America - The Official Thread
- Thread starter ///M-Spec
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- Rule 12
- GTP_Famine
Meanwhile, 0.957 has also opined that Voldymyr Zelenskyy is "a dictator" after Zelenskyy said "with all due respect to President Donald Trump as a leader, he is living in this disinformation space", citing the claim that Zelenskyy's approval rating in Ukraine is 4% which was propogated by Russia and directly quoted by Trump.
Weird how this keeps happening to 0.957; such a strong, manful leader parroting an actual dictator's thoughts and opinions...
- 11,326
- Sweden
- eran0004
Populism. The reason why he's popular is because he always has an answer and it's typically a simple answer that is easy to understand.
The answer is pretty much always wrong though, which is why he's not doing so well among people with a higher education.
But compare that to a sensible politician, who knows that the issue is complex and that there's no easy fix and that there are many perspectives that need to be taken into consideration. That politician's hesitation to give a straight answer may be perceived as weak leadership. The populist politician however never hesitates to give a straight answer (no matter how moronic or deceitful that answer is), and is thus perceived as a strong leader.
For people who doesn't know better it's easy to see how the populist approach can be tempting.
Strittan
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- Strittan
Which begs the question. How the **** have people become so goddamn stupid? And I’m not talking about Americans solely, although it’s tempting with everything that’s going on, but I see it a lot where I live as well. So much racism, narcissism and overall lack of empathy, everywhere.
- 11,326
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- eran0004
Internet and social media has made it easier to create and spread propaganda. Alternative media is happy to pick up controversial stories and share them. The generation that lived through WW2 is almost gone and their memories are nearly forgotten. The good economic development and improved living conditions in the post-war era has promoted an individualistic mindset where the collective is less important and your own personal goals and ambitions are paramount. Russia is working hard to destabilise western democracies through unconventional warfare.
- 21,059
- NJ/USA
- Blitzbay
- Blitzbay
Pence sadly waited far too long to make his point. Those who had the power to stop Trump stood by until it was too late.
Also, this is fun. Means Trump can overrule anything that he doesn't like. Might not have a 2026 mid-term. Also makes it possible to ignore the Constitution.
Also, this is fun. Means Trump can overrule anything that he doesn't like. Might not have a 2026 mid-term. Also makes it possible to ignore the Constitution.
- 145
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- mr_wurst
I have always loved the USA. I love traveling there, and it is the country I have spent most time in outside of my native country.
It has always been the popular viewpoint among people that never been to the US that the american people consists of ignorant, fat and stupid people that doesn’t know anything about the world outside of the USA. I have always taken the US in defense since I know that is not true.
But now I am not so sure anymore. If half of you guys voted for THIS GUY, oh man… I hope you all wake up and see what you have done, what you have been part of, and take a stand against this moron who trashes all relations to (former) allies and instead goes to bed with Russia and the Hitler of today. I mean Russia?? Where people who tries to protest against the regime ends up dead in prison or are killed by poisoning? That Russia?
Putin must have Trump by his tiny little orange ballsack.
USA, I love you but we cant be friends anymore.
It has always been the popular viewpoint among people that never been to the US that the american people consists of ignorant, fat and stupid people that doesn’t know anything about the world outside of the USA. I have always taken the US in defense since I know that is not true.
But now I am not so sure anymore. If half of you guys voted for THIS GUY, oh man… I hope you all wake up and see what you have done, what you have been part of, and take a stand against this moron who trashes all relations to (former) allies and instead goes to bed with Russia and the Hitler of today. I mean Russia?? Where people who tries to protest against the regime ends up dead in prison or are killed by poisoning? That Russia?
Putin must have Trump by his tiny little orange ballsack.
USA, I love you but we cant be friends anymore.
- 5,723
- Alabamistan
Trump wants to fire everyone in air traffic control, TSA, FAA so now you get this.
www.espn.com
But he wants to have the "best" World Cup, Ryder Cup, Olympics, etc. Also since he's hostile to pretty much anyone that isn't from America U.S. Travel CEO Geoff Freeman says in the article.
U.S. travel system 'not ready' for WC, Olympics
Aging infrastructure, sluggish visa processing times and outdated security technology are obstacles in welcoming visitors, according to a U.S. Travel Association report.
But he wants to have the "best" World Cup, Ryder Cup, Olympics, etc. Also since he's hostile to pretty much anyone that isn't from America U.S. Travel CEO Geoff Freeman says in the article.
Joey D
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- Lakes of the North, MI
- GTP_Joey
- GTP Joey
Honestly, leaded gasoline has a bit to do with it.
Social media also gave stupid people a way to spout crap. It used to be confined to your crazy Uncle Greg who smoked too much weed and thought the government was flying black helicopters over his house. Now Uncle Greg can shout about it on social media while getting other crazy uncles to reinforce his stupid ideas.
FPV MIC
Premium
- 4,340
- Australia
- GT-MIC
And it gets worse!
Second Amendment anyone? Anyone?
- 3,081
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- GBO-Possum
This also from my mother country...
Europeans (and others) vs Trump - Pearls and Irritations
Do we want to ally ourselves with a people who choose people like Trump and Vance to lead them, to be the public face of their country?
johnmenadue.com
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- Exorcet
- OE Exorcet
This isn't often supported beyond the initial assertion. While the internet makes it easier to spread conspiracy theories, it also makes it easier target the falsehoods spread by conspiracies as well. Flat Earth is an example that gained popularity around a decade ago and while there are a significant number of irrational people entrenched in the idea after all that time it seems just as many people have been encouraged to debunk it. Not only does the Flat Earth conspiracy predates the internet, as do other large conspiracies like those about the US Moon landings and JFK's assassination, it had an organization behind it. Having to meet in person or communicate via mail didn't prevent Uncle Greg from joining. Then you also have religion which can easily fit the bill, especially with the attempts to push creation in school and promote the belief in idea that religious freedom is really attempt to disobey god(s). The internet has certainly shaped how ideas, both good and bad spread, but I don't think we're as bad off because of it as people sometimes think.
Joey D
Premium
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- Lakes of the North, MI
- GTP_Joey
- GTP Joey
I don't know. It makes it easier to spread misinformation and to convince others something is true. While all the information is available to debunk claims, a lot of people just don't bother to look or don't know how to look. I look at someone like my dad who only knows how to go on Facebook and the Newsmax website. He's so easily duped by the most ridiculous things.
I also look at someone like Joe Rogan. He's full of crap but even 20-30 years ago the reach of someone like that was way more limited. Now anyone with an Internet connection can listen to him spout misinformation.
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- Alabamamania
Misinformation begets more of itself, it's propped by a basic lack of media awareness, using simplistic and repetitive word choice, along with extreme choice of words or phrases to foster support/contempt, and displaying "balance" by using straw-man arguments. Couple that with media consumers who quickly want to digest information without much question, are constantly bombarded with information, the idea that people are naturally lazy and will seek out few sources before becoming weary; the desire to be "part of a [media] team" which creates loyalty and acceptance through brand recognition. Then there's a lack of middle-school mathematical concepts (percentages, permutations, probability/chance, estimation), misunderstanding of basic science and biology concepts, let alone physics and chemistry. A massive gap in understanding historical and economic concepts not just as "memorized facts equal absolute truth", but also due to psychological, emotional, and philosophical differences; these are generally seen as "weak" things to understand and therefore frivolous to spend much time upon. Throw in religious, family, tribal factions, a middling sense of total cultural experience, along with the desire for greed, power, and status and you get a lot of the reasons things are going the way they are.
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- 7,632
- Exorcet
- OE Exorcet
The people prone to believing conspiracies aren't likely to seek out opposing sources of information but they don't necessarily have to. Online communication makes it easy to find groups of people unless they insulate themselves. However if they do that, it also makes it harder to recruit new believers. You can still get echo chambers and the like but at the same time it's easier to find them. This has happened in many conspiracy circles, and even on GTP.
Gullible people are a constant but I'd expect that more information availability deters them from being swallowed by misinformation, rather than less. Before the internet misinformation might spread by word of mouth between people in person with little chance for an opposing option to surface in their interactions.
We've had mass communication for a long time. Rogan would have been a radio host 30 years ago. I've had the misfortune of being exposed to insane conservative talk shows growing up. They didn't feel all that different, the "liberals" were destroying everything because they had an agenda and needed to be stopped.
I haven't seen data going as far back as I'd like, but I did find a study with a quick search that covers the past decade.
Have beliefs in conspiracy theories increased over time?
The public is convinced that beliefs in conspiracy theories are increasing, and many scholars, journalists, and policymakers agree. Given the associations between conspiracy theories and many non-normative tendencies, lawmakers have called for policies to address these increases. However, little...
The conclusion reached is that there isn't solid evidence for a growing increase in conspiracy belief, though it's not quite a comparison of pre and post internet.
- 16,599
- Melbourne
- ScottPuss20
- CheetahsMeow
Holy **** if I was Zelensky I'd punch Trump in the face. Get a grip you deranged orange man and show some ****ing balls by standing alongside Ukraine instead of victim blaming. Its like blaming Poland for Germany's invasion during World War II. Don't submit to the aggressor in this bloody conflict and suck up to Putin who will PLAY YOU FOR A FOOL. He would be loving this. My grandmother said that the Russians were worse than the Nazis, so she would be turning in her grave right now. I cannot believe how idiotic this bumbling buffoon is. Soo much for freedom, hey? At least Biden didn't blame Ukraine for Russia's totally unjustified invasion. Just piss off you wanker and shut the hell up.
