World is Falling Apart Thread (Locked forever)

[Blu]

There are trolls on both sides, nice compilation of assholes, and no surprise at all that exists. I see in particular a lot of fucking stupid rotten kids and young adults acting like turds. Sadly, when Obama got hid pre-office Day1 similar shitty behavior and comments rolled out as well just different subject matter yet still as hate filled, smug and rotten. Both sides have their awful trolls, or as Hill put it, deplorables, but in both cases they're not the the majority by a margin thankfully. Once the gloating and douchebaggery wears off now, and again after him being put into office a good bit should chill out other than the assholes who were always assholes and continue to be so. And as you said a good bit are just being being jerks making really uncool awful jokes for attention.

Those were all rhetorical reasons I gave, so that you couldn't use them as an explanation. However, even if such explanations were offered, they're flat out wrong if we're going to hold ourselves to even a remotely low bar of civic humanism. There is no reason why people deserve to be treated this way.

Day 1 of Trump America is setting a great example. And every instance that we don't interrupt, condemn, is only going to enable and bolster others to treat human beings this way.

I won't use sarcasm next time. I feel like you'll be in your feelings if I choose to be more direct. You may even call me a bully for calling you out on your nonsense.

----

For those that seem to think people of color are "going to be just fine" under the Trump Presidency. This nut job was selected after designing Arizona's SB1070:

"Arizona’s S.B. 1070 compels police to ask for papers from anyone they have a reasonable suspicion of being without status. Under this law any person of color, or anyone with a foreign accent, can be required to prove their status and be jailed—regardless of whether they are a citizen or an immigrant—until they can do so."

http://m.dailykos.com/stories/1595617

[Exhuminator]

Please, don't paint with a broad brush. It's not helpful at all.

Yep, I agree with Sarge. I don't see the point in engaging with someone who's already closed minded to such an overwhelming extent about Trump voters. Because all Trump voters are the same, obviously.

As for the #MakeAmericaHateAgain movement, there's always going to be retards trying their damnedest to lower the societal bar. Yes we've got a president now who's the opposite of politically correct, with a first lady who used to do sexy photos for a living. It's not exactly stellar pickings, and this invigorates the pigs of the nation. But aside from being what he is, Trump is also a successful business man. If Trump can just get our damned economy out of neutral, that's all I ask for right now. And if he can do that in only four years, even better. Then maybe in 2020, we can all have a new president who's actually a respectable human being.

[Sarge]

What I'm experiencing here is deflection, Sarge. You posted in that thread rather vaguely after brunoafh was banned, which is completely different than coming out and refusing to accept such behavior from forum members. Maybe your intention was to cut through the tension. I experienced that differently.

It's not a stretch of the imagination for me to think that when one person is so free flowing about throwing epithets and slurs around, that they may carry additional beliefs that are targeting and oppressive of others. So no, in this instance it's not painting with a broad brush, when it's immediately followed by silence by others. I see this play out in various ways everyday in the work I do with students. Passive silence when there could be more active interventions by those around us.

Yes, he was banned and it was handled. What immediately followed was silence from people who share similar perspectives, at least in the candidate that they supported. See where I'm coming from? I'm trying really hard to not be condescending at all in my post. I'm genuinely trying to get you to understand what this likely felt for MrPopo and I.

I'm sure it felt awful. I've been personally attacked before, too. But I didn't make assumptions on various members' silence that it meant they supported that view. I might have years ago, but I've come to the conclusion that some folks just don't feel the need to dogpile, particularly in a resolved situation.

Just as you wish for me to understand how you feel, I would ask that you understand how I feel, that you've implied that I harbor similar feelings. You may have used nicer words, but it is no less hurtful than what our currently-banned individual said to you.

[prfsnl_gmr]

Blu and Sarge:

You are both cool guys. Please don't fight or hurt each other's feelings.

Thanks.

prfsnl_gmr

[Blu]

Please, don't paint with a broad brush. It's not helpful at all.

Yep, I agree with Sarge. I don't see the point in engaging with someone who's already closed minded to such an overwhelming extent about Trump voters. Because all Trump voters are the same, obviously.

As for the #MakeAmericaHateAgain movement, there's always going to be retards trying their damnedest to lower the societal bar. Yes we've got a president now who's the opposite of politically correct, with a first lady who used to do sexy photos for a living. It's not exactly stellar pickings, and this invigorates the pigs of the nation. But aside from being what he is, Trump is also a successful business man. If Trump can just get our damned economy out of neutral, that's all I ask for right now. And if he can do that in only four years, even better. Then maybe in 2020, we can all have a new president who's actually a respectable human being.

Actually, thanks for making an assumption on my behalf. It's likely that my folks voted for Trump, and I still value their relationship in my life. Their presence in my life is meaningful, even if I disagree with their political views.

From what I've seen, for the folks that have spoken up, namely Sarge, Exhuminator, Tanooki, and CRTGAMER:

Regardless of intention, there needs to be clear condemning and denouncing of such things. Otherwise, those who are actually supremacists, sexists, homophobes, islamaphobes, etc are just going to be emboldened and enabled to do it more. There's a difference between dogpiling and coming out clear and setting a tone you won't accept speech like that. It keeps humanity from devolving even further into madness.

Such attitudes like the one that's coming through peoples' post (theorycrafting and rationalizing whodunnit, or there's always foolish individuals who say whatever they want) is one that takes the sidelines, when we need to be clear and direct about not accepting this in our lives. Not only for the people that suffer from such remarks, but for everyone.

This is often difficult in a passive medium like a message board. But I implore you, these things are going to happen in front of your eyes at moments beyond a computer screen. Maybe they won't. But I'm imploring you to at least open up some awareness that maybe they do, and realize that we collectively have a responsibility to act.

[Sarge]

Probably for the best, prf. To be clear, Blu, I've got absolutely nothing against you. This election has heightened emotions across the board, including my own, and I certainly don't want to end up in a spot where we're ripping each others metaphorical throats out.

I appreciate your vigilance, Blu. I hope that you will call it out wherever it may occur, whether "left", "right", or just plain crazy.

[J T]

I have heard from a friend with cancer who believes this will be the last president she gets to vote for because when Trump and the Republicans inevitably follow through on their plans to cut back Medicaid and Obamacare, she will lose her healthcare and die.

etc.

Believes. Thinks. Is worried.

Try to minimize and invaidate me. Try to make me feel small. Try to make me believe my feelings and opinions are wrong or don't matter. Try to tell me my fears, and my families fears, and my friends fears for the future don't have any rational basis in the plans that I can clearly see being sown now.

Man, people like you just fuel my fire.

I personally hope that this defeat will galvanize the left into getting their shit together, accepting that they're not invincible, realizing that the voting public does not perceive them as the sole owner of the moral high ground, and coming back in 4 years (and 2) better and stronger...

I'm on board.

[marurun]

Blu has a point. If we do not explicitly call out even casual racism, sexism, intolerance, etc..., we give it a foothold from which to grow, just like mold.

[Exhuminator]

Actually, thanks for making an assumption on my behalf.

You mean like your assumption earlier where people who didn't immediately come to your aid against brunoah (whatever his name is) are automatically condoning his behavior? Maybe we know the mods around here aren't going to put up with such things, so there's no need doing their work for them. Our job as forum members is to report such things to the mods, not to confront jerks directly and only escalate their behavior further.

And Blu, for the record; I have gay family members and friends of other skin colors than white. If anybody in real life tried to abuse them in front of me, they would regret it.

[TSTR]

I don't know, man. Becoming the speech police seems like a bad idea to me. Call it when you see it, sure, but trying to tell people they don't have a right to say those things doesn't sit well with me. Plus, it makes ignorance and/or outright hatred easier to spot, IMO.