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A man you can bait with a Tweet


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This is very interesting, and I think worthy of a some analysis. Particularly this quote:

 

First, by assuming his supporters [...] grunt in approval at any intimation of violence from their hero, it is deeply condescending

I've redacted the straw man, without which the assumption is not condescending but I think entirely accurate. To denounce it seems like something that comes from a fear of offending, but refusing to see things for what they are is outright dangerous.

 

I think that this author is basically saying that we shouldn't over-generalize when we make the assumption that all of Trump's supporters also support him inciting violence. I didn't quote the whole article, and there is a little more information about how Republicans are polling as it relates to Trump and twitter. Certainly there are plenty of Trump's supporters that DO love it when he tweets disgusting and disturbing things, but increasingly, conservatives in general are not supporting his twitter habit (according to multiple polls cited).

 

I'm puzzled by the claim that it excuses Trump in any way. Yes, anything Trump does will be met with approval by his supporters -- and that's accurate. How does that let him off the hook?

 

Because when we falsely assume that ALL of Trump's supporters unconditionally support disgusting tweets, we essentially are shrugging and saying "Oh, well, what is there to do?". Thus, over time it becomes acceptable behavior by us becoming desensitized IMO.

And yeah, there are quite a few Trump supporters and Republican politicians alike who are happy to loudly proclaim their disgust to an increasing unpopular guy. These folks should be held to the same standards.......

 

I agree that conservative politicians are being more than a little complicit. Definitely a huge problem going forward. We can't afford to wait for the Repubs to get tired of Trump. They have an agenda to try and get some legislative and policy victories first. I think that the major point of the article was to quit letting Trump off the hook, and go after him.

 

here's another quote from the end of the article that kind of sums up his point:

 

... if you react to the latest vile Trump tweet with “Whatever else you want to say about it, Trump’s base loves it,” you’re excusing his behavior. You’re putting it into a value-free context where the only thing that matters is whether it works. It probably doesn’t work, but even if it did, the president of the United States is sending out videos created by racist Reddit trolls that fantasize violence against the news media. That’s what’s important here, and if you don’t acknowledge that central and horrifying fact, you’re doing everyone a disservice.

 

 

I probably should have just used that quote originally.

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Because when we falsely assume that ALL of Trump's supporters unconditionally support disgusting tweets, we essentially are shrugging and saying "Oh, well, what is there to do?". Thus, over time it becomes acceptable behavior by us becoming desensitized IMO.

I actually see it somewhat opposite: we're saying "This is awful, unacceptable, and we *must* combat its prevalence."

 

This op-ed feels a little closer to glossing over the conditions that produced Trump and which, left ignored, will continue to do so. We're better equipped to respond when we understand that Trump has some good intuitions and he's putting them to effect. Equally, Trump isn't the source of all this ugliness -- the existence of that gave rise to him. Our shock, outrage, and response must extend to beyond condemning one guy; that's an easy way out. It lets the rest of us totally off the hook.

 

I do agree that over-generalizing is a disservice to individuals. But I think the author of the op-ed's headline thesis is clearly not about generalization, but rather, it's this: 1) Trump's adoring base is a less consequential minority of Republicans than often made out to be, and 2) Trump's twitter attacks and other attempts to cater to them are foolish and ineffective strategy at best.

 

And I disagree strongly with that. If anything, there exists a tendency to minimize the strength and influence of his base (this article being an example). There's a national proclivity to blithely assume an incompetent Trump too supportless to accomplish anything that some radical fringe wants him to do. This seems extraordinarily naive to me.

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This makes me incredibly sad. On this day, this attitude and vile hatred is all that is put out there from this family who has visibility and arrogance.

 

 

BUT - the first response is an attempt to be better, and the tone is what I'm going to try and emulate this week:

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This makes me incredibly sad. On this day, this attitude and vile hatred is all that is put out there from this family who has visibility and arrogance.

 

https://twitter.com/DonaldJTrumpJr/status/882341121455783940

 

BUT - the first response is an attempt to be better, and the tone is what I'm going to try and emulate this week:

https://twitter.com/BenAshenden/status/882373836079017985

The irony of anyone associated with the GOP calling lefties big government. LOL!
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This makes me incredibly sad. On this day, this attitude and vile hatred is all that is put out there from this family who has visibility and arrogance.

 

https://twitter.com/DonaldJTrumpJr/status/882341121455783940

 

BUT - the first response is an attempt to be better, and the tone is what I'm going to try and emulate this week:

https://twitter.com/BenAshenden/status/882373836079017985

The irony of anyone associated with the GOP calling lefties big government. LOL!

 

 

That whole thing is dripping with irony.

 

Like the irony of second generation inherited wealth whining about oppressive taxation (misspelling it, just like dad) and ripping socialists.

 

The irony of a big game hunter implying his 2A rights are being threatened.

 

The irony of his Big Gov't attack when his dad's success as a real estate mogul largely relied on his NYC political connections.

 

What a ridiculous, petty tweet to send out on a holiday. What a douchecanoe.

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I don't think I've ever heard someone in any sort of respected position, or any position of power, sincerely use the term 'hater'. When I think of someone using that word, I think of trashy people on social media...so I guess it fits here.

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