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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#343926: Dec 17th 2020 at 6:45:21 PM

It's honestly hard to know what conclusions to draw from 2020's election, because it was such a strange election in general. Republicans exceeded expectations and won back several House seats from Democrats, who themselves exceeded expectations to bring the Senate within arm's reach of a 50/50 split in a runoff in Georgia of all places.

Both parties far exceeded expectations. Democrats just didn't exceed expectations by enough of a margin in some places, and Republicans didn't exceed expectations enough of a margin in others. Donald Trump shattered Barack Obama's record 2008 popular vote by 5 million votes, which would be impressive if Joe Biden hadn't dunked on him by another 7 million votes.

An absolutely astronomical number of people voted in the 2020 election by U.S. election standards. It's difficult to tell where one party made poor choices or another party made better choices when both parties were able to bring out gigantic wells of voters in numbers unheard of in American history. A lot of people voted for the first time this year, on both sides.

And we have literally no idea if this huge swell of voters is here to stay or if this was a one-time thing and everyone's going to go back to not caring about elections now that Trump's out of office. Who even knows what 2022 and 2024 will look like?

Edited by TobiasDrake on Dec 17th 2020 at 6:47:34 AM

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
Lazlo74 from A tropical hell-hole Since: May, 2018
#343927: Dec 17th 2020 at 6:49:18 PM

They say that the internet mixed with politics really brings the worst out of people. After a particularly ugly argument with a person that I once respected, I'm starting to see why GIFT is a thing.

Have you ever spent months following what you think is a respectable furry artist, only to find out that they spew Q Anon talking points and would defend Trump to death? The moment I called him out on this, he accused me of being a "Marxist BLM and Antifa sympathizer, enjoy speaking Chinese soon". That's when I realized that we'll never speak to each other again.

Like, holy shit, I'm not even American and the first thing he accused me of is being a leftist deepstate agent. Does this happen to you guys? Do you have family members or friends that you cut ties with, or at least is having a strained relationship with because of their awful political views?

Scaled seeker
RainingMetal (Handed A Sword) Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#343928: Dec 17th 2020 at 6:53:34 PM

Long story short, on this modding/mapping community I met someone whom we shared a common enemy. That enemy would later pull a Heel–Face Turn, and that other person began to spew typical Trumpist rhetoric. Even after all the shit his administration did in three years, that person remained a Trumpist. First time I did explain that minorities probably wouldn't care much for a Trump white house after he gloated that people would want to move to Canada after all this. He claimed to be a minority, but I didn't get the chance for him to elaborate before I cut ties (because whites can claim to be a minority if they add all the other people of color and put them together, possibly. Don't know the exact ratio of skins in the USA).

ASAB: All Sponsors Are Bad.
TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#343929: Dec 17th 2020 at 6:55:47 PM

Oh, yeah, you gotta watch out for that. The Alt-Right has a major inroad with the furry community. They typically target people who feel isolated and alone and are looking for a sense of community. The Alt-Right provide that community, with the Nazi ideology being the price of admission people who feel they have no other options for social interaction gradually accept and internalize.

Furries are a major at-risk group because the internet tends to see them as punching bags. This isolates furries and makes them vulnerable to Alt-Right conversion tactics.

Edited by TobiasDrake on Dec 17th 2020 at 6:56:17 AM

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#343930: Dec 17th 2020 at 6:55:54 PM

Oh, that's not so strange, these Qanon cultists are always talking about American politics, regardless of country of origin of the Qanon member or its audience. I guess that goes with being in the cult: you talk the propaganda line, even if it doesn't really apply in context.

And yes, these guys are great at infiltrating unsuspecting communities on the internet and taking them over. One moment you're on a perfectly normal fan forum, the next you're neck deep in conspiracies and worse.

At least TV Tropes seems to have a good handle on things. It really shows how crucial good, hands on moderation is for a community to stay healthy.

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#343931: Dec 17th 2020 at 6:58:23 PM

To anyone curious to know more about how the Alt-Right gets their hooks in people, I recommend this video:

It goes through the process of how Alt-Righters infiltrate communities and how they convert reasonable human beings over to their way of thinking.

Edited by TobiasDrake on Dec 17th 2020 at 6:58:40 AM

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#343932: Dec 17th 2020 at 6:59:45 PM

I personally suspect that the Dems underminded themselves in response to the pandemic, by deciding not to send volunteers door to door in contested districts, nor hold many large events with candidates. The Republicans had no such qualms, and used local organizations to their fullest extent. I understand and sympathize with the reasons behind this decision, but I wonder if the Blue Wave would have materialized if they had chosen to go the other way.

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
RainingMetal (Handed A Sword) Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#343933: Dec 17th 2020 at 7:00:17 PM

At least TV Tropes seems to have a good handle on things. It really shows how crucial good, hands on moderation is for a community to stay healthy.

Way too often I encounter sites with admins who do nothing but sit on their ass while flame wars erupt, and clearly malicious trolls always get their way. And this isn't even regarding politics. This is one reason why I actually forked over the money to buy a premium account for this site (well, that and to get rid of ads for real). Rarely do I find a community that has a sense of reason and doesn't fall for bullshit.

It goes through the process of how Alt-Righters infiltrate communities and how they convert reasonable human beings over to their way of thinking.

Sometimes I wonder if such videos could equate to the modern incarnation of Education for Death.

Edited by RainingMetal on Dec 17th 2020 at 10:01:45 AM

ASAB: All Sponsors Are Bad.
Gilphon (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#343934: Dec 17th 2020 at 7:02:04 PM

I'm kind of surprised that they're making in-roads with the furries. Furries, despite being isolated, are usually pretty quick to give bigots the boot. Like how the MLP fandom became dramatically less sexist and homophobic once the furries took over.

Lazlo74 from A tropical hell-hole Since: May, 2018
#343935: Dec 17th 2020 at 7:03:04 PM

It all makes sense now. Before I ditched him, I checked his activity because I'm curious to whether he actually believes all this shit. And it's just as you said, he often repeats points from fellow furries who subscribe to alt-right theories or self proclaimed anti-communists.

While I understand just how diverse a particular fandom can be, the fact that there is a not insignificant community of furries who actually think that the BLM/Antifa and the people who support them are state-sponsored terrorist groups that pose a threat to American freedoms and that the Democrats are Chinese puppets baffles me to no end. And did I forget to tell you that this dude and his friends are around ~37 years old in average? They tend to be pretty old.

Edited by Lazlo74 on Dec 17th 2020 at 7:10:14 AM

Scaled seeker
Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#343936: Dec 17th 2020 at 7:07:07 PM

Our admins are very hands off, but the mods at least take things very seriously.

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
Blueace Surrounded by weirdoes from The End Of the World Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Surrounded by weirdoes
#343937: Dec 17th 2020 at 7:13:41 PM

So, apparently the Trumpists are trying to split from the GOP and start their own party. Is it real, or just more hot air than usual?

Wake me up at your own risk.
Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#343938: Dec 17th 2020 at 7:16:11 PM

Could be real, I think something like that was bound to happen once the Republicans lost.

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
PushoverMediaCritic I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out. from the Italy of America Since: Jul, 2015 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out.
#343939: Dec 17th 2020 at 7:18:25 PM

It would be the best-case scenario if they did, because it would mean the end of the modern Republican party. The Democrat party would win everything, unopposed.

DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#343940: Dec 17th 2020 at 7:26:59 PM

[up] Or more likely it empowers this new Fascist Party and the remaining Republicans split between the Democrats, drifting the party more rightward, Independents who will eventually be voted out, and the Fascists, which is where the majority will go anyways. This is exactly what happened to the Whigs, Know-Nothings and the Roosevelt Progressives; once their party died they just jumped ship to the next party they thought catered to them the most.

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#343941: Dec 17th 2020 at 8:47:16 PM

Why would they split? They're already the Tea Party.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Steven (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
#343942: Dec 17th 2020 at 8:55:32 PM

On the subject of furries and the alt-right:

It is true that a lot of furry communities won't tolerate alt-right/nazi bullshit, there's still plenty of furries who are either isolated or are already in alt-right groups and it's not a small number. I seen plenty of furries I know off hand (not personally) that were outed for their alt-right views and/or other general unpleasant shit like harassment

Remember, these idiots drive, fuck, and vote. Not always in that order.
Wispy Since: Feb, 2017
#343943: Dec 17th 2020 at 9:07:53 PM

From what I have seen alt-right furries are rare and hated by most other furries but are extremely loud. Sadly they seem to be the ones that get all the views and attention.

I have seen plenty of furries that are mega leftist too though which makes sense as the vast majority of furries are LGBT. Sonic Fox is a good example of this as he is a black gay furry gamer whom is also extremely leftist and very open about it. He tends to invoke a lot of hatred and jealously out of the alt-right losers.

Pendrake That Guy from "Sweet Something of.... Someplace!" (Canada) Since: Jan, 2017 Relationship Status: Betrayed by Delilah
That Guy
#343944: Dec 17th 2020 at 9:25:10 PM

TBF, most folks with "interesting" fetishes tend to be fairly left leaning. After all, the rarer your tastes, the more open minded you tend to be about the tastes of others in whatever small community you've managed to find of them. The Furry Fandom just happens to have grown large enough it's in the public eye now.

Not personally a Furry myself, but I've chatted with quite a few, and they've all been pretty great open minded folks.

Semper Fi. Semper Paratus. Vigilo Confido.
Wispy Since: Feb, 2017
#343945: Dec 17th 2020 at 9:32:20 PM

Weaboos have big divisions too. A lot of the ones I have met are either super leftist or super right wing.

PhysicalStamina i'm tired, my friend (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Coming soon to theaters
i'm tired, my friend
#343946: Dec 17th 2020 at 9:44:14 PM

In my experience the latter are greater in number.

i'm tired, my friend
nova92 Since: Apr, 2020
#343947: Dec 17th 2020 at 9:52:22 PM

Sen.-elect Tommy Tuberville suggests he might challenge Electoral College count; other GOP senators mum

As Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell tries to tamp down efforts in the Senate to reject President-elect Joe Biden's election victory, some Republican senators are suggesting they might buck his warning.

The discord comes weeks before a joint session of Congress convenes Jan. 6 to count votes cast by the Electoral College, which elected Biden over President Donald Trump by a 306-232 vote margin Monday. Some House Republicans have said they intend to object to Biden's slate of electors in some states.

"You'll see what's coming," Sen.-elect Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., said this week. "You've been reading about in the House. We're going to have to do it in the Senate."

Edited by nova92 on Dec 17th 2020 at 9:54:13 AM

PushoverMediaCritic I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out. from the Italy of America Since: Jul, 2015 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out.
#343948: Dec 17th 2020 at 10:04:31 PM

It'd be hilarious if it turned out that he was literally the only one who tried it.

RainehDaze Nero Fangirl (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Nero Fangirl
#343949: Dec 17th 2020 at 11:10:37 PM

Well, there was someone I mostly got along with and had managed to have actual political discussions with despite the part where they were admittedly raised by neo-Nazis and I'm me. But somewhere in between coming to the conclusion that I'm talking down to them by actually citing sources for things and saying that even Republican sources aren't saying the election was rigged (whilst the count was still going on) they went full "the only good communist is a dead communist", then ragequit the server after losing admin rights because, you know, generally saying I should be shot.

What's particularly bizarre is they're Australian and I'm from the UK. Bit of a weird point to get stuck on.

Lightysnake Since: May, 2010
#343950: Dec 17th 2020 at 11:16:29 PM

Biden's picks have kinda run the gamut. Tony Blinken, Janet Yellen, Michael Regan for EPA and Deb Haaland are great...others are not so great, some are kinda seriously meh at best (Tom Vilsack) and the "huh" of Pete Buttigieg at Transportation.

But Doug Jones is almost certainly gonna be AG.


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