Friend is now full on Trump-supporting, QAnon-believing conspiracy theorist

[Offskki]

I just can't believe it and I'm a bit gutted to be honest. Any advice on how to deal with this?

Yes I agree. I am no fan of Trump but there is something really off about what is happening at the moment

Heard this a lot lately - specifically related to Trump, because his ousting is what's triggered them into it'll all be "doom and gloom" because their right wing guru has been silenced by a few private organisations.

It'd be "off" if there was no comeback for urging a government building to be broken into, ensuing in maiming and death, wouldn't it? Same censure would fall on Boris if it happened here, yet they think Trump should somehow be above all that. When others wouldn't be, of course. Deluded.

I truly can understand how a dark-haired dark-eyed shortarse
years ago convinced blond-haired blue-eyes that they'd be a strong athletic master-race, hence killing in that aim was cool. Appeal to the egos of those who seek that need to be special, above others, belong to a "movement" and convince themselves they are the world-changers. Easily done for those type minds.

They remind me of a mate I had to tell to piss off ages ago - You Tube and skunk weed convinced him he was sent here to preach the word of a name I can't recall now and it was tedious to listen to, particularly as he spoke of nothing else.

One-dimensional doesn't cover it when they fall down the rabbit hole

I see a Trump supporter has come into the thread with ‘I’m no supporter of Trump but’ just as I predicted.

@DeeCeeCherry I agree with everything in your post.

@Offskki

That's interesting, I think my friend is more New Age crusty than Christian. She argues, "you may not like Trump, but he's certainly improved X, Y and Z".

The Telegraph ran this article praising his foreign policy but saying he ruined it with everything else

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/01/08/tragedy-trump-remarkably-successful-foreign-policy-legacy-now/

@SugarbabyMilly

My ex partner has just texted me to say that the US is about to announce a war with China in 30 minutes. We’ve split up! And he’s still doing this.

What do people like this say when shit like this doesn't come to fruition? They seem to double down on what they were so certain of which makes NO sense. Well, it was SO true theres a cover up and it's a conspiracy... what?! Such a worrying way of thinking they sound unwell.

@Foobydoo

I am no fan of Trump but there is something really off about what is happening at the moment

Genuinely not goady - what do you mean by this?

"What is happening at the moment" could cover anything happening anywhere in the world right now.

What are you referring to and what is off about it? If you can't specify then it does come off as pure rhetoric and nothing based in fact which is obviously troubling and unhelpful.

I'm open to hearing any ideas from anyone if there is a basis to a hypothesis.

I wouldn't usually be as pushy as to ask someone specifically but this is such an emotive, important debate that I think people should be asked to explain their opinion when stated as fact.

@cyclingmad

Huh I am not hiding them thats the link I get when I copy and paste it when I use my phone .

Is there a problem with that?

Your phone totally changes the link text?

People like to know what they're clicking on.

fooby I completely agree. The closing down of free speech and silencing regardless of your political tastes is very very worrying. We should all be concerned.

I can't explain it other then when I click on the copy link option thats what thr link it gives.

So notes if I copy a DM link again ill state it so but I can't chnage what happens in this situation

@Icanseegreenshoots

fooby I completely agree. The closing down of free speech and silencing regardless of your political tastes is very very worrying. We should all be concerned.

Interesting that you can say this and not be immediately called out as a trump supporter, fascist or conspiracy theorist

Wonder why I did and others don't

What do people like this say when shit like this doesn't come to fruition? They seem to double down on what they were so certain of which makes NO sense. Well, it was SO true theres a cover up and it's a conspiracy... what?! Such a worrying way of thinking they sound unwell.

@youvegottenminuteslynn - he doesn’t say anything. Just moves onto the next crazy idea. There’s always an explanation. The person was ‘speaking in code’. These people are waiting for the rapture. It’s like all the other end of world predictions but this one has a particularly nasty collection of white supremacists and fascists who have a superiority complex.

It’s very toxic because, since Trump doesn’t care why people support him, he’s happy not to refute the QAnon nonsense or say ‘no that’s not what’s happening’.

@cyclingmad because you immediately engaged in whattaboutery and you said that radical ‘left’ wingers were also inciting violence on Twitter. And then when people asked you who, you had no answer.

[quote SugarbabyMilly]@cyclingmad because you immediately engaged in whattaboutery and you said that radical ‘left’ wingers were also inciting violence on Twitter. And then when people asked you who, you had no answer.[/quote]
Sure you can use that excuse if you like.

I already said I'm not going to answer one particular poster who was calling me all sorts of names 🙄 with zero proof that was true

And I don't need to provide answers when other people have done, no need to repeat information when it's been said a few times now and clearly I wasn't wrong about that either

End of the day I wrote a polite post to be met with people making stuff about me and calling me xyz when that isn't true. You don't see me doing that and goes to show how things are changing if you dare to have a different view or question the status quo you get labelled all sorts when all your doing is just taking a step back and look at things differently

At the very least I don't jump to making stuff up about other posters if they have a different point to make

@cyclingmad

"And I don't need to provide answers when other people have done, no need to repeat information when it's been said a few times now and clearly I wasn't wrong about that either."

No. None of you Trump defenders have provided any information to answer the question about which 'leftist' governments are using Twitter to stoke violent insurrections. Not one of you. Still waiting two days later.

This is what drives us mad about Trump apologists - you literally make shit up out of thin air and cannot follow reason.

@cyclingmad @Icanseegreenshoots did you have the same objections to Germany shutting down expressions of Nazism after World War Two in the name of free speech?

Curious.

[quote Chookie89]**@cyclingmad* @Icanseegreenshoots* did you have the same objections to Germany shutting down expressions of Nazism after World War Two in the name of free speech?

Curious.[/quote]
A very good question. I too would like to know whether you two think Holocaust denial is perfectly OK and should be permitted.

fooby I completely agree. The closing down of free speech and silencing regardless of your political tastes is very very worrying. We should all be concerned.

I would be concerned about this. However, in Trump's case he was banned, after repeated warnings and sanctions, for hate speech and inciting violence. If anything, I think Twitter were wrong to make exceptions for him for so long, although I do understand why they did, given that he is such an important world leader.

The main problem is, as has been repeatedly said, that he isn't silenced. He is probably one of the few people in the world that has the opportunity to be broadcast live to the world any second of the day from the tv studio in his house.

[quote Chookie89]@cyclingmad

"And I don't need to provide answers when other people have done, no need to repeat information when it's been said a few times now and clearly I wasn't wrong about that either."

No. None of you Trump defenders have provided any information to answer the question about which 'leftist' governments are using Twitter to stoke violent insurrections. Not one of you. Still waiting two days later.

This is what drives us mad about Trump apologists - you literally make shit up out of thin air and cannot follow reason.[/quote]
When I had I said I support Trump? On what basis are you saying that? Because I said if tech companies are staying policies as a reason to ban a president then why haven't they banned other extremists?

That makes me a Trump supporter? Seriously it is possible to say that tech companies should apply policies equally and fairly, that if your going to take the stance about banning hatred and violence then ban those leaders who had invited genocide as well. Don't pick one and not the other.

Apparently though that makes me a Trump supporter right, clearly your okay that inciting genocide doesn't result in a lifetime ban

It is setting a very dangerous precedent in my view

What if twitter and facebook decide tomorrow that they no longer support Mr Biden, will he then be banned? Or Mrs Merkel offends someone with her view will she then be struck off? What it does in fact is allow tech to control and decide who we listen to, what the narrative will be and who will be allowed to participate.

That can never be good for democracy or free speech regardless of your views.
I am alarmed and concerned that tech has now become politicised in a way they never were before. If you don't like Trump you might celebrate the move, without really considering what it means in the longer term.

'Censoring' has happened overnight, we can't dress it up to be anything else, and we should be worried about this development.

I never said its okay, I've said and repeatedly said if tech companies are applying their policies about banning people who incite hatred, violence etc. Then why haven't other leaders or extremists been given a lifetime ban?

In your example then I would expect tech companies to ban those people too. But they don't, they pick and choose who to ban.

Rather thank attack me calling me a trump supporter or making up stupid assumptions that I'm okay about this that ornother why are you not questioning why tech companies seemingly think its okay to not ban anyone who incites hatred or violence or genocide etc.

@Icanseegreenshoots

It is setting a very dangerous precedent in my view

What if twitter and facebook decide tomorrow that they no longer support Mr Biden, will he then be banned? Or Mrs Merkel offends someone with her view will she then be struck off? What it does in fact is allow tech to control and decide who we listen to, what the narrative will be and who will be allowed to participate.

That can never be good for democracy or free speech regardless of your views.
I am alarmed and concerned that tech has now become politicised in a way they never were before. If you don't like Trump you might celebrate the move, without really considering what it means in the longer term.

'Censoring' has happened overnight, we can't dress it up to be anything else, and we should be worried about this development.

Exactly what I've been saying...I will wait for you to be called a trump supporter and told you would be okay with Hitler saying stuff...oh wait that won't happen because you can say this freely and noone will cast those assertions on you but if I say it then....

Oh and let me just say it again ministers in Germany and France have raised this issue themselves you saying they are Trump supporters too?

I think there aren't many people on this thread who don't think that we need a more structured approach to managing who says what online, and that it shouldn't be up to tech companies. However, when you use Trump's ban as an example of what is 'concerning', you're shooting down that argument, because he should have been sanctioned online, and much much earlier. What happened at the Capitol last week shows how dangerous unhinged leaders can be online.

It also doesn't help if you say 'but extreme left national leaders do it too' but then fail to come up with any concrete example of that happening.

The thing about Free Speech...
Even Mill, Poster boy for Libertarians (who probably havent actually read him) was very careful to point out that Free speech does NOT give one the right to shout "fire" in a crowded theatre. Or to stand outside a grain merchants house, in front of an angry mob, and declare grain merchants were responsible for the famine and hunger affecting the land. Donald Trump has been shouting "fire" in a crowded theatre for a long time now. It is a good think that Twitter finally stopped him doing it there.

What if twitter and facebook decide tomorrow that they no longer support Mr Biden, will he then be banned? Or Mrs Merkel offends someone with her view will she then be struck off? What it does in fact is allow tech to control and decide who we listen to, what the narrative will be and who will be allowed to participate.

Well, world leaders tend not to use Twitter and Facebook. It's so easy to forget how low Trump dragged us.

thing not think. FGS