When you meet a Trumper

[Funtatlaguy]

When you meet someone new and find out that they are a Trumper, how do you react?
Do you change the subject?
Do you engage them about politics?
Do you try to understand their reasons such as policy positions or just his personal appeal to them?

I’m just wondering because when, whether it’s a new person or a long time acquaintance, I first learn that someone is a Trumper I feel revulsion.
I suddenly look at this person in a whole new light.
Anybody else feel this way?

[PittBlue]

1. Unfortunately, yes.

We have been listening to this horrible idiot rambling on for the last decade. I have absolutely no tolerance for a trump supporter. None.

[disappearingboy]

2. I meet Trumpers every single day.

I'm a checker at a grocery store, so invariably I encounter these folks every single hour of every single day. There are a couple of folks who come in regularly that wear MAGA hats, but a lot of others wear various other forms of clothing that signal their affinity for the Orange Goblin Fascist (including a slightly younger person than me, with his child in tow, wearing an absolutely disgusting "All Lives Splatter" t-shirt).

Usually, when I see these people wearing those types of clothing, or grumble about something that Gavin Newsom or Joe Biden has done or not done, I usually keep quiet and strictly business. But in general, I try and avoid discussing politics on the job in the interests of keeping that job (lest I get an irate customer on the phone with one of my supervisors) and find some other way to mitigate my despair that these people even exist and have the same one vote as me.

[captain queeg]

3. I try to avoid them or at least don't discuss politics with them.

I think it’s a waste of time trying to understand them, they live in an alternate reality.

[DownriverDem]

23. Maybe

but I find them disgusting POS racists. (I'm white)

[Skittles]

4. I blast them

really, really let them have it - NO I don't care to know the REASONS they support someone who is a bully, a misogynist, homophobe, xenophobe, anti-worker, anti-science, etc - I DON'T FUCKING CARE WHAT THEIR REASONS ARE, they can just FUCK RIGHT OFF

[FoxNewsSucks]

17. Same here.

I'm sick of them and being told we have to "understand" them and "where they are coming from".

I don't think I could do a job where I had to accommodate them.

[Beartracks]

37. There may at one time have been something to "understand" about them, like "economic anxiety" or some such...

... but there's absolutely no reason to tolerate, accommodate, sympathize with, or try to understand their attraction to and vociferous defense of a bully, misogynist, homophobe, xenophobe, anti-worker, anti-science, criminal buffoon.

======================

[Beachnutt]

5. Same here,

I don't bring up politics but I tell them immediately that I am not a trump fan and leave it at that.
If they push the issue I will go off on them and state facts and if they push me further I will tell em to fuck off and put them out of my life and move on.
I don't have time or tolerate idiots.

[sarisataka]

6. It usually happens in the course of my job so I lack the opportunity to be rude

not that I would be anyway. I prefer to live being the better person.

I just move on with the business at hand as if they didn't say anything. It tends to get the message across that we are not going to discuss politics.

[Funtatlaguy]

15. That's what I usually do too.

But I don’t pursue a friendship.

[dobleremolque]

27. That's the best approach. Keep it strictly transactional in a business environment. n/t

[Torchlight]

7. I learned a word recently: ghosting

I was told on three instances that I'm an expert at ghosting people I become disappointed with. I finally looked up the word earlier in the year, and discovered that I can't argue with them on that point.

Given all the tools we have at our disposal in the 21st century, if someone says "vaccines are evil" or "buttery males" or "I'll vote for trump. Again!" I tend to just kinda wander off slowly and away from the crazy until the air isn't as fraught with false patriotism and alternative facts.

It's a waste of time to engage in bad-faith discussions, so passively ignoring someone comes off to me as the least offensive method I know of avoiding the stupid and the headaches it invariably brings.

[dmr]

13. Great post, Torchlight!

[krkaufman]

40. "buttery males"

Chuckle. Took a moment.

[fierywoman]

8. When I'm driving I feel total revulsion when I see a Tesla.

[bikes and bunnies]

38. I agree, fierywoman

...and I'm pro-EV.

But Musk is evil and supporting him in any way is wrong.

[bsiebs]

47. There are bumper stickers now that say "I bought this before Elon went crazy"

[bluestarone]

9. When i discover that personis a tRUMPER, i cannot but get a picture in my mind of

What my father and all other fathers fought against in all previous wars. I HATE THEM ALL!

[dmr]

10. Yes. It's happened with me.

I have a new neighbor. I like her. She's a nurse, and speaks well, unlike her counterparts.

After many good conversations, she told me that she and her boyfriend were going the next day to participate in a Trump boat parade on Torch Lake.

I was stunned. Maybe, I thought, she was just accompanying her boyfriend (he is also well spoken, and intelligent. He owns his own construction business and is wealthy).

The day she told me about the parade. I said nothing at first. I mean I was truly stunned.

Finally I asked her how she felt about a woman's right to choose her own reproductive care? She is all for it. Hmmm.

I asked her what she thought of TFG's indictments. Other than hearing about them she knew nothing about them.

She eventually told me she knows very little about politics. She doesn't understand politics, and really doesn't care.

Do you vote? I asked. "Oh, yes, it's my civic duty!"

So much I could ask and say here! Seriously? Damn!

The boat parade on Torch Lake was canceled due to the weather. Yay! Last month she accompanied her boyfriend and family to the fairgrounds to attend a small JD Vance rally at the fairgrounds.

I've asked her to please vote the Democratic ticket. I'll continue to chat when she wanders over and joins me on the front porch. I do have a hard time looking at her, let alone chat.

Kinda breaks this old lady's heart.

[alittlelark]

11. I extricate myself from the interaction

As quickly as possible.

[leftyladyfrommo]

12. I live in Missouri and I never would blast

anyone. People here are really polite.

[krkaufman]

41. Polite Missourians

… like a couple of my relatives, when asked whether it was right to kill someone crossing the border illegally, responded that it was their choice. Such good, polite Christians.

[leftyladyfrommo]

44. I didn't say good or Christian. Just polite.

It drives Easterners crazy because they never know where anyone stands on anything. But everyone was really nice.

[Emile]

14. I ask them how many branches of government we have

and if they can name them. If they can't answer those two questions, I don't waste my time with them.

[relayerbob]

16. I generally excuse myself

and avoid that person from that point on

[FailureToCommunicate]

18. As Jesus said, don't let the dust settle on your

sandals, move on.
For me it’s the “ Undecided “ that baffles me.

[mdbl]

19. I absolutely feel that way.

Only saying "a whole new light" is a much nicer way to say it than what I think to myself.

[Betty Boom]

20. I'm just grateful that I have a quick window into their soul

And can extricate myself from the conversation as quickly as possible. There is no convincing of these people of anything at this point. Anyone who supports him after all that we know about him? They are devoid of character, principal, morality, ethics. I want nothing to do with them.

[hatrack]

46. Precisely - their pronuncements of love for Orange Julius Caesar save me time . . .

I move on to more interesting activities.

[Demobrat]

21. I respond the same way I do to cockroaches.

Revulsion followed by a quick retreat. I don’t say anything to them. I make it clear that I don’t suffer fools by not suffering fools. They are not worth bothering with.

[Escape]

22. They become invisible to me

When I learn that someone is a Trumper, I no longer have an interest in ANY OPINION they might have... ON ANY TOPIC-------politics, education, science or even sports or weather.

There is no reality in a Trumper's world and I don't have the time or patience to listen to their twisted toxic fantasies.

[birdographer]

24. Revulsion, yes

And wariness. This is clearly a person with no morality, possible violent tendencies, very little intellect or impulse control, and mental issues of some sort. I want to get away from them ASAP. It's like meeting up with a zombie, but instead of mumbling "brains," it is mumbling "trump." And that describes 99% of the people in this town. (I don't go out much any more!)

[surfered]

25. They always start it.

Despite the advice of not discussing politics or religion, the hardcore Republicans always bring it up first , then are shocked to find out you don’t agree with them. The bubble they dwell in makes them believe everyone else thinks as they do.

[Funtatlaguy]

50. As an old white man, I'm assumed a Trumper.

[myohmy2]

26. yep...

...how can you not look at them differently...?

...we talk, but I usually end by saying, "...at least we believe in America, the Constitution and democracy, that's more than I can say for trump..."

...a die-hard trumper doesn't want the truth...

[japple]

28. I'm sure my facial expression gives it away completely. It's one of those faces

I make while cleaning out a smelly litterbox.

[DeepWinter]

29. I'm surrounded by non-Democrats of all kinds.

They're generally fine and good people. But there are jerks. Jerks come in all persuasions.

[BonnieJW]

30. I'm retired

so I don't have to be nice to anyone. Nevertheless, I do not engage. I look at them while they speak and then leave. I was shocked to learn a friend of just a few years let me know she is a trump supporter. She has her masters degree in education. She was head administrator of a private school. Clearly she lost her abilities of critical thinking. She knows not to bring up the subject since I'll just say it's time for me to go.

[Meadowoak]

31. I can spot a trumpet a mile away, and I avoid them like the plague.

Don't even waste time trying to convince someone that doesn't believe in truth or facts. You won't get thru to them, don't waste your time.

[BattleRow]

36. Yes,most trumpets are blowhards

[C_U_L8R]

32. Pity

and wonder... what went wrong?

[samplegirl]

33. I always assume

They're not that smart and they're very gullible!

[Joinfortmill]

34. My ex-husband, father of my children,

is a Trumper. He lives on the other side of the country, thank God. What I mostly feel is disappointment.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

35. I feel revulsion even with my own family.

I don't engage. If they force the issue, I tend to shake my head and walk away. My hubby was the same. 🥺

[bikes and bunnies]

39. I never meet Trumpers

and I don't know any.
I live in the East Bay, and I know more Jill Stein supporters than Trump voters.
I don't hate them, but I try to dissuade them from throwing away their vote.

[et tu]

42. i have friends and family

who are trumpers and they think i have been radicalized because
i'.m a democrat! i try to push back with facts and stats but if it isn't
easy click bait, it's to much for them- but i'm a fool because i keep trying
especially due to project 2025- i feel i have to speak up- silly me~

[Blue Full Moon]

43. As little as possible

They identify as a criminal.

[Warpy]

45. I shrug and change the subject

because I'm not in NY or New England, I'm out west and a lot of people out here got fooled by that damned reality show of his.

If they respect that, verything's OK. If they want to rant and rave, they generally don't like the result. I've been lucky, since Limbaugh died (yay!), the ranters and ravers have quieted down considerably.

Emily Post was right. Life is much more pleasant when you avoid the subjects of religion and politics. There are simply some things you don't want to know about casual acquaintances.

[3catwoman3]

48. I find myself hesitant to meet new people. What is...

...I do meet someone that I initially like and then find out they are a Trump supporter? Game over.

Most of my socializing these days is limited to contact with people I have met either in the congregation of the very small Unitarian Universalist church I go to, or people who attend meetings of the local county Democratic party organization.

[iemanja]

49. I met one recently

I tried to refute his points, one by one. This guy wasn't a complete idiot--He did have a PhD, but he had messed up ideas politically. He said he'd take all his money out of the market if it looked like Trump was going to lose. I told him the financial people don't believe the election will make that big of a difference on the market. He said he'd been told the same thing but didn't believe it.

I pointed out the disruptive nature of the tariffs. He said something about China. I said Trump was too unstable to preside over a healthy economy. Oh, this guy was full of excuses for Russia too, very much against US support for Ukraine. He actually believed Trump's line about how Russia wouldn't have invaded Ukraine if Trump were in power. I did my best, but his ideas were set. I did remain civil with him because behaving otherwise wouldn't have helped.

[brewens]

51. I'll talk politics with them if they allow it. Two rules. If I see the snotty, what I call anger face, conversation is

over. If they interrupt me, we're done. That usually warrants a more STFU smack down. I'll tell them, if you ask me a question, your option is to keep your mouth shut and pay attention to the answer or you are wasting my time.

[Efilroft Sul]

52. I look at them at think, you know, both of our families probably fought against the Axis in World War II.

And then I consider their support for that fascist Trump and feel that their relatives' heroism and sacrifice were wasted on the likes of their descendants throwing democracy under the bus.

My family members didn't elect fascists in the 1940s. They shot them.

[brush]

53. Revulsion and whole new light is right. I change the subject...

won't talk politics with them, make a graceful exit asap, and will have nothing further to do with them. I mean who is still a trumper after all the chaos and treason that he has caused/done?

[Ontheboundry]

54. I live in a very deep state/area

And many of these people were.my friends before 2016, and we just keep politics off the table.

I'm not interested in finding new friends, when the ones I have will wake up at 3am and help me or loan me 10 grand without asking "why"

My barber is a Republican who I served with in the Gulf l , and oddly my state congressman.

I can't avoid them,.I just don't discuss politics

[Martin Eden]

55. Disappointment and sadness

I'm on a 65+ senior slowpitch softball team, great bunch of guys. We were at a practice before a tournament the early evening before the Harris- Trump debate. A teammate I regarded as a good intelligent guy left a little early, and remarked to me "I'm going to watch Camel Toe get her ass kicked."

I said nothing, but I'll never think of him the same.

[Vinca]

56. Last week I spotted a vehicle in a handicapped parking spot with Army decals, veteran's

group stickers and a Trump sticker. My immediate reaction is to think "how fucking stupid are you." There was one house on our road with a Trump sign. They were fairly new to the neighborhood, but I immediately assumed they're idiots. Over the past few weeks the sign had gotten crummy looking, broken down and weed covered and finally disappeared. Now I don't know what to think.