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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM
It is kind of fun to enjoy some schadenfruede at the expense of people who really bought into the idea that a Democrat in office is the end of the "real" america, though.
I mean, I'm sorry. But the idea I'm not a real american just because my dad's side of the family isnt white rightfully pisses me the fuck off.
As does the idea that I should start voting republican becaiuse all of a goddamn sudden, republicans realized they just may need half my family's votes to retain power and are suddenly all about immigration reform.
edited 10th Nov '12 1:05:13 PM by Midgetsnowman
There were roughly as many Romney supporters as Obama supporters. In the long run, do you really think it's doing the country any good to split it evenly in half and then push each other farther away? Right here, you are the ones dividing this country. You want to know why conservatives hate liberals? This looks like a pretty good reason.
Except for 4/1/2011. That day lingers in my memory like...metaphor here...I should go.Eh. I approve of calling out stupid where there's stupid. The "mourning the loss of our country" thing is stupid, it's really that simple. I can understand the "No wonder they hate liberals!" side, but I don't know that that's a good argument-"stupid people will be annoyed if you call them out on being stupid, so you should just let them be stupid." I'm not sure I like that precedent.
And before the inevitable "WELL WHAT IF YOU HAD LOST-" argument, here's the thing: to the extent that the despair of the losing side is not grounded in reality-that is, due to realistic concerns over policy that are well informed-yes, that despair is laughable. I'd argue that the despair of dems had they lost would be more grounded in reality, but that's an entirely separate debate that we can have.
edited 10th Nov '12 1:15:35 PM by TheyCallMeTomu
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You act like we'rte the only ones doing the splitting. Republicans are the ones practically ignoring the facts that not all latinos are illegal immigrants, not all asians are evil chinese men out to take over america, not all muslims are terrorists, and not all black people are lazy immoral thugs.
You want to talk about unity? Stop acting like white, male, and protestant christian is the default american.
edited 10th Nov '12 1:18:43 PM by Midgetsnowman
THIS.
Its like they somehow consider it a horrifying future and end of america that suddenly, white anglo saxon protestants arent allowed to dictate the course of the country and ignore the concerns of the other half of the nation.
As though our concerns were less "real" than theirs.
edited 10th Nov '12 1:20:12 PM by Midgetsnowman
Not every conservative is like the ones in that Tumblr, though. Anyone who can be brought to tears or shout about how America is dead because of any president, of any political persuasion, is a rube.
In fact, framing this as liberals vs all conservatives rather than simply the far-right reactionaries who say these sorts of things is perhaps the biggest insult to moderate conservatives I could possibly imagine.
If someone was attacking a leftist for saying utterly stupid things, the last thing I would want is someone trying to defend them as though an insult to their intellect is somehow targeted towards me as well. For goodness sakes, we are individuals, not tribes.
@Hilarity: I know that. But given almost every conservative I know irl is currently posting random pictures that are hilariously racist without even realizing it as they lament the loss all over my facebook feed, its hard for me given I've seen maybe two of my conservative friends not go into grasping at insane "well obama should have lost because x" straws right now.
edited 10th Nov '12 1:25:47 PM by Midgetsnowman
@Midget: See, your second paragraph is exactly the kind of partisan attitude I'm talking about. I'm not a Republican. As far as I know, I don't act like you accused me of acting. All I'm saying is that this hate is doing nobody any good, and liberals like you contribute to it too.
@Tomu: Not all conservatives are stupid. Do you really want to defend that argument all the way? Because it looks a lot like liberal elitism to me, and it's exactly the kind of thing that loses Democrats about half the elections these days. People don't like it when you call them stupid, Tomu. And whether it's true or not (debatable), it's sure not nice. And if you really care about keeping Democrats in control of the country, I'd advise you not to do it.
Except for 4/1/2011. That day lingers in my memory like...metaphor here...I should go.I've looked at that Tumblr. And while some of them are genuinely funny and extreme (the closed sign) others are just white conservatives unhappy Romney lost. That's not laughing at a far-out position. That's making fun of ordinary Americans who don't share your views.
Except for 4/1/2011. That day lingers in my memory like...metaphor here...I should go.No, people hate being called bigoted when they're bigoted, but if they're never called on it they'll never attempt to change. People hate being called on ignorance or stupidity, but if they don't have it pointed out they'll remain forever ignorant. People like to believe that they're smart and awesome. Having your worldview shaken hurts. That doesn't mean it shouldn't happen. The only way things get better for the next generation is taking on the BS in this one.
Reality is that, which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. -Philip K. DickBeing brought to tears by things like this is still ridiculous. It's not a partisan thing, either. I think it's crazy when they do it, and I also think the same thing about anyone who was crying over Bush's reelection. There are more important things in life than politics, and anyone who fails to realize this has far more problems than just being mocked on the internet.
People don't get less stupid if you call them stupid, shima.
Edit: I agree, Hilarity. But do you really think that people on Tumblr have the kind of nuanced view necessary to see this as an attack on people who take their politics too seriously? No. Of course not. What it means is "Democrats win, haha Republicans suck."
edited 10th Nov '12 1:43:56 PM by Ultrayellow
Except for 4/1/2011. That day lingers in my memory like...metaphor here...I should go.Maybe not all conservatives are stupids, but the ones we're making fun of clearly are. That's the reason we're making fun of them.
Or maybe they're not-I'm not actually making fun of any of them because I'm not on tumblr. It's entirely possible mah libral friends are totally out of line. I should probably actually look over the posts before I condemn condemnation-
Yes, but they get less influential if people recognize that they're stupid. the goal isn't to make stupid people less stupid, it's to use social darwinistic principles to make there be less stupid people because stupid people don't get all the niftyness.
It's the marketplace of ideas.
edited 10th Nov '12 1:43:27 PM by TheyCallMeTomu
I'm just annoyed because ever since the election ended I've been seeing stupid shit on facebook of complete grasping at straw level whining. Like a friend posting a county by county map that shows being able to drive across the US without ever entering a blue leaning county as though this somehow proves moire of america is republican than liberal while ignoring most of those counties are endless open unpopulated space.
edited 10th Nov '12 1:45:21 PM by Midgetsnowman
That's true, it doesn't prove that. It does prove that Anerica is deeply divided between urban and rural societies, and we should all be worried about that. But it doesn't prove that America is more Republican than Democrat.
Except for 4/1/2011. That day lingers in my memory like...metaphor here...I should go.I think some of the people on that tumblr are just normal, conservative people who are unhappy their candidate lost, and it is unfair to mock them. However, a lot of those (at least any of the pics that also include facebook posts, twitter, and the like) are people that basically think President Obama is evil and that the "real" (white) America is dead because of his reelection, and they could definitely stand to receive some mocking.
Still, by now, with the elation of the reelection wearing off, I am getting somewhat annoyed by all of the gloating I see across the web.
HodorI follow whitepeoplemourningromney out of a sad fascination more than anything, kinda for the same reason I read news stories about the mistreatment of the mentally ill. These people have been deeply, deeply misinformed. It's rather depressing.
Share it so that people can get into this conversation, 'cause we're not the only ones who think like this.I also think that the tumblr somewhat relates to that issue of mandates. Why is it that Democrats have to be mindful that almost have the country doesn't agree with them, but Republicans can claim a mandate when they are in power under equivalent circumstances?
To answer my own rhetorical question, I think it is because (at least some) Republicans do think they represent the "real America", and they don't think of those who vote for Democrats as real Americans. And it does seem to have a somewhat racial tinge, in that (some segments of) white Americans are treated as representative of America, and minority groups are treated like malign special interests. See this commentary
on a now infamous Politico piece or Bill O'Reilly
.

My point is simply that winning slightly over half of the vote entitles you to pursue your agenda. It does not entitle you to whine about the "will of the people" when the slightly less than half of the population who don't share your agenda oppose you.
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