Doomscrolling the election results thread

[Skinypupy]

Well, today on Twitter the theme seems to be that it's "impossible" for 15 million Democratic voters in 2020 to just stay home after all of Harris's packed rallies. It's also impossible that Democratic senators won elections in swing states Harris lost. Of course, the replies are filled with people who agree with the OP, and people repeating memes about 2020 being stolen.

Social media is the worst.

Turns out left wing conspiracy theorists are just as stupid as right wing ones. Who knew?

Difference being, ones on the left won't storm the Capital over it.

[msduncan]

Well, today on Twitter the theme seems to be that it's "impossible" for 15 million Democratic voters in 2020 to just stay home after all of Harris's packed rallies. It's also impossible that Democratic senators won elections in swing states Harris lost. Of course, the replies are filled with people who agree with the OP, and people repeating memes about 2020 being stolen.

Social media is the worst.

Turns out left wing conspiracy theorists are just as stupid as right wing ones. Who knew?

Difference being, ones on the left won't storm the Capital over it.

To be fair, if they had Harris out there beating the drum validating and encouraging their ideas that 14 million votes had been thrown in dumpsters and that Trump had managed to steal the election - those people might do violent things too.

[Zarathud]

And that is why Trump is dangerously reckless. He inflames people and celebrates violence as “love.” It’s the very definition of despicable.

[Unagi]

Well, today on Twitter the theme seems to be that it's "impossible" for 15 million Democratic voters in 2020 to just stay home after all of Harris's packed rallies. It's also impossible that Democratic senators won elections in swing states Harris lost. Of course, the replies are filled with people who agree with the OP, and people repeating memes about 2020 being stolen.

Social media is the worst.

Turns out left wing conspiracy theorists are just as stupid as right wing ones. Who knew?

Difference being, ones on the left won't storm the Capital over it.

To be fair, if they had Harris out there beating the drum validating and encouraging their ideas that 14 million votes had been thrown in dumpsters and that Trump had managed to steal the election - those people might do violent things too.

Maybe, or maybe Harris wouldn't have the supporters she had if she was that type of person in the first place. Try again. The Trump supporters are to blame - not just Trump.

[Blackhawk]

Validation makes a big difference. In 2020 Trump 'confirmed' the lies. In 2024, Harris did not, and promptly conceded. The people swinging the stick are still the ones responsible for their actions, but the actions of those in authority make the biggest difference.

[Smoove_B]

Well, today on Twitter the theme seems to be that it's "impossible" for 15 million Democratic voters in 2020 to just stay home after all of Harris's packed rallies. It's also impossible that Democratic senators won elections in swing states Harris lost. Of course, the replies are filled with people who agree with the OP, and people repeating memes about 2020 being stolen.

To be fair, when you see media reporting "record turnout" while showing long lines of people from all over the country *and* you'd been seeing images of packed stadiums and campaign events for the last 2+ months, it's easier to believe something nefarious has happened rather than trying to process ~15 million voters from 2020 just somehow disappeared.

I'm trying to watch for more "deep dive" info about what exactly happened (other than the broad, general observation that the country lurched to the right) but I know that takes time - the complete opposite of what is needed right now when everyone is confused and looking for answers.

Social media is the worst.

Yes. Like the internet, it is one of our greatest achievements and at the same time arguably responsible for so many social and community-level problems. We did not evolve in a way that allows us process in a positive way having access to this level of information all the time.

[Blackhawk]

Well, today on Twitter the theme seems to be that it's "impossible" for 15 million Democratic voters in 2020 to just stay home after all of Harris's packed rallies. It's also impossible that Democratic senators won elections in swing states Harris lost. Of course, the replies are filled with people who agree with the OP, and people repeating memes about 2020 being stolen.

To be fair, when you see media reporting "record turnout" while showing long lines of people from all over the country *and* you'd been seeing images of packed stadiums and campaign events for the last 2+ months, it's easier to believe something nefarious has happened rather than trying to process ~15 million voters from 2020 just somehow disappeared.

What was that first stage of grief again?

Social media is the worst.

Yes. Like the internet, it is one of our greatest achievements and at the same time arguably responsible for so many social and community-level problems. We did not evolve in a way that allows us process in a positive way having access to this level of information all the time.

We're also not evolved for anonymity. What we are evolved for is tribalism, and the internet lets extreme ideas manifest nationally as tribalism.

[Smoove_B]

What was that first stage of grief again?

Beer. Then whisky. Then tequila. Finally, gin. I think I have that right.

[Unagi]

Ultimately, the internet should allow for us to make a global tribe. We are just in the part of the story where the tribe is all at each other's throats and we don't know which group is going to be sent out of the cave this winter to freeze and starve.

[Unagi]

What was that first stage of grief again?

Beer. Then whisky. Then tequila. Finally, gin. I think I have that right.

Soup of the Day: Tequila

[Isgrimnur]

Social media is the worst.

Yes. Like the internet, it is one of our greatest achievements and at the same time arguably responsible for so many social and community-level problems. We did not evolve in a way that allows us process in a positive way having access to this level of information all the time.

[Blackhawk]

Every political/social movement is a separate tribe. Right now we have people in Mesopotamia trying to figure out civilization while the Clan of the Cave Leech throws rocks.

[Blackhawk]

I think the most brilliant de-facto campaign slogan in years was "Are you better off than you were four years ago?"

It's personal, it's meaningful to almost everyone, and it doesn't rely on context or understanding (Presidential power, global events, pandemics) to seem true. People heard it, thought back to before the pandemic, and realized, "Hey, he's right! We were better of when Trump was President!"

The only counter to it was a lecture on complicated economic and political theory. In other words, things that people won't listen to.

[Isgrimnur]

(307.767 - 251.369) / 251.369 = 22.436% increase

[Unagi]

I think the most brilliant de-facto campaign slogan in years was "Are you better off than you were four years ago?"

It's personal, it's meaningful to almost everyone, and it doesn't rely on context or understanding (Presidential power, global events, pandemics) to seem true. People heard it, thought back to before the pandemic, and realized, "Hey, he's right! We were better of when Trump was President!"

The only counter to it was a lecture on complicated economic and political theory. In other words, things that people won't listen to.

I think the genius behind that slogan is how most people just take it as: "C'mon, are you going to pass up this chance to complain?"

[LordMortis]

Speaking of doomscrolling what is this brand new to me "Your Body, My Choice" meme I see people rebelling against?

Apparently it's for real?

https://www.teenvogue.com/story/embolde ... ing-online

White supremacist Nicholas Fuentes wrote “Your body, my choice. Forever,” on X on November 5, a misogynist rallying cry that has spread like wildfire among young men online. He proliferated the idea in a video, saying, “Hey bitch, we control your bodies. Guess what? Guys win again, men win again, and yes, we control your bodies,” as part of a gleeful anti-woman rant. An X user with more than 100,000 followers wrote, “women threatening sex strikes like LMAO as if you have a say,” and mocked E. Jean Carroll, who Trump sexually abused in the 1990s. And Andrew Tate, a manosphere influencer and self-proclaimed misogynist, has, as expected, been on a tear on X following Trump’s election.

I'm done with the news for another day.

[Isgrimnur]

Well, then, the women have no reason not to kill you.

[Blackhawk]

I appreciate slogans like that.

Anything that makes identifying people like that easier is a useful tool.

[msduncan]

Well, today on Twitter the theme seems to be that it's "impossible" for 15 million Democratic voters in 2020 to just stay home after all of Harris's packed rallies. It's also impossible that Democratic senators won elections in swing states Harris lost. Of course, the replies are filled with people who agree with the OP, and people repeating memes about 2020 being stolen.

Social media is the worst.

Turns out left wing conspiracy theorists are just as stupid as right wing ones. Who knew?

Difference being, ones on the left won't storm the Capital over it.

To be fair, if they had Harris out there beating the drum validating and encouraging their ideas that 14 million votes had been thrown in dumpsters and that Trump had managed to steal the election - those people might do violent things too.

Maybe, or maybe Harris wouldn't have the supporters she had if she was that type of person in the first place. Try again. The Trump supporters are to blame - not just Trump.

Trump supporters are to blame for electing someone who WOULD do that. I never said Harris would. I said that IF Harris was that type of person, there is no doubt in my mind that the conspiracy theory extreme left would be just as likely to resort to violence as the right. The extreme right does not hold a monopoly on extreme actions and violence.

[Blackhawk]

Extremists are going to extreme. No argument there.

[Carpet_pissr]

What was that first stage of grief again?

Beer. Then whisky. Then tequila. Finally, gin. I think I have that right.

If you’re trying to yak, yes.
Reverse the order and you might not be praying to the ceramic god.

‘Beer before liquor, never sicker’
‘Liquor before beer, never fear’.

[Blackhawk]

Or just toss 'em all in together.

[Skinypupy]

Speaking of doomscrolling what is this brand new to me "Your Body, My Choice" meme I see people rebelling against?

There is no outreach program then, now, or anytime ever in the future that will ever break through to men like this and the ones who support them.

[Zarathud]

Jail. That might work.

[Unagi]

Well, today on Twitter the theme seems to be that it's "impossible" for 15 million Democratic voters in 2020 to just stay home after all of Harris's packed rallies. It's also impossible that Democratic senators won elections in swing states Harris lost. Of course, the replies are filled with people who agree with the OP, and people repeating memes about 2020 being stolen.

Social media is the worst.

Turns out left wing conspiracy theorists are just as stupid as right wing ones. Who knew?

Difference being, ones on the left won't storm the Capital over it.

To be fair, if they had Harris out there beating the drum validating and encouraging their ideas that 14 million votes had been thrown in dumpsters and that Trump had managed to steal the election - those people might do violent things too.

Maybe, or maybe Harris wouldn't have the supporters she had if she was that type of person in the first place. Try again. The Trump supporters are to blame - not just Trump.

Trump supporters are to blame for electing someone who WOULD do that. I never said Harris would. I said that IF Harris was that type of person, there is no doubt in my mind that the conspiracy theory extreme left would be just as likely to resort to violence as the right. The extreme right does not hold a monopoly on extreme actions and violence.

But the distinction you keep skipping here is that your 'if' doesn't happen. The Democrats are not represented by their extreme positions, they are time-and-time again represented by compromisers to a field of people.
So your "If -> Then" condition will never be met. If pigs ever took wing, they would probably also shit on my windshield - but until then - it's pigeons.

[geezer]

Well, today on Twitter the theme seems to be that it's "impossible" for 15 million Democratic voters in 2020 to just stay home after all of Harris's packed rallies. It's also impossible that Democratic senators won elections in swing states Harris lost. Of course, the replies are filled with people who agree with the OP, and people repeating memes about 2020 being stolen.

Social media is the worst.

Turns out left wing conspiracy theorists are just as stupid as right wing ones. Who knew?

Difference being, ones on the left won't storm the Capital over it.

To be fair, if they had Harris out there beating the drum validating and encouraging their ideas that 14 million votes had been thrown in dumpsters and that Trump had managed to steal the election - those people might do violent things too.

Maybe, or maybe Harris wouldn't have the supporters she had if she was that type of person in the first place. Try again. The Trump supporters are to blame - not just Trump.

Trump supporters are to blame for electing someone who WOULD do that. I never said Harris would. I said that IF Harris was that type of person, there is no doubt in my mind that the conspiracy theory extreme left would be just as likely to resort to violence as the right. The extreme right does not hold a monopoly on extreme actions and violence.

But the distinction you keep skipping here is that your 'if' doesn't happen. The Democrats are not represented by their extreme positions, they are time-and-time again represented by compromisers to a field of people.
So your "If -> Then" condition will never be met. If pigs ever took wing, they would probably also shit on my windshield - but until then - it's pigeons.

To be fair, I think MSD basically says just that:

Trump supporters are to blame for electing someone who WOULD do that. I never said Harris would.

He's also right when he says leftist extremists would react just as poorly as righty extremists would, but I'd submit to you that the question isn't what lefty vs righty extremists do. Rather, we see that extremists are drawn to Trump and respond with violence. I have no doubt that someone spewing similar rhetoric from the left would also attract extremists who could be coaxed to violence. And I suspect there would be more overlap in the two groups than we might expect at first glance.

[Smoove_B]

If you’re trying to yak, yes.
Reverse the order and you might not be praying to the ceramic god.

Ask me how I know you're not a professional drinker.

Also, there is no world where you "start" with gin and end up on beer.

[Smoove_B]

Anything that makes identifying people like that easier is a useful tool.

I thought being able to easily identify the Nazis over the last ~8 years was going to be useful. It does not appear to have helped.

[gilraen]

Also, there is no world where you "start" with gin and end up on beer.

Beer before liquor - never sicker.
Liquor before beer - never fear.

Isn't that how it's supposed to work?

[Blackhawk]

Anything that makes identifying people like that easier is a useful tool.

I thought being able to easily identify the Nazis over the last ~8 years was going to be useful. It does not appear to have helped.

It helps the blood pressure when you know which ties to cut (or to avoid forming.)

[Smoove_B]

It helps the blood pressure when you know which ties to cut (or to avoid forming.)

I am possibly unique in that I have not been surrounded by trash people. Either by accident or unintentional effort, I do not frequently socialize with or have constant contact with individuals that are openly awful. It's true I live in an area where I'm surrounded by them, but I can more or less minimize my dealings with the community.

My issue is my line of work and how it requires that I soak myself in all of this to stay current with laws, regulations and the direct/indirect impacts on the various community structures I'm involved with. I cannot escape it; I cannot ignore it. The 'tie" for me to cut would be to walk away from an entire career and then somehow manifest money by doing something as a 50+ year old man in an arena where I have no knowledge or connection to my prior lifetime.

I have a job interview next week with the state health department. It's something I've wanted for 20 years - the chance to working at a state level. I've finally hit the lottery and managed to get an interview as we're headed into what is going to be a national and likely global catastrophe. The sense of dread I'm experiencing is real and omnipresent.

I'm jealous of anyone that can go to work and turn it all off. And then come home and avoid the news or social media and cocoon themselves for the next four years and just exist. That's not an option for me, unfortunately. And I'm saying this as white middle aged guy that generally speaking, has no worries. These last 5 years have taken so much from me and my family; time and things we'll never get back. I was kinda hoping things were trending in a better direction again for 2025 and beyond and instead we're collectively headed backwards.

There's nothing anyone can do here and I know I need to figure out how to process this in a healthy way, but today is not that day.

[Carpet_pissr]

Also, there is no world where you "start" with gin and end up on beer.

Hold my beer.

[LordMortis]

Hold my gin!

[msduncan]

Maybe, or maybe Harris wouldn't have the supporters she had if she was that type of person in the first place. Try again. The Trump supporters are to blame - not just Trump.

Trump supporters are to blame for electing someone who WOULD do that. I never said Harris would. I said that IF Harris was that type of person, there is no doubt in my mind that the conspiracy theory extreme left would be just as likely to resort to violence as the right. The extreme right does not hold a monopoly on extreme actions and violence.

But the distinction you keep skipping here is that your 'if' doesn't happen. The Democrats are not represented by their extreme positions, they are time-and-time again represented by compromisers to a field of people.
So your "If -> Then" condition will never be met. If pigs ever took wing, they would probably also shit on my windshield - but until then - it's pigeons.

We are arguing apples and oranges. I said that IF the extreme left had a candidate that whipped them up into a frenzy and incited violence, the story would be the same. Your entire argument implies that the entirety of Trump supporters are violent-inclined-Nazis, and they aren't any more than Harris's supporters are lawless communists as some Trump supporters would paint them.

Extreme right = has a leader that whipped them into violence and validated it
Extreme left = doesn't have such a leader, and thus it doesn't materialize. If they did - it likely would.

[Isgrimnur]

If my grandmother had wheels, she'd have been a bicycle.

[Zarathud]

I feel your pain, Smoove. I work with people who have money and run businesses about their families, taxes and trusts. We were planning on dealing with the phaseout of the Trump Tax cuts through 2025, now we’re going to deal with round two. Being informed is necessary part of the job. Trump has complicated my professional life by making me explain stupid tax rules for 9 years. He may even try to finally eliminate estate taxes as part of his bankrupt fiscal policy.

A few clients are incredibly happy with the election result. Others put money behind the Democrats. More than a few will start again asking me for advice on expatriating. Or help now they and their family have left Ohio or Florida for Illinois due to Red State laws. Families have been torn apart by MAGA politics in a very real way, and those consequences will influence the rest of my career. It’s sad.

Worst of all, I can see the goddamn Trump building when I pass through Michigan and Wacker.

[Unagi]

Let me make my point in a more Holiday Friendly manner; Cold Miser will never burn it all down, where as that is what Heat Miser is actually made to do.

[Skinypupy]

In case you weren't already feeling sick enough tonight, Kari Lake has been steadily gaining in Arizona and currently only trails by 36,000 votes with around 750,000 left to count.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-e ... te-results

[gbasden]

I don't think I realized how much stress this election had over me. Once I got past the "acceptance" stage of grief I'm feeling like a new man. Part of that has been breaking away from the news and social media for a day, but I think the larger part is just not having to worry about the damn election. There are certainly other things to worry about now, but those worries will come and go as things occur. For right now, the daily anxiety is gone.

Don't get me wrong - It's awesome that your mental health is in a good place. I can't get there. I'm still deep in the stages of grief, especially thinking of what Project 2025 is going to bring to this country. It's going to be a constant parade of new horrors and I don't know how to shut that part of my brain off.

[Unagi]

I don't think I realized how much stress this election had over me. Once I got past the "acceptance" stage of grief I'm feeling like a new man. Part of that has been breaking away from the news and social media for a day, but I think the larger part is just not having to worry about the damn election. There are certainly other things to worry about now, but those worries will come and go as things occur. For right now, the daily anxiety is gone.

Don't get me wrong - It's awesome that your mental health is in a good place. I can't get there. I'm still deep in the stages of grief, especially thinking of what Project 2025 is going to bring to this country. It's going to be a constant parade of new horrors and I don't know how to shut that part of my brain off.

Yeah. Don’t get me wrong either.
I’m putting up a good front to those around me, but there is no one around me that isn’t miserable about this, and that alone will keep me from getting over it.

I can’t use YK as a meter for my own optimism, it makes me feel pessimistic when I’m actually just realistic and closer to the problem.