Violent political extremists frequently reference online communities as influential to their radicalization. Yet researchers examining algorithmic exposure to extremism have found limited evidence of such influence, while offline radicalization models emphasizing personal motivations—such as the desire for significance and community—do not fully address online contexts. This study integrates both approaches by interviewing politically active Redditors about their exposure to extreme content and communities. We identify three motivations for engaging with fringe political spaces: political unsorting of the self, political exceptionalism, and virtuous participation. We contend these motivations represent potentially critical seeds of political extremism and discuss implications for fostering healthier online political discourse.