A question about Trump's rallies

[PJMcK]

We've all heard and seen the reports of Trump supporters leaving his rallies early, even while he is still ranting.

My question is, why do they go to the rallies anyway? They know what they're going to hear. They know Trump all be an hour late. They know they'll get bored with the same old Trump-whining BS.

Why do they go? It's weird.

[rickford66]

1. People go to church

[PJMcK]

4. True

They also go to PTA meetings and bridge clubs. But they don't leave early.That's what I find so strange. it's like people who go to a sports event then leave before it's over. Sorry, I don't get it.

Of course, there's a great deal about Trupers that I don't understand.

[jimfields33]

30. They have many other speakers

Do they listen to them and when trump comes on figured they heard his speech and go home.

[Attilatheblond]

14. And Trump worshippers might be hoping 'today's the day he REVEALS the answers and agrees with ME!'

Wondering what Venn Diagram between magas and end timers would look like? A circle?

[Tickle]

2. morbid curiosity

I do watch his rallies—some of them, anyway. There's something inside me, maybe morbid curiosity, that keeps me tuned in.

[RandiFan1290]

20. Awww, bless your heart. nt

[Johnny2X2X]

26. This is a big part of it

I have a good friend who would never vote for Trump, but he likes to people watch, he's been to several Trump rallies and gets a kick out of them. Sometimes he's just gone to outsaide the rallies to see the people.

And boy does he have some stories. Says he has yet to go to one without a lot of fights in the crowd, usually outside in the line because people cut in line. People show up with alcohol. People are just awful to each other at his rallies, it's ugly. He's seen elderly people get beaten. He seen an old lady in a wheelchair get stuck in the mud and no one would help her get out. It's everythng you could imagine, just the worst people in society being shitty to one another.

[Omnipresent]

35. I can imagine there being lots of alcohol!

You can never have enough, when you have to listen to that ole windbag, complaining about how he’s so smart, but continues to somehow lose to stupid people.

[Johnny2X2X]

36. Here in Grand Rapids

During the 2020 campaign, they had a rally downtown and the line to get in went right through an area where homeless people usually are. One of these MAGA scumbags thought he would try to bully one of the homeless guys he saw, picked the wrong guy. The homeless man beat the ever living snot out of the MAGA in front of a whole crowd of people. A couple men tried to help and this homeless guy busted them up too. I don't advocate violence, but the story being told was that the homeless guy was sitting on the ground and was kicked and told to "just kill yourself loser."

[Omnipresent]

39. Nothing like getting your clock cleaned by a homeless person!

[Tickle]

42. I can't imagine going to one of

his rallies. I don't think I would survive 😂

[underpants]

3. Before the "paid actors" crowd gets here, I think they just want to be in his presence

See him.
There’s a worship element but I think it’s mostly a celebrity thing.

[Hugin]

7. Americans do love a freak show.

Once they’ve seen the bearded lady that group does tend to move on quickly.

Also, I’m sure there’s a percentage in every rally who’s only exposure to Trump is via the sane washed media venues. They go to a live rally where jazz lips mcweaver rambles on and on. The cognitive dissonance is probably pretty high. Due to lacking the heads adding a running talk over of “what Trump means is”. Maybe, they assume that he’s talking above their heads?

[canetoad]

21. Maybe it's the paid actors

Sneaking out early after grabbing their cash.

Weeks back someone posted the Trump Craigslist advertisment; I'm sure it specified they stay for a certain amount of time. Good luck with that.

[OAITW r.2.0]

5. I think a large factor is to dress up in Trump T-shirts ( as crass and lewd as possible).

And be amongst fellow MAGA's to tell each other lies. Most don't get respect in their own communities, so they need to attend these rallies to feel connected. Attending the pre-Trump tailgate Party is probably more important than the actual rally...after an hour of listening to his nonsense, many are ready to leave the rally.

[PJMcK]

6. Interesting

Good points. Being a part of the cult means something to these people.

Like I said, it's weird.

[EverHopeful]

8. Read a fascinating article about that

but I'm afraid I can't find it right now. I'll keep searching.

It was one of those intrepid-reporter-ventures-into-this-strange-place-so-you-don't-have-to pieces.

Apparently the pre-rally gathering was very much like tailgate parties before sporting events and the food and merchandise vendors talked about how much money they make.

Apparently the connection with others of your tribe fills some deep need in these people. I actually ended up feeling sorry for them. I just wish they wouldn't vote.

[Maeve]

28. I think the sports analogy is valid--it's being part of something bigger than yourself

And basking in the reflected glory, as if you earned something just by supporting someone famous

[FalloutShelter]

9. Cognitive dissonance

I think they go with high hopes for being in the presence of their fearless leader.

Then the reality of his mental condition and the revelation... in person... of his obvious mental and behavioral unfitness for the office of President sparks a cognitive dissonance that demands that they leave before it breaks their whole belief structure.

Cognitive dissonance is the discomfort a person feels when their behavior does not align with their values or beliefs. Cognitive dissonance is a psychological phenomenon that occurs when a person holds two contradictory beliefs at the same time. IE: Trump is the savior of the nation... Trump is crazy, and an inept criminal.

[Hugin]

16. Fight or flight kicks in...

Why are they flying? They may have to change their minds. Which for the group we’re discussing is beyond them.

[FalloutShelter]

17. Exactly...

The curtain has been ripped back and they see that the Wizard is just an old man struggling to keep out of jail.
That breaks their brain. They have to admit to themselves how wrong they have been and they run away from that.

[lees1975]

10. A lot more of them are staying away.

He was a novelty in 2016, and President in 2020. Now, it's all worn off, he's a bore, you can script his rallies based on the themes, everyone knows what he's going to say and he's lost a significant amount of support. Where he used to rent larger venues, now they look for smaller venues that look crowded. And they are doing their dead level best to keep people from photographing.

[PJMcK]

12. That's part of my thinking, too

The "smarter" Trumpers know the rallies are just dull reruns of the rallies from earlier years. So they don't show up which is why, as you wrote, his campaign is booking smaller venues to make it look like there are throngs of fans.

What I can't quite grasp is why the others show up. The tailgate parties are fun, I guess. The cult members get to hang with their own. Still, what a waste of time!

[kentuck]

11. They are paid.

They have a budget to take care that "friendly" faces are behind him and that enough people are paid to fill the camera space.

[PJMcK]

13. Not all of them

Trump doesn't have that kind of money!

There are true believers in his crowds. Their brains must be mush.

[Emile]

15. Because they're in a CULT!

[PJMcK]

18. Of course they are

But why do they leave early? That's the weird thing to me. If you're gong to leave early, why go at all?

[Omnipresent]

34. It's something for them to talk about on social media.

They get to discuss who was the most bored!

[republianmushroom]

19. Money ?

[Trenzalore]

22. It is like a music festival for racist

It is basically a big social gathering in generally more rural areas. Shit don't come to town that much in them parts.

[maxrandb]

23. Pavlov did some experiments that might shed light on this.

[Luz]

24. I think they go for the pre-rallies. They meet up with

other like minded deplorable and get their hatred reinforced. Trump is just an excuse to gather.
I'd love to see a reporter ask them why they're leaving.

[PJMcK]

25. Tailgating

Yeah, I get that.

Do people have to pay to get into his rallies? It seems like another grift, to me.

Regardless, what a strange group of ignorant people.

[634-5789]

27. I got this one.

I have 2 friends in NC. They are both registered republicans, and have not changed their allegiance, yet refuse to vote for trump...so far. They both got postcards with a QR code to sign up for a rally, and they both signed up, and gave info and were rewarded $50 each via Venmo, but had to take a picture that they were indeed there, and STAYED for at least 30 minutes, Now, neither of these know each other to the best of my knowledge, yet they both told me the same story, One is 23 the other is 34-38 maybe.

[Hugin]

33. There's an intriguing story there...

It would be good to see a photo of one of those postcards or they could also send texts/emails with a QR code as well.

There’s certainly a pattern to the timing of exodus from what Is documented in videos of the rallies. The rules for collecting the payment could explain this.

Even the rumor that such things happen could motivate some people to attend a rally.

Let’s assume that it is happening and that a payment is issued. (which with Trump is highly unlikely unless it’s RNC money and not Trump’s)

Also, let’s assume it’s not all of the rally attendees. Only a around a third of them who have somehow proven to be reliable attendees.

That would be say, thirty per hundred and three hundred per thousand. Which, to be honest, would be extreme. For a 10,000 person rally the payments would equal 3,333 x $50 = $166,666. Roughly half of Melly’s charge for an appearance.

[634-5789]

40. I have no idea...

How many people that was offered to, and all I can do is pass on that info as I get it. There HAS to be some truth to it, why else would you see people leaving 10 minutes after they get there/

[marble falls]

29. The early saunter to the parking lot means a lot of them come hoping to see TFGs head start to spin while puking ...

... pea soup. When it doesn't happen, they leave.

[PJMcK]

31. Thread winner!

Fun fact: I went to junior high school with Linda Blair. It was before she was in The Exorcist. Once, we went to a school dance together. I don't remember her at school much after that because her career was taking off. She was a nice girl.

[marble falls]

41. That movie probably hurt her career as helped it. I understand she developed a lot of injuries ...

... during filming. In interviews she always seemed to be pretty well adjusted.

[JT45242]

32. The ads to get paid on Craigslist or to sell merch

I wonder how many merch booth vendors send in part of the staff at the beginning but mostly paid bodies from Craig's list

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

37. Maybe there are good tailgate parties

Bratwurst and bullshit, mmmm..

[AZSkiffyGeek]

38. It's like Deadheads or Parrotheads

They follow him around, go in to hear the "hits", then go out and party in the parking lot before heading out to the next rally.