8 Tips for Debating Donald Trump Supporters

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  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,813
    PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

    brianlux said:

    I'm more and more convinced there's no need to argue with Trump supporters- at least regarding the elections- because they are a fringe element. The best think to do is walk away or change the subject.

    Please tell that to the Trump violent protesters!
    Just play them Lou Reeds "Vicious".

    "Vicious, you hit me with a flower
    You do it every hour
    Oh, baby you're so vicious

    Vicious, you want me to hit you with a stick
    But all I've got is a guitar pick
    Oh baby, you're so vicious."

    Works every time.

    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • callen
    callen Posts: 6,388
    What dreams: I get some of this as well and fight it full force. I do it for other members of the group and young. Your younger siblings need to hear compassion and reason. Hang in there and realize you are on the right side. Peace.
    10-18-2000 Houston, 04-06-2003 Houston, 6-25-2003 Toronto, 10-8-2004 Kissimmee, 9-4-2005 Calgary, 12-3-05 Sao Paulo, 7-2-2006 Denver, 7-22-06 Gorge, 7-23-2006 Gorge, 9-13-2006 Bern, 6-22-2008 DC, 6-24-2008 MSG, 6-25-2008 MSG
  • HesCalledDyer
    HesCalledDyer Maryland Posts: 16,501
    PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

    brianlux said:

    I'm more and more convinced there's no need to argue with Trump supporters- at least regarding the elections- because they are a fringe element. The best think to do is walk away or change the subject.

    Please tell that to the Trump violent protesters!
    Please tell that to Trump who incites & promotes violence toward anyone who speaks out against him. Get you head out of your ass, man!
    Star Lake 00 / Pittsburgh 03 / State College 03 / Bristow 03 / Cleveland 06 / Camden II 06 / DC 08 / Pittsburgh 13 / Baltimore 13 / Charlottesville 13 / Cincinnati 14 / St. Paul 14 / Hampton 16 / Wrigley I 16 / Wrigley II 16 / Baltimore 20 / Camden 22 / Baltimore 24 / Raleigh I 25 / Raleigh II 25 / Pittsburgh I 25
  • what dreams
    what dreams Posts: 1,761
    Thank you, Callen and Free, for your sympathy. I felt really defeated and hopeless last night. Starting to get a better grip today.
  • InHiding80
    InHiding80 Upland,CA Posts: 7,623
    brianlux said:

    I'm more and more convinced there's no need to argue with Trump supporters- at least regarding the elections- because they are a fringe element. The best think to do is walk away or change the subject.

    I have met very few Trump supporters and I live in the second most conservative county in California. I guess you could say Donald Trump must not appeal to many conservatives. So who do they appeal to? Beats me.

    I recently talked presidential politics with a couple of long-time Republican friends- you know, the type that think Reagan was great, don't care for Obama, etc.- and I asked them what they thought about Donald Trump and his run for presidency. They said they think he's a joke and both believe he would make a terrible president. They talked about their party is in ruins. They know a democrat will be elected this year. They are very discouraged. Though not in line with their political persuasions, I was empathetic toward them.

    I suggested that what we really need is a head of state rather than a "president"- somebody who is smart, kind, honest and caring, a person who is charismatic, a good speaker and someone who would represent us in a way that make us look and feel good, bring us up from the dumps and set an example. Someone who would motivate us to be the best people we can be, to motivate us to work hard and well and to feel good about what we do.

    What county you in? I live just east of the LA/San Berdu county border in Upland and it gets more conservative the further east you go. My city is quite embarrassing as it is. There are TWO Scientology buildings yet a Trader Joe's location closed here a year ago.

    At least my liberal hometown of Claremont is nearby. Love their downtown area.
  • InHiding80
    InHiding80 Upland,CA Posts: 7,623
    edited March 2016
    what dreams said:

    I said earlier that Easter with my family was going to be hard . . . It was worse than predicted.

    I am truly terrified about what's happening in this country. Two brothers and a nephew talking about how there's going to be a war in this country because they're sick of liberals running things. They were as serious as the day is long, talking about guns a-blazing if Trump doesn't win.

    Then I had to listen to how Obama is going to declare martial law, cancel the election, and then crown himself king. Then, after he's finished being king, he's going to be the next Secretary General of the UN, where he's been trying to make guns illegal in the US under international law, and then let all the Muslims he's been letting in declare a caliphate. When I asked my brother to please provide evidence that any single American has lost his guns because Obama's secret police took them away, he actually told me "You can't base your argument on reality. You have to see into the future." Okay.

    Then Hillary, of course, should have been hung for treason years ago because of the thousands of people she's secretly had killed. But of course it's not so much of a secret that my brother knows it's a fact.

    Lastly, anybody who votes for Bernie Sanders should be shot. So of course I said "Go ahead, take aim, I voted for Bernie." And that's when the shouting began. Up until then, I kept my peace, but I drew the line there because IT IS NOT OKAY IN AMERICA TO THINK WE SHOULD SHOOT PEOPLE BECAUSE OF WHO THEY VOTE FOR, and I had had enough with the violent tone of the conversation. So my tone became violent too . . . because where else do you go when reason fails?

    My poor grand nephew, who is only four, was later found cowering on the stairs scared out of his wits by the grown ups at the table. I feel so bad for scaring him. He had no idea what was going on, but he knew it wasn't good.

    It's past time for making jokes about these zealots. We need to stop laughing about it and figure out how to fix it. Anyone who thinks the media is over blowing this Trump Train needs to come meet my family for one half hour. It's totally real, and as I pointed out at the table today, if there's going to be a war, it will be because they start it. At least at that point there was a recognition of truth in their faces. They didn't deny that point.

    I truly fear election day come November. We will not have a peaceful election in 2016.

    Sorry that your family has the American ISIS flu, no offense. That behavior is cut from the same cloth as those Muslims they hate so much. I felt like I was watching Idiocracy fan fiction reading your horror story. My condolences.

    On that note, I found out a much younger distant cousin is pro Drumpf and blocked him on Facebook. That's tough love right there. What's worse is that he commented on a satire video on an anti Drumpf person and thought it was real.
    Post edited by InHiding80 on
  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,813
    InHiding80 said:

    brianlux said:

    I'm more and more convinced there's no need to argue with Trump supporters- at least regarding the elections- because they are a fringe element. The best think to do is walk away or change the subject.

    I have met very few Trump supporters and I live in the second most conservative county in California. I guess you could say Donald Trump must not appeal to many conservatives. So who do they appeal to? Beats me.

    I recently talked presidential politics with a couple of long-time Republican friends- you know, the type that think Reagan was great, don't care for Obama, etc.- and I asked them what they thought about Donald Trump and his run for presidency. They said they think he's a joke and both believe he would make a terrible president. They talked about their party is in ruins. They know a democrat will be elected this year. They are very discouraged. Though not in line with their political persuasions, I was empathetic toward them.

    I suggested that what we really need is a head of state rather than a "president"- somebody who is smart, kind, honest and caring, a person who is charismatic, a good speaker and someone who would represent us in a way that make us look and feel good, bring us up from the dumps and set an example. Someone who would motivate us to be the best people we can be, to motivate us to work hard and well and to feel good about what we do.

    What county you in? I live just east of the LA/San Berdu county border in Upland and it gets more conservative the further east you go. My city is quite embarrassing as it is. There are TWO Scientology buildings yet a Trader Joe's location closed here a year ago.

    At least my liberal hometown of Claremont is nearby. Love their downtown area.
    I live about 15 minutes outside of Placerville in El Dorado County. Our congressional representatives have almost always been conservative Republicans. Our local newspaper is conservative republican. I've been here close to 20 years and it has become a bit more progressive over the years as more Bay Area people (many of whom are retiring boomers) move here but I often see NRA fund raising event signs, guns show signs, Tea party signs, etc. around quite often so it's still quite conservative here. I guess that makes me one of the counties' token old goat libby peacenic pinko lefty moonbat libtards.
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • hedonist
    hedonist Posts: 24,524
    edited March 2016
    *Never mind - not worth it.
    Post edited by hedonist on
  • hedonist
    hedonist Posts: 24,524
    edited March 2016
    Same edit as above :)
    Post edited by hedonist on
  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,813
    ^^^ OK, my sense of humor does not go over so well some times. So be it. But did you read my post where I mentioned talking to two Republicans about how shattered their party is and how I felt empathetic toward them? Do you not recognize that I don't call people Republiloons or what ever the hell the latest term is? I've been called all kinds of names here but , ehh, not problimski- I make more fun of myself than anyone here ever could. I really am an old goat. Just don't call me late for dinner.
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • hedonist
    hedonist Posts: 24,524
    Has nothing at all to with senses of humor and really, it's cool, which is why I chose to edit / delete what I'd written.

    I know I can chime in (late or not!) but it's been a weird and at times ugly vibe in some conversations lately.
  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,813
    ^^^ The whole country is in a weird and ugly phase. I often think of that classic from "Good Morning Vietnam" where collectively we don't know if we've "been shot, fucked, powder-burned or snake-bit".

    No, I take that back- this applies to most of the world.

    Off-top-of-my-head solution: More and better music, more shared culture, less stress on the environment, better recognition of the intrinsic value of all life, a good green smoke and coffee, coffee, coffee.
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • PJfanwillneverleave1
    PJfanwillneverleave1 Posts: 12,885
    ^^^
    Getting high and drinking coffee is part of the solution to the problem in your country?
  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,813
    PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

    ^^^
    Getting high and drinking coffee is part of the solution to the problem in your country?

    Oh hell yeah.
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • JimmyV
    JimmyV Boston's MetroWest Posts: 19,620
    I was very impressed with my Aunt yesterday at dinner. Not only did she cook for two days beforehand and like always put out a fantastic spread, she also shut down any and all political talk before it got going. Much to the chagrin of her Trump-fan husband, she was having none of it. Chef's house, chef's rules.
    ___________________________________________

    "...I changed by not changing at all..."
  • Free
    Free Posts: 3,562
    hedonist said:

    Has nothing at all to with senses of humor and really, it's cool, which is why I chose to edit / delete what I'd written.

    I know I can chime in (late or not!) but it's been a weird and at times ugly vibe in some conversations lately.

    How dare you edit!










    :lol:
  • myoung321
    myoung321 Posts: 2,855
    lIke I said.... :)
    "The heart and mind are the true lens of the camera." - Yusuf Karsh
     


  • hedonist
    hedonist Posts: 24,524
    Yes, haha, I did edit! I try to note why I've done so when I do so.

    myoung, not sure if your comment was about that or not...
  • PJ_Soul
    PJ_Soul Vancouver, BC Posts: 50,978
    edited March 2016
    Jesus, What Dreams, your family interaction sounds beyond fucked up. Frankly, if my family members said shit like that I'd disown them, since i have no interest at all in being anywhere near people who can think that way (or not think, as the case may be). I am sorry you have such fanatics for family members. Sounds like you need to either avoid those people, or never ever talk about politics with them or near them again..... Wasn't there anyone in your family on your side of the fence???

    Most of my family are Conservatives - I am very much the socialist black sheep, lol - and most of them are also somewhat racist as well IMO, and my dad even denies climate change, which is embarrassing, but they all still think Trump is an absolute lunatic, thank god. If any of them liked his crap i'd don't know how i could look them in the eye again.
    Post edited by PJ_Soul on
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
  • PJ_Soul
    PJ_Soul Vancouver, BC Posts: 50,978
    brianlux said:

    PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

    ^^^
    Getting high and drinking coffee is part of the solution to the problem in your country?

    Oh hell yeah.
    :lol:
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata

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