As much as it's fascinating to read about what is or isn't a 'gotcha' Hitler comparison for pages on end, a 20 second search sees you comparing Glasgow City Council commissioning a report, to " identifying their targets, like when Hitler got Jews to wear a yellow star on their clothing." [Link] Other Godwins law examples too of course because inevitably pointless daily demeaning of a stubborn old guy who isn't part of a 'set' isn't the kind of behaviour that's often tied to a persons actual lived principles or behaviour.. You're happy to turn a blind eye to those with actual interest in fascist groups, for a good ol' finger wag at gramps instead. Group pile ons are boring and cowardly.

Edited by footythoughts (07 May 2023 3.28pm)

As for whether Trump will run, and what chance he'd have, legal wheels turn slowly enough that I don't see why he wouldn't try to once again. Love Trump or hate him, in my view Desantis would come across as much more of an empty suit under the bright lights, which is exactly where Trump thrives with his base. If there are too many roadblocks in his way from the GOP he'll just burn it all down, possibly threatening to stand as an independent as that's his approach to business and life in general.

The election itself may well be a cointoss, as neither party are exactly putting their best and brightest front and centre, instead prefering to become culture war caricatures. That's a far more comfortable divide for the rich than the increasing gap between the rich and the poor, even though that's basically far more central to peoples day to day lives. The plebs, as they likely see us, often lap up the curated reality as it's more comforting to feel part of a team with 'a voice' (that no-one with any power listens to), rather than simply played by those who set the rules.

Edited by footythoughts (07 May 2023 3.13pm)

Yes, group polarisation kicks in and those on left or right drifting to the more out there versions of an ideology are elevated as 'pure' in some way. It's fascinating, but also disturbing to see where it can lead people. Some literally lose family members due to their b0llocks all-in hivemind drifts.

The vast majority aren't dragged in to full echo chamber mode of course, so the extremes still appear nuts when under the spotight, but most of us are no doubt still suspectable to a diluted version of it. The best antidote to sinking into a blinkered set political trap I'd say is living a full and varied life. That at least helps to bring about a degree of nuance and principle in a person and an accurate perception of others rather than a one dimensional spoonfed one. That's mostly offline though, to agree with your point, online communication can be so detached and, ironically, primative in many ways. Much like any addiction or coping mechanism to escape the real world - the comfort blanket that isn't particularly comfortable.

Of course with the non internet generation dying off, and realities like deep fakes and AI in our future, it does make you wonder what tribal shades on unreality we'll next be buying into.

Edited by footythoughts (07 May 2023 3.56pm)

All good points.

It’s a bit like living inside a haunted house when you’re already anxious, or watching Peter Taylor’s Palace when you’re already depressed, or watching yesterday’s game vs Tottenham when you’re already angry.

The online world is almost a separate reality these days and one increasingly inhabited and dominated by those who seek to scream loudest and most furiously but cannot do so within the physical world for obvious reasons. It’s also used most frequently by those who otherwise cannot find a social connection, fulfilment or sense of achievement in the real world. Therefore, the opinions you’ll often see online are at the extremes of the spectrum, expressed by those who have become most detached from actual society and as a result further radicalised, whichever direction that is in. People don’t get exposure or attention on social media for expressing or debating mild views seeking to find a logical or rational conclusion. Whatever proclivities occupy your mind can be identified and explored almost endlessly, cultivating an increasingly distorted, narrow and radicalised perception of the world and people within it.

Social isolation seasoned with panic, an increasingly technological world to supplant reality, political instability and the general mainstreaming of nonsense is a worrying mix as people see online living as an escape, preferable or an environment to exploit and not a luxury, source of entertainment or addition to their lives. I avoid social media as best possible but even as one very tiny but perhaps not insignificant example I often wonder to what extent I would sincerely enjoy meeting and finding common ground, not least palace, in ‘actual life’ with members I have quarrelled with on here and wound myself up sincerely in doing so!!! Don’t anyone else try and deny it either we’ve all been there

It’s almost as if two separate worlds are coexisting these days. When they meet it can often be unnerving and I’m sure holds potential for massive catastrophe. Prime examples being either the disenfranchised and misled feeling empowered to storm the capital of the most powerful military nation on earth or those believing that a mentally incompetent, senile puppet who cannot strategise the next 10 steps let alone anything else is fit to run the most influential and powerful nation on earth.

I imagine choosing an army to fight for in WW3 will be accessible via a drop box and recommendations made to you via an algorithm however you’ll still want to consult Instagram first.

Now Zaha's got a bit of green grass ahead of him here... and finds Ambrose... not a bad effort!!!!

I am always prepared to stand by what I wrote when it is true. As is this. If it can be shown not to be, then I correct and apologise.

That Trump has used mass rallies is as beyond question as it is that Hitler did. What anyone reads into that fact is up to them.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.

It's such a ridiculous analogy.

It's straight from the left and increasingly neo liberal playbook. Challenge your opinion or Trump's by referring to Hitler. What they never seem to acknowledge that the views of most of the people who actually fought and died fighting Hitler were just as right wing and in many cases much more right wing than those they complain about today.

Yet since when did actual truth matter to these people.

As for Trump, when you look at what the guy actually says....not the derangement that these guys come out with....he's little different to a nineties Democrat.....which was the party he funded back in the nineties and the same party containing people like Biden and Clinton who were saying much of what Trump says now.

The level of dishonesty is off the charts.

Edited by Stirlingsays (07 May 2023 9.33pm)

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)