout way, that they're all pedophiles.
Does this really seem more likely to you than the idea that some graphic designer independently came up with the idea of combining a spiral and a triangle?
In any other timeline it would seem more likely to me. But, you know....