Trumped

[Thomas]

1 minute ago, tdawg87 said:

If that's what you believe his base is, sure why not?

Generalizing people is a tactic to dehumanize them. It's a form of exceptionalism by definition. Because voters more often than not vote along the same party lines as their parents as opposed to having strong independent viewpoints of their own, hardening their viewpoints as they grow older. This concept that people are completely defined by their political affiliation is simply inaccurate. Everyone is the hero of their own story. They will strongly alter reality to match their emotional state. Even overlooking terrible actions by the administration.  Especially when in combination to the continued and effective use of gaslighting techniques employed by the administration. It seems the Judeo-Christian legacy in this country has made it popular to categorize people as simply good or bad, even if contrary to the actual teachings of those faiths. It seems rather unique as most global cultures acknowledge far more the duality in our species. 

When you generalize it becomes too easy to behave badly towards them. You know, like using a completely outdated hurtful term like retarded. You become mentally resistant to the concept that ideas can be exchanged and minds changed. If you really want change in this country and not simply a masturbatory short term gratification it's apparent that this is a bad strategy. I get the anxiety of not wanting to believe that people can change. Because the rate of failure is high. But it isn't impossible. If I can do it, anyone can. If you completely shun or antagonize a population, they will turn to whomever will listen to them. Even wannabe fascists. 

[Blarg]

It would be amazing if you'd apply all of these characterizations to left and see how many are false. The answer is none. 

[Thomas]

2 minutes ago, Blarg said:

It would be amazing if you'd apply all of these characterizations to left and see how many are false. The answer is none. 

I believe if you take any subset of the population with a statistically significant number you'd see common traits distribute to the mean. 

[Blarg]

So why lecture? 

[Thomas]

Just now, Blarg said:

So why lecture? 

It's clearly not a unanimous belief.

[Blarg]

It shouldn't be otherwise you're in conflict with your premise. 

[tdawg87]

36 minutes ago, Thomas said:

Generalizing people is a tactic to dehumanize them. It's a form of exceptionalism by definition. Because voters more often than not vote along the same party lines as their parents as opposed to having strong independent viewpoints of their own, hardening their viewpoints as they grow older. This concept that people are completely defined by their political affiliation is simply inaccurate. Everyone is the hero of their own story. They will strongly alter reality to match their emotional state. Even overlooking terrible actions by the administration.  Especially when in combination to the continued and effective use of gaslighting techniques employed by the administration. It seems the Judeo-Christian legacy in this country has made it popular to categorize people as simply good or bad, even if contrary to the actual teachings of those faiths. It seems rather unique as most global cultures acknowledge far more the duality in our species. 

When you generalize it becomes too easy to behave badly towards them. You know, like using a completely outdated hurtful term like retarded. You become mentally resistant to the concept that ideas can be exchanged and minds changed. If you really want change in this country and not simply a masturbatory short term gratification it's apparent that this is a bad strategy. I get the anxiety of not wanting to believe that people can change. Because the rate of failure is high. But it isn't impossible. If I can do it, anyone can. If you completely shun or antagonize a population, they will turn to whomever will listen to them. Even wannabe fascists. 

I'm sorry but if you are a Nazi or a fascist I don't believe you deserve the benefit of the doubt. Shitty people are shitty people. Some can change, most will not.

If you could go back in time, would you try to convince Hitler he is wrong through meaningful conversation, or would you call him a smarmy c*nt with a dirty Sanchez and then punch him in the face with a hammer?

Do you really believe the most hardened of Trump supporters can be convinced they are wrong? Logic and reason were thrown out the window a long time ago.

 

[Thomas]

Just now, tdawg87 said:

I'm sorry but if you are a Nazi or a fascist I don't believe you deserve the benefit of the doubt

So after WWII every citizen who in any way supported the Nazi party in Germany should have faced the same fate of their leaders?

[Thomas]

1 minute ago, tdawg87 said:

Shitty people are shitty people. Some can change, most will not.

Then why not try to reach those? If only one?  Is that one not worth it?  What is the downside? I mean quite literally, what is the list of pros of not trying to reach that one person?

[Thomas]

3 minutes ago, tdawg87 said:

If you could go back in time, would you try to convince Hitler he is wrong through meaningful conversation, or would you call him a smarmy c*nt with a dirty Sanchez and then punch him in the face with a hammer?

What would it say about me if I went immediately to violence? Are we resigned to our fate that violence is the ultimate answer? You know, like Hitler?

[Thomas]

4 minutes ago, tdawg87 said:

do you really believe the most hardened of Trump supporters can be convinced they are wrong? Logic and reason were thrown out the window a long time ago.

I've done it already.

[tdawg87]

1 minute ago, Thomas said:

So after WWII every citizen who in any way supported the Nazi party in Germany should have faced the same fate of their leaders?

What? No, of course not. 

Should every person who supports Trump be tried for Treason? Again, obviously not.

But they should be equally ridiculed and looked down upon for their support. 

[tdawg87]

1 minute ago, Thomas said:

I've done it already.

Then you clearly weren't among his most hardened of supporters.

[Thomas]

Just now, tdawg87 said:

What? No, of course not. 

Should every person who supports Trump be tried for Treason? Again, obviously not.

But they should be equally ridiculed and looked down upon for their support. 

Where do we then draw the line on equivalency? 

[Thomas]

Just now, tdawg87 said:

Then you clearly weren't among his most hardened of supporters.

They fly the stars and bars at their house.

[Thomas]

2 minutes ago, calscuf said:

I can tell you a couple of things about the people in the middle of this country.  One, they’re f*cking racist as shit.  Two, they’re dumb as f*ck.

Also a Kool-Aid drinker of exceptionalism? 

[Blarg]

2 minutes ago, Thomas said:

Then why not try to reach those? If only one?  Is that one not worth it?  What is the downside? I mean quite literally, what is the list of pros of not trying to reach that one person?

Well Thomas it comes down to energy, time, money expended for negligible results. Sometimes you have to walk away and try to spend your resources where a greater benifit will occur. 

[Thomas]

Just now, Blarg said:

Well Thomas it comes down to energy, time, money expended for negligible results. Sometimes you have to walk away and try to spend your resources where a greater benifit will occur. 

Then what is the point of living on this Earth? The porn? To be disappointed by the Angels every year?

[Blarg]

3 minutes ago, calscuf said:

I just spent a week amongst them.  And I was wearing a sleeveless shirt with American flags and shit on them and trucker hats.  So they totally thought I was one of them.  I even grew a beer belly in preparation for the role.

I can tell you a couple of things about the people in the middle of this country.  One, they’re f*cking racist as shit.  Two, they’re dumb as f*ck.

What did you expect, you were in Chicago. 

[Blarg]

Just now, Thomas said:

Then what is the point of living on this Earth? The porn? To be disappointed by the Angels every year?

Did you miss the part about the greater benifit? 

In baseball terms you give up on Luis Valbuena becomong a MLB quality player and move on to some rookie with potential. 

 

[Thomas]

1 minute ago, Blarg said:

Did you miss the part about the greater benifit? 

But what is the greater benefit of not facing the hardest obstacles when they are also the most important? Especially in regards to the future of my children.

[tdawg87]

8 minutes ago, Thomas said:

Then what is the point of living on this Earth? The porn? To be disappointed by the Angels every year?

Yes.

And drinking.

[Thomas]

1 minute ago, tdawg87 said:

And drinking.

 

13 minutes ago, tdawg87 said:

Then you clearly weren't among his most hardened of supporters.

Want a drinking game?  Take a shot every time you see a truck with a Confederate flag where I live. The most ardent alcoholic would be wasted within a hour. 

[tdawg87]

I'm assuming you live in the South somewhere?

I don't want to die.

[UndertheHalo]

10 minutes ago, tdawg87 said:

Then you clearly weren't among his most hardened of supporters.

There’s no way to talk to the ones that he’s got hook line and sinker bought in on the alternate facts thing.  

@Thomas, I think you underestimate how many of these people are out there.  It’s a large number.  

Theres nothing to talk about when you can’t agree on a baseline of reality.  These people live in the maga dimension.  There’s no rationalizing with them.  What are you supposed to say to these QAnon people ? They literally believe a cabal of deepstate pedophilles is running the country.  

They have to be defeated before people like Mitch McConnell who absolutely do not give a F*ck about this country continuing to exist as a democratic republic allow the MAGA’s to make defeating them impossible.   This country is teetering on the edge of truly terrifying things.  And it’s time for moderate conservatives to drop the false equivalence bullshit because they’re annoyed about PC crap.  There has to be a meeting in the middle.  The but Obama, but Hillary bullshit has to stop.