Great stuff, as usual. BUT you need to add one more group, the GREEDY. These are the people who care about no one but themselves and just want their tax cuts and gutted regulations so that they get more money. They don't mind if their extra cash comes at the price of suffering---of others. I know several of these people, and it's pretty clear they comprise the majority of the Musk/Bezos/Zuckerberg 0.01%ers and all too many of the upper middle class. These shits are disproportionately dangerous because it is they who fund the compliant clowns in Congress and State Houses that Trumpolini needs.
It's also old news. Recycled analysis, well (enough) written - maybe.
Neglects to account for the various flavors of relatively non-deluded magoids that directly benefit from His Reign; very wealthy, christian nationalists, hardcore heritagers, militia accelerationists, etc.
Some "come to believe" the (some or all of) nonsense, cognitive dissonance in action. Others know, but there's too much in it for them.
When I was younger, I knew an immigrant couple who had lived through the entire Third Reich - non-Jewish native Germans. I will never forget what they told me - "Before the war, you couldn't find anyone who didn't love Hitler. After the war, you couldn't find anyone who hadn't always hated him." One of the best lessons on human nature I ever got...
All true--and brilliantly written, as usual. The truly existential problem is that the Trump true believers and all the rest of us are on the SAME SHIP--and when it goes down, we're ALL going down with it. If the courts can't enforce their decisions and the Republicans are physically afraid to oppose him, then what? Maybe a few heroic Republicans can join with Democrats and stop this maniac and his army of zombies. If I prayed, that's what I'd pray for.
A lot of Trump voters are just profoundly uninformed. The don't read or watch actual news. They may watch FOX or other networks that pander to their biggest fears and prejudices, but they don't understand what is actually going on.
People in cults don't listen to anything negative about their leader - I know because I was in one. They will disregard anything people say about him as a witch-hunt run by people who are psychologically unstable or ignorant of the 'secrets' only the cult knows about.
Reminds me of people that will tell you it's all part of god's plan no matter what it is, your dog got run over, the factory shutdown, doesn't matter god's plan.
OMG a guy I used to know kept telling me that, tried to get me to vote for the felon or not vote at all, because it was all God’s plan anyway. He is no longer in my circle of friends.
This hurts my heart so much, but it's absolutely true. I see it manifested in otherwise very intelligent people. They cannot, will not, admit to having made a mistake.
Once you guzzle the Kool-aid there's no going back.
I'm sure they take comfort in the myth that lions ate Xtians in the arenas. Their suffering and persecution makes them like unto their hero 'Jesus', that is, until the Messiah showed up and promised a real-life redemption.
These people hate their own lives and need a scapegoat to blame for their grievances. The libtards are a convenient target. As are ethnic minorities, LGBTQ, and anyone not a WASP. The Deep State, the Academy, CRT, Bud Lite, Barbie, whatever, are the enemy because it's always them versus us.
So, sure, there is no reasoning with them. No placating them. No chance they will ever change. This is bred in the bone.
drumpf has brought two disparate groups together: redneck bigots and billionaires. One thing I don't understand is how anyone in their right mind (!) supports a victim such as drumpf? He's basically a whiny creep. There's nothing charismatic about him, he's just angry and loud
Why is it always the non-trump people who have to reach out the hand of empathy and fellowship? We've been doing this for YEARS, just to get spit in the face with constantly escalating cruelty. I cut it off after the election in November - if those family and "friends" want a relationship, THEY can put in the effort to show some empathy. I'm tapped out.
I agree. I’m tired of giving them the benefit of the doubt and getting nothing in return. FTS. I don’t make nice with bigots and fascists. And there is no doubt anymore that this is what we’re dealing with.
When I was visiting a nursing home some time ago, I don’t recall who I was visiting exactly but I recall vividly an elderly man with a strange accent talking about the origins of the admonition, “_turn the other cheek_”. He said it was in the time of a Roman occupation. He claimed the Roman soldiers were given capital punishment if they were to strike an unarmed person twice on the face. So if struck once, to turn the other cheek would be to invite the soldier to strike again. To me this relates in that we need to understand how best to react in order to get the best results. I have found that being non-confrontational and rather ask questions in a sincere and non-judgemental way, to encourage the person stop and think through to a rational conclusion, is often effective.
You can get a trumper to stop and think through to a rational conclusion?!?! What kind of dark magic are you practicing!?! I am not being sarcastic - I have tried for YEARS to do exactly this with my own parents, and I have made not one inch of progress toward rational thinking.
Thank you for asking! Yes, it is possibly properly framed as "black magic" because you have to be what some might consider devious - but with a positive goal. Asking questions is considered as "weak", but is a very powerful way to get people to think. Ask questions that can gently lead them to thinking through to a corrected perspective. If done in a confronting manner, your game is thrown. When people feel threatened they will not cooperate in discussion, they will fight for their positions. Here's an example of a question I asked that finally convinced someone who actually believed the earth was flat that it is really round: "if the earth is flat, what happens to the water at the edge?" I didn't ask in a threatening voice, rather as an innocently curious proposition. That did get them thinking and they eventually came to the conclusion that the earth is round. But it did take me a few years to figure out the right question to get them to think through to that conclusion!
One approach is fairly well developed but not quick or easy. It involves respect, honest curiosity, and asking questions that get the true believer to evaluate what they believe and how they came to believe it.
Another approach is to ask them to chat with DebunkBot (https://www.debunkbot.com/). It's an AI chatbot that will have a respectful conversion about a conspiracy theory. It's been trained on a lot of Internet text so it can answer tons of "but" questions.
You're a better person than I - I just want to puke on their shoes and walk away. I won't knowingly allow a MAGAt in my house. Not saying it's the best way to be - but that's how I feel...
I don't know how that attitude makes one a "better person." I'd say it's a more naive attitude, and probably that of someone who doesn't have die-hard Krasnov Kultists in their family—I'm "dead to" my parents because I've never liked now trusted trump and I refused to bow to him. I tried for years to reconcile, only to get kicked in the teeth time after time. Despite me not wanting to drag politics or religion into a conversation, they made sure to do it to see how many of my buttons they could push before I'd end the exchange, only for them to say, "See? YOU'RE the crazy, intolerant one!"
So no, someone who blithely chirps that empathy and kindness is the way to get through to these people is not a better person because in most cases of the true cultists, there is no getting through to them.
I'm in Australia, but I have 3 Trump lovers in my family. I simply cannot talk to them about it beause they do not listen and for so long as they spout the cult go-to responses, there is no possible way to get through to them, so it's a waste of time.
Agreed. I think we've ALL been trying for a long time and, obviously, it isn't working. At this point, they're all going to have to crash and burn on their own and, some day, they will find themselves on the wrong side of history.
I have tRumpers in my family too; fortunately, they live rlsewhere & we don't talk much. But the ones who live here are a big disappointment. They don't want to hear it (they aren't tRumpers), it's too upsetting, they havr thrir own problems, etc. So mostly I stay down here in my basement & do what I can. Join Indivisible!
The definition of empathy is "the ability to understand and share the feelings of another". I don't have the capacity to either understand or share the feelings of someone who wants to destroy everything that I hold dear.
I understand. To me they seem petty and small probably because that’s how they truly feel about themselves. Instead of being strong and caring all they feel they are capable of is stepping on everyone else’s heads to be “big”. Maybe 'empathy' isn't the best word, but my intention is that until we can understand other's innermost motivations we cannot hope to have any influence on them.
Another thing. Having a thorough understanding of why you hold to your beliefs helps to see a way, a question or line of questions , to ask that leads to your conclusions.
Great stuff, as usual. BUT you need to add one more group, the GREEDY. These are the people who care about no one but themselves and just want their tax cuts and gutted regulations so that they get more money. They don't mind if their extra cash comes at the price of suffering---of others. I know several of these people, and it's pretty clear they comprise the majority of the Musk/Bezos/Zuckerberg 0.01%ers and all too many of the upper middle class. These shits are disproportionately dangerous because it is they who fund the compliant clowns in Congress and State Houses that Trumpolini needs.
I know people like this. It's all about $$$. They have money and care nothing about those who struggle in our society. Selfish
You might want to look at this: https://www.facebook.com/reel/443864455386930
You might want to look at this: https://www.facebook.com/reel/443864455386930
This is the best quick analysis of Trumpism that I have seen to date.
It's also old news. Recycled analysis, well (enough) written - maybe.
Neglects to account for the various flavors of relatively non-deluded magoids that directly benefit from His Reign; very wealthy, christian nationalists, hardcore heritagers, militia accelerationists, etc.
Some "come to believe" the (some or all of) nonsense, cognitive dissonance in action. Others know, but there's too much in it for them.
Totally agree!!!
When I was younger, I knew an immigrant couple who had lived through the entire Third Reich - non-Jewish native Germans. I will never forget what they told me - "Before the war, you couldn't find anyone who didn't love Hitler. After the war, you couldn't find anyone who hadn't always hated him." One of the best lessons on human nature I ever got...
My mother told me the same thing many decades ago. And she was born in America, but had an exceptional brain.
I think this article could easily be titled “Why Trump Supporters SHOULD GO Down With the Ship.”
All true--and brilliantly written, as usual. The truly existential problem is that the Trump true believers and all the rest of us are on the SAME SHIP--and when it goes down, we're ALL going down with it. If the courts can't enforce their decisions and the Republicans are physically afraid to oppose him, then what? Maybe a few heroic Republicans can join with Democrats and stop this maniac and his army of zombies. If I prayed, that's what I'd pray for.
I don't know who writes these daily missives but they are truly masterful.
A lot of Trump voters are just profoundly uninformed. The don't read or watch actual news. They may watch FOX or other networks that pander to their biggest fears and prejudices, but they don't understand what is actually going on.
People in cults don't listen to anything negative about their leader - I know because I was in one. They will disregard anything people say about him as a witch-hunt run by people who are psychologically unstable or ignorant of the 'secrets' only the cult knows about.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/443864455386930
OMG. They really are stupid! Caught by their emotions.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/443864455386930
Reminds me of people that will tell you it's all part of god's plan no matter what it is, your dog got run over, the factory shutdown, doesn't matter god's plan.
God is very cruel apparently
God is NOT.
But...if your "God" isnt love He isnt God.
OMG a guy I used to know kept telling me that, tried to get me to vote for the felon or not vote at all, because it was all God’s plan anyway. He is no longer in my circle of friends.
those people are idiots. theyre the authors of their own bad luck.
God would give them -everything- if theyd just pay attention.
Maddening ….
This hurts my heart so much, but it's absolutely true. I see it manifested in otherwise very intelligent people. They cannot, will not, admit to having made a mistake.
It's because they're stuck in a cult. The further in your are, the harder it is to get out.
It totally tracks with the studies of cults and their holding power
Once you guzzle the Kool-aid there's no going back.
I'm sure they take comfort in the myth that lions ate Xtians in the arenas. Their suffering and persecution makes them like unto their hero 'Jesus', that is, until the Messiah showed up and promised a real-life redemption.
These people hate their own lives and need a scapegoat to blame for their grievances. The libtards are a convenient target. As are ethnic minorities, LGBTQ, and anyone not a WASP. The Deep State, the Academy, CRT, Bud Lite, Barbie, whatever, are the enemy because it's always them versus us.
So, sure, there is no reasoning with them. No placating them. No chance they will ever change. This is bred in the bone.
I guess this covers the "waterfront".....and all the variations of psychological disorders.
Good work.....consise summary.....Thank you
drumpf has brought two disparate groups together: redneck bigots and billionaires. One thing I don't understand is how anyone in their right mind (!) supports a victim such as drumpf? He's basically a whiny creep. There's nothing charismatic about him, he's just angry and loud
What a tragically sad truth, all wrapped up with a nice tidy bow!
Brilliant article. You said it perfectly.
The only way to reach them is with true empathy. Caring isn’t easy but sometimes it’s the hardest work that’s most rewarding.
Why is it always the non-trump people who have to reach out the hand of empathy and fellowship? We've been doing this for YEARS, just to get spit in the face with constantly escalating cruelty. I cut it off after the election in November - if those family and "friends" want a relationship, THEY can put in the effort to show some empathy. I'm tapped out.
Agree. It's like telling us to empathize with Hitler supporters
Empathy and understanding can help us defeat the devil, enabling intelligence insights revealing weaknesses.
I agree. I’m tired of giving them the benefit of the doubt and getting nothing in return. FTS. I don’t make nice with bigots and fascists. And there is no doubt anymore that this is what we’re dealing with.
👏👏👏
When I was visiting a nursing home some time ago, I don’t recall who I was visiting exactly but I recall vividly an elderly man with a strange accent talking about the origins of the admonition, “_turn the other cheek_”. He said it was in the time of a Roman occupation. He claimed the Roman soldiers were given capital punishment if they were to strike an unarmed person twice on the face. So if struck once, to turn the other cheek would be to invite the soldier to strike again. To me this relates in that we need to understand how best to react in order to get the best results. I have found that being non-confrontational and rather ask questions in a sincere and non-judgemental way, to encourage the person stop and think through to a rational conclusion, is often effective.
You can get a trumper to stop and think through to a rational conclusion?!?! What kind of dark magic are you practicing!?! I am not being sarcastic - I have tried for YEARS to do exactly this with my own parents, and I have made not one inch of progress toward rational thinking.
Thank you for asking! Yes, it is possibly properly framed as "black magic" because you have to be what some might consider devious - but with a positive goal. Asking questions is considered as "weak", but is a very powerful way to get people to think. Ask questions that can gently lead them to thinking through to a corrected perspective. If done in a confronting manner, your game is thrown. When people feel threatened they will not cooperate in discussion, they will fight for their positions. Here's an example of a question I asked that finally convinced someone who actually believed the earth was flat that it is really round: "if the earth is flat, what happens to the water at the edge?" I didn't ask in a threatening voice, rather as an innocently curious proposition. That did get them thinking and they eventually came to the conclusion that the earth is round. But it did take me a few years to figure out the right question to get them to think through to that conclusion!
One approach is fairly well developed but not quick or easy. It involves respect, honest curiosity, and asking questions that get the true believer to evaluate what they believe and how they came to believe it.
See David McRaney's book
_How Minds Change: The New Science of Belief, Opinion and Persuasion_, https://youarenotsosmart.com/the-book/
and podcast episode #236 https://youarenotsosmart.com/2022/06/27/yanss-236-how-minds-change/ and episode #269, https://youarenotsosmart.com/2023/09/14/yanss-269-deconstructing-how-minds-change-with-michael-taft/
Another approach is to ask them to chat with DebunkBot (https://www.debunkbot.com/). It's an AI chatbot that will have a respectful conversion about a conspiracy theory. It's been trained on a lot of Internet text so it can answer tons of "but" questions.
DebunkBot is the subject of podcast episode #299 (https://youarenotsosmart.com/2024/10/29/yanss-299-an-interview-with-the-scientists-who-created-debunkbot-an-ai-that-reliably-reduces-belief-in-conspiracy-theories-via-back-and-forth-chat/). (FYI it's sufficient to find out what "Gish gallop" means, then skip to 21:00.)
You're a better person than I - I just want to puke on their shoes and walk away. I won't knowingly allow a MAGAt in my house. Not saying it's the best way to be - but that's how I feel...
I don't know how that attitude makes one a "better person." I'd say it's a more naive attitude, and probably that of someone who doesn't have die-hard Krasnov Kultists in their family—I'm "dead to" my parents because I've never liked now trusted trump and I refused to bow to him. I tried for years to reconcile, only to get kicked in the teeth time after time. Despite me not wanting to drag politics or religion into a conversation, they made sure to do it to see how many of my buttons they could push before I'd end the exchange, only for them to say, "See? YOU'RE the crazy, intolerant one!"
So no, someone who blithely chirps that empathy and kindness is the way to get through to these people is not a better person because in most cases of the true cultists, there is no getting through to them.
I'm in Australia, but I have 3 Trump lovers in my family. I simply cannot talk to them about it beause they do not listen and for so long as they spout the cult go-to responses, there is no possible way to get through to them, so it's a waste of time.
Agreed. I think we've ALL been trying for a long time and, obviously, it isn't working. At this point, they're all going to have to crash and burn on their own and, some day, they will find themselves on the wrong side of history.
I have tRumpers in my family too; fortunately, they live rlsewhere & we don't talk much. But the ones who live here are a big disappointment. They don't want to hear it (they aren't tRumpers), it's too upsetting, they havr thrir own problems, etc. So mostly I stay down here in my basement & do what I can. Join Indivisible!
I do not “blithely chirp”, so maybe someone is looking for blame where it shouldn’t be placed. I appreciate your struggles.
Trust me, Bob, one of the things I resent most is how the devils have me catching myself thinking of new and creative punishments, I’m ashamed to say.
The definition of empathy is "the ability to understand and share the feelings of another". I don't have the capacity to either understand or share the feelings of someone who wants to destroy everything that I hold dear.
I understand. To me they seem petty and small probably because that’s how they truly feel about themselves. Instead of being strong and caring all they feel they are capable of is stepping on everyone else’s heads to be “big”. Maybe 'empathy' isn't the best word, but my intention is that until we can understand other's innermost motivations we cannot hope to have any influence on them.
Another thing. Having a thorough understanding of why you hold to your beliefs helps to see a way, a question or line of questions , to ask that leads to your conclusions.
So true and very sad. It’s a cult.