2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: Wow - the concern trolls were right. [View all]Ms. Toad
(34,072 posts)Aside from anything else, had expressing concern not been a trigger for immediate pile-ons and shaming, we might have been more realistic - and motivated - without the smug self-confidence that almost certainly led some voters to decide their vote didn't really matter.
I, personally, know at least one voter who despises Trump - but voted for him becuase she wanted to send a message to shake up President Clinton. I have heard second hand of others who made similar decisions.
I also know people who have every reason to vote, but didn't get to the polls because they were sure Clinton would win.
I kept my mouth shut, because I didn't feel like dealing with pile-on or shaming that would have followed had I opened it. (I did frequently alert on people who were concern troll shaming, since I didn't have to deal with any public outcry about that.) But, all along Trump using, with a wink-wink-nod-nod,the worst of the worst of his supporters to churn excitement to drive people to the polls has felt an awful lot like 2004, when my marriage was used to drive people to the polls for Bush. The lowest common denominator often wins behind the voting curtain.
We might be in a different place today, had discussing the possibility that there might be trouble in not been de facto forbidden.