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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Trump thread continued. Who rules the USA? Vote now.

999 replies

amispartacus · 04/02/2017 14:41

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/2844593-Dont-put-the-phone-down-on-this-thread-Treat-it-with-respect-Its-the-official-Trump-thread-8?

Because there's a lot going on.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
39
BiglyBadgers · 06/02/2017 09:15

Also, when perusing below the line comments I now tend to think of it as a sort of research project into the current proliferation of trolling and astroturfing rather then expressions of the true unbiased opinion of the population.

klassy · 06/02/2017 09:19

In one way, protesting doesn't achieve anything - it'll rarely change decisions or sway policy that's already in place (especially with someone as delusional as Trump).

But it shows loudly that people aren't happy, and offers some solidarity and comfort to others who are outraged.

And assuming history has some form of record which isn't suppressed or rewritten, then at least future generations will know there was some resistance.

My worry is these protests will fade in a few weeks and just be a blip - how long can people keep them up after all?

Yes ... It is VERY depressing reading comment sections or hashtags on twitter - the number of ignorant haters out there is incredible. So much for living in an enlightened, educated age.

shovetheholly · 06/02/2017 09:21

Thanks guys. I feel a bit better now.

I suppose what disturbs me about the below-the-line stuff is the hatred that is unleashed. These people lack empathy. They lack basic humanity in some cases. And they're not even ashamed of it - they WANT to parade it for all to see. It's not virtue signalling - it's hate signalling, the beat of some vaguely justified yet deeply seated xenophobia that has been whipped up by media yet which is justified as 'anti-establishment thinking'. That, I think, is a new development. It may be that people have always been this hateful (they are literally hate-filled), but the fact of its expression puts it out there in the real world, and it has agency as a consequence, real political and social agency. It breaks my heart that someone's first reaction to seeing a British Asian speaking in public is 'go home'. What kind of a country are we living in?

maggiethemagpie · 06/02/2017 09:22

Would it be beyond Trump/Bannon to 'arrange' for a terrorist style event, such as a bomb going off at a shopping mall when it is closed, so no one is actually killed but they can portray it as being from 'them muslims'?

I'd like to think they wouldn't actually kill any citizens in their quest to gain support for their views, but if that's what he needs to do to get what he wants, is it beyond the realm of possiblities?

woman12345 · 06/02/2017 09:24

maggiethemagpie I so hope you're not right, but on past experience.....

Original poster
amispartacus · 06/02/2017 09:24

Yes ... It is VERY depressing reading comment sections or hashtags on twitter - the number of ignorant haters out there is incredible. So much for living in an enlightened, educated age

I suspect there are many people in the middle - and only people with strong views comment.

But you do wonder if people will stand up for others...

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Destinysdaughter · 06/02/2017 09:26

This put me right off my cornflakes!

Trump thread continued. Who rules the USA? Vote now.
BiglyBadgers · 06/02/2017 09:27

You are right klassy in that it won't change trump's mind, but it can change the way our government responds to him and it can change the way the American voters respond. People do not like to be the only person thinking a certain way, we tend to do what everyone else is doing. If the only view people see is the Trump view than people will go along with that as it is normalised. The more the other side of the argument shouts and makes its voice heard the more it disrupts the normalisation of racism and puts pressure of government to see this for what it is.

Do you think the democrats would have tried to block trump's appointments without the protests, do you think there would be a debate about the state visit, or the push back from the courts on the immigration ban? You could believe (or hope) these things would have happened anyway, but I think that knowing a significant proportion of the population was not just behind them but going out and shouting about it made these things more likely.

woman12345 · 06/02/2017 09:28

agree with what BiglyB said, there are 'professionals' on one side atm and vast international numbers of people and businesses and lawyers and sympathetic national leaders on the other.
Protests don't change the world, but they are also for our networking, exercise and positive re enforcement, sorry your demo was smaller, but even more important that you went.
Rosa Parks was one lady. Racism may have taken steps back, but we 'stand on the shoulders of giants' sometimes tired middle aged ladies who take a stand, or take a seat!

MercyMyJewels · 06/02/2017 09:29

I don't know about that but that latest tweets are virtually inviting a terrorist attack. It would clearly pit the judiciary and executive against each other and cause unrest in the US, something that enemies of the US, and Trump, want

Destinysdaughter · 06/02/2017 09:32

Maggie I think it's totally possible, with any casualties being thought of as 'collateral damage' ...

BiglyBadgers · 06/02/2017 09:38

We can make a list of positive things that have come about either as a direct result of or influence of protests of one kind or another:

Uber about turn (this was pretty impressive)
Google, apple, and other tech giants becoming active in their opposition
Debate in parliment on how we should 'welcome' Trump into our country
Debate about the relationship we should have with America
The 'can I be second' eu videos (just because we all love them)
The blocking of the ban by the courts (challenges were raised by protest groups and organisers and funded in part by tech companies like google)
Pressure on EU leaders to openly speak against Trump (protests by their own voters)
Renewed discussion on the wisdom of Brexit
Renewed interest in politics and protest in general population

There are just a few...feel free to add more :)

Lweji · 06/02/2017 09:51

Sorry to derail a bit

Trust me, if there’s were an international conspiracy of scientists, it would involve underground lairs and death rays, not climate data.

twitter.com/mattblaze/status/828010304797683713

Clearly.

We might develop one, though, if the Justice branch is destroyed by Trump.

Lweji · 06/02/2017 09:54

That Time cover may be depressing, but it's good that these people are being exposed.

Lweji · 06/02/2017 09:59

You are right klassy in that it won't change trump's mind

I don't know.
He's added a few things along the campaign because he noticed there was support for it.
I think he is sensitive to public opinion, if he receives it and believes it. That is the main issue.
Protests and actions will have to be in his face.

I've noticed that my FB contacts have been increasingly political, whereas before hardly anyone mentioned politics.
People are feeling the need to make their opinions public, in the face of right wing wins and danger. It makes me hopeful.

Original poster
amispartacus · 06/02/2017 10:03

Just found the perfect video to troll Trump supporters

It has a bigger inaugaration as well Grin

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Destinysdaughter · 06/02/2017 10:10
Grin
Trump thread continued. Who rules the USA? Vote now.
Original poster
amispartacus · 06/02/2017 10:12

Love this:

Crowdsourcing reality

"The Massacre That Wasn’t showed that while Facebook, Google and Twitter take steps to combat nefarious hoaxes, they are already playing host to an organic correction movement led by ordinary users who are crowdsourcing reality"

OP posts:
BiglyBadgers · 06/02/2017 10:13

I've noticed that my FB contacts have been increasingly political, whereas before hardly anyone mentioned politics.

Not just individuals either. I have noticed a sudden flurry of political advertising as well. I'm not a big fan of advertising, but you can always trust a marketing exec to know what is hot right now. They sure as hell aren't putting out these adverts for the good of humanity, they are doing it because they believe it will sell the product. The Dove alternative facts series was very quick off the mark and good, I also just watched the Audi advert on equal pay and was impressed
thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/318015-audi-makes-equal-pay-statement-in-super-bowl-ad

Destinysdaughter · 06/02/2017 10:18

Yes the ads during the Super bowl were quite political too, which is unusual, and although have created a bit of a backlash, have generated a lot of attention and goodwill.

SafariSoGood · 06/02/2017 10:19

ami that video has made me feel very emotional.

It's so full of hope

Formerpigwrestler9 · 06/02/2017 10:21

I think the 'so called judge' tweet may turn out to be the start of his undoing

Destinysdaughter · 06/02/2017 10:24

Haha a British artist has created a mural of May spanking Trump!

www.indy100.com/article/donald-trump-theresa-may-pegasus-london-street-art-special-relationship-7563986

BiglyBadgers · 06/02/2017 10:25

I have a slight feeling this might have already been posted, but I'm really not sure so will put it up anyway. Here is a 3 minute clip from the radio 4 In Our Time on Hannah Arendt summing-up up the essence of totalitarianism in her book, The Origins of Totalitarianism. It's short and interesting
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04rsm2p?ns_mchannel=social&ns_campaign=bbc_radio_4&ns_source=twitter&ns_linkname=radio_and_music