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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIt's sad when old friends become Trump cult members
I'm not just talking about people that want to vote for Trump. I understand politics and how it makes people tribal. I'm talking about people that believe crazy stuff, like Trump is actually some God given savior to the world. Americans aren't supposed to be cult followers to any president. These times are strange and sad times.
Binkie The Clown
(7,911 posts)Claustrum
(4,845 posts)But in 2016, he started sending links to Fox News about some policies that would help poor minority groups. He said it was to "buy" black votes. I asked him "do you benefit from those policies?" He said yes. I said "we aren't black. So how is that policy buying black votes?" He couldn't answer. Then I asked "is any tax cut buying votes as well?" He couldn't answer either. Somehow, when a policy could benefit "black" people, it's buying their votes.
I ended that friendship after that.
Dream Girl
(5,111 posts)Neighbors may have Voted for him in 2016.
Silent3
(15,023 posts)...and she was a pretty strident partisan before too. But finally Trump egging on the anti-masking, open-up protesters was her breaking point.
At first she was going to do a write-in or vote Libertarian. But over the course of a few months, she amazingly has gone full Biden.
And I'll tell you, it's a whole lot easier to talk to her now and be friendly without having to carefully avoid divisive topics, and without feeling buried anger.
tavernier
(12,323 posts)All Qanon and conspiracy crap.
Hate to say it but she smokes weed and devours coffee 24/7 and goes between laughing and crying jags. Most of our friends have already quietly stepped away, hoping not to set her off.
lunatica
(53,410 posts)Theyre just visible now. They found each other. After Trump leaves most of them will settle down again under their rocks.
Silent3
(15,023 posts)There have always been plenty of crackpots, of course, but between the effect of the internet allowing far more people to take deep dives into conspiratorial insanity, and reinforcement from the Republican party and the presidency, this kind of insanity is flourishing like never before.
When "They found each other", as you say, much milder versions of conspiratorial thinking were able to reinforce each other and build shared narratives that wouldn't have formed while such people remained more isolated from each other.
kimbutgar
(20,888 posts)And also got into the Qanon stuff. She was so vulnerable after her divorce and had been single for many years. She got involved with this guy because she needed a man in her life, he treats her like crap but she has a man in her life.
dewsgirl
(14,961 posts)tormadjax
(164 posts)kimbutgar
(20,888 posts)I never had trouble meeting guys and getting boyfriends when I was younger but I actually was comfortable not a Boyfriend and being free to make my own way. I got used to being alone and not having a significant other. When I divorced the first time I was planning on not getting married again but I ended up meeting my husband and pushed him away so many time he waited me out.
But my friend is so pathetic it would be embarrassing for me to be that way!
tormadjax
(164 posts)At last, I didn't realize I was. I've never been happier!
StarryNite
(9,368 posts)It's loyalty to their cult leader. It's creepy as hell.
Initech
(99,925 posts)"Oh it's true! Watch Fox and be damned for all eternity!"
Just think where we'd be without them!
Ferrets are Cool
(21,066 posts)My son-in-law has completely gone to the dark side, alienating me and his mother. Some people are so easy to brainwash. I just don't understand.
Totally Tunsie
(10,885 posts)In all that time we never discussed politics. It was all about dating, careers, marriage, kids, and now retirement, until recently when we were talking about COVID. She mentioned to me during a phone call that she was "safe" because she has Lupus and has been taking hydroxychloroquine, "tRump's miracle", for years. It was like being hit in the gut by a railroad tie.
I asked her about her thinking on this and she went on to proclaim tRump as this amazing seer sent to save us all. Then she virtually spat out at me "I know you're a Democrat so I don't expect you to understand how wonderful he is."
At that point, I told her I wanted to end our call loving her as much as when we began the call, so that we had better not discuss tRump at all, ever again. The topic shifted, but I came off that call shaken to the core.
There is a beauty to not living near those we hold dear. Surprises like this remain hidden until they unfortunately burst forth. Now I have to put the genie back in the bottle.
Midnight Writer
(21,555 posts)Hard working union members.
Old hippies.
People who would give you the shirt off their backs.
People who I looked up to.
Yes, it is very sad.