Yes, the problem is this; I’m not interested in what someone who is dumb enough to storm the Capitol building has to say. And they aren’t interested in having a debate on the facts either, so what are we going to discuss? I don’t get how we can come together and make this better...
Honest question: Who do you consider the smartest Trump supporter? Do you think you have anything to learn from them by engaging in a good faith discussion?
My point being maybe you think 95% of MAGA-hats are off their rocker, and Trumpism taken as a whole is grossly misguided. I don't really disagree. But is it possible that there's some core nugget of wisdom to take away. Something, perhaps that your current worldview is glossing over.
Instead of just writing off the political beliefs of literally half the people in America, maybe we should really be super certain that we make a genuine attempt to understand where they're coming from.
At worst, we've wasted some time talking to idiots. But my guess is if we make a good-faith and honest attempt to find the best and brightest Trumpists out there (instead of just smugly dunking on the dumbest trolls on the Internet), that maybe, just maybe there may be a kernel of truth underlying their ideology.
This is an interesting idea. But I bet it would amount (excuse the silly metaphor) to talking to more and more hyenas to figure out where Scar’s true ideology lies. Maybe it’s hyenas all the way down, maybe not. But why would Scar tell you?
I don’t know how anyone can rationally support Trump after he has clearly stated a desire to overturn a fairly contested election. In my book that means agreeing with him at this point is essentially saying you don’t value democracy. The man has had meetings to discuss getting the military to rerun elections injustice the states he needs to regain White House... He’s been trying to push violence to happen, he’s a racist. I don’t really know how he can be morally defended at this point. I would have had more respect for his positions and voters before the election but what he’s done to the US is a disaster that will take a long time to fix.
> Who do you consider the smartest Trump supporter?
Depends how you define supporter. He’s received support from some smart, cynical and extremely nasty people; he serves their agenda, one way or another. But they’re not fans; they’re probably privately pretty contemptuous of him. The Mercers would be an obvious example.
If by supporter you mean the people who believe him about the election being stolen and so on, there are no smart people in that category. There are smart sociopaths who don’t believe him but go along with the idea, of course.
Not OP, but I'd gladly have a discussion with some coal miner who felt like politicians weren't representing him and fell for the populist rhetoric Trump would sometimes use.
The reason? I don't think that sort of person voted for Trump because of the idea of Trump or a cult of personality. They simply got duped and there are better solutions to their problems.
The folks that stormed D.C. are too far gone at this point.
Look into targeted individuals - they are similar to QAnon but clearly exhibiting classic schizophrenia symptoms and now organized and helping each other come up with ways to keep the thought rays out of their heads etc. I have no answer but I remember how intoxicating it was when I first got access to an world wide communication network and could learn from neuroscientists all over the world (as a then 16 yo I got flamed a good bit.). We for sure haven’t figured out how to use global networks safely.
