• HomerianSymphony@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    Homerian, I’ve been rather patient.

    You’ve been patient with me?

    This is the first time I’ve said anything to you. I haven’t demanded any of your time.

    I don’t feel you’ll have your mind or opinions changed by words on an online forum, largely due to how you don’t typically listen rationally.

    Look at this thread. I’m being downvoted for correctly pointing out who was president of Ukraine during a particular event. For correctly pointing out when China last ruled Vietnam. For pointing out what “red scare” means.

    If I fail to be persuaded by this particular online forum, it’s probably because this particular forum is showing me that it doesn’t care about facts.

    We both deserve some level of respect, if only as fellow human beings.

    Thank you. I appreciate you saying that, when so many others in this thread have used insults, called me stupid, and accused me of being a troll.

    But you’re also being very condescending. (I’m sorry, I don’t know how else to respond to someone saying I “don’t typically listen rationally”.)

    However, we are NOT MAGA. We do not subscribe willfully to a cult without first being tricked

    Well, neither do the MAGA people. They’ve been tricked. They’re the product of fearmongering and misinformation.

    I’ve always hoped that the antidote to that kind of hysteria was facts and information, and I’ve been frustrated that MAGA people (including those in my family) aren’t more receptive to facts. They’ve become skeptical of any information that isn’t presented to them by “their side”.

    Now look at this thread. Facts are being downvoted. Anyone who disagrees with the Democrats must be an agent of Russian disinformation and we must distrust what they say (and we’ll yell at them and insult them for good measure). And heaven forbid that anyone criticize Harris. That’s what I mean by the Democrats becoming like MAGA.

    If Harris or Walz or Obama or fucking Abraham Lincoln came back and began yelling about how they will become King

    Trump didn’t say he would be a King.

    Others said that the supreme court ruling made the president like a king. Maybe you’re thinking of that.

    Trump also said he would be a dictator on Day 1 (by which he meant that he would pass a lot of laws by executive order on Day 1, not that he would rule like a dictator throughout his term in office). You might be thinking of that.

    We follow those we follow because right now there aren’t many choices

    Yeah, I understand that. I honestly do.

    Like, when I say I’m leaning towards voting Trump, it’s not because I love Trump. I am similarly dealing with a lack of good options.

    But backing a particular horse doesn’t mean you have to be uncritical of that horse and attack others who do criticize that horse. That’s where you start to seem like a cult.

    Harris has said some good things. (Like, I think her housing initiative is very good.) But she’s also said some worrying things. (I’m currently quite rattled by her staunch pro-Israel speech, which has been followed by Israel attacking Lebanon.) I think the way to advocate for Harris is to point out what you like about her, rather than attacking people who criticize her.

    we want what’s best for everyone in this country

    I just want the best for people too.

    • Xanis@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      You have though. In other threads, for other reasons. We have interacted. I recently re-read the Odyssey, so your name stuck with me. I know you get commonly downvoted and challenged, which is why I’m trying to be, well…hopefully understanding and not condescending. It’s a fine line to walk and one I’m not sure I’m wise enough to navigate accurately, something you in fact point out. I’m not really sure how to fix that.

      The reason I responded is because we aren’t blindly supporting Harris, and many of us are tired of the shit flinging the Right tends to rely on. This is why I approached you here. It isn’t necessarily that we don’t agree with facts you may present, it’s that you appear to us to be attempting to discount a hope we have that Harris and now Walz represents.

      You do you. I just see you comment on here often and I feel as if it must be disheartening to constantly be getting downvoted. Challenge the status quo, express unpopular opinions. If you want people to not get defensive though, try to meet them on their level a bit. Unlike MAGA, we are reasonable. We will criticize Harris. It’s just at the point where the alternative is so incredibly, maliciously evil that we, and I, legitimately fear them succeeding. We bite back because for years we were tolerant. Enough is enough.

      I don’t know if you’ll listen or understand. I just put myself in your shoes and wanted to express what I feel must be some reasons why you seem to be disagreed with so often. Whatever others might believe, we need people who will speak out. This is just my lame attempt to make your words reach people more clearly.

      • TheHiddenCatboy@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        I admire your effort here. I’m guessing this is how the Mods want us to engage with these kinds of people. The only reason this person won’t be responding back to you is he overstayed his welcome in this community and got escorted out, but I can imagine his response if he could reply.

        IMO, this person was not here to challenge us or be challenged. He was here to attack the Left for a nefarious purpose, and Lemmy’s politics community trends left, so here he is. But if he’s sincere and not just wanting to get Trump in office, your advice about meeting us half-way would be very great for him to take, assuming he pops in with a new account…

        • Xanis@lemmy.world
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          2 months ago

          That’s unfortunate. We really do need voices that are willing to speak out, even if it means being looked at as some naysayer. It just has to be done with reason and patience, which can be tough to achieve.

          Anyway, I appreciate you letting me know! A little bit of tapping away on my phone to maybe change a mind for the better is a small price. Even if most of those who do come here with an agenda are unlikely to listen. Ah well! I tried!

          • TheHiddenCatboy@lemmy.world
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            2 months ago

            Yeah, I guess that’s all you can do. I’m all good with people who are willing to speak out and call us out on our bullshit, but not if their answer is ‘vote third party or stay home’. There’s real harm to people I care about in that course of action!

            • Xanis@lemmy.world
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              2 months ago

              I’ll add misleading verbiage to that short-list. We are not the “same party” or “blueMAGA”. Not only is it insulting, it is also purposefully spreading misinformation, and is worth fighting against.