If Trump Joined RF Today...

There's no doubt the anti-Trump sentiment runs strong in this forum.

This leads me to wonder, if Donald Trump joined the forum today with full disclosure if his identity, would the dissidents have the fortitude to continue the Trump bashing? Or would it be more like when we were in school and saying bad things about a teacher we didn't like until s/he walked into the classroom, or at work talking about a boss we can't stand and the room becoming silent when s/he walks through the door?

Are we more comfortable talking about people behind their backs than we are confronting them in person about our judgments? Why or why not?

If you feel that we are and that we do, how productive is such behavior in society?

SalixIncendium said:

There's no doubt the anti-Trump sentiment runs strong in this forum.

This leads me to wonder, if Donald Trump joined the forum today with full disclosure if his identity, would the dissidents have the fortitude to continue the Trump bashing? Or would it be more like when we were in school and saying bad things about a teacher we didn't like until s/he walked into the classroom, or at work talking about a boss we can't stand and the room becoming silent when s/he walks through the door?

Are we more comfortable talking about people behind their backs than we are confronting them in person about our judgments? Why or why not?

If you feel that we are and that we do, how productive is such behavior in society?

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I am not american but american policy impacts on much of the world. And i pride myself of telling now it is as do several others on RF so like to think if Trump appeared on here there would be a lot of searching and embarrassing questions. Whether he would answer honestly or throw a tantrum, that is the question?

There is no question in my mind. We are not children afraid of the teachers.
As American citizens we feel it is our place to question and condemn idiots in power (and not in power too); and so if Trump came here, I think that the vitriol and aggression against him would only surge upward.
On the plus side RF would suddenly gain tens of thousands of new members who all want in on the action .

As for his responses. Obviously he would hunker down more and more. Although due to his penchant for blathering out the last thing someone told him, there is a tiny chance that he would (like a parrot in the house of an intellectual) sound more reasonable than normal by attending this forum.

SalixIncendium said:

There's no doubt the anti-Trump sentiment runs strong in this forum.

This leads me to wonder, if Donald Trump joined the forum today with full disclosure if his identity, would the dissidents have the fortitude to continue the Trump bashing? Or would it be more like when we were in school and saying bad things about a teacher we didn't like until s/he walked into the classroom, or at work talking about a boss we can't stand and the room becoming silent when s/he walks through the door?

Are we more comfortable talking about people behind their backs than we are confronting them in person about our judgments? Why or why not?

If you feel that we are and that we do, how productive is such behavior in society?

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In case of Indian PM, I would simply be afraid to tell truth.

SalixIncendium said:

There's no doubt the anti-Trump sentiment runs strong in this forum.

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Really?
I hadn't noticed.
Are you sure?

This leads me to wonder, if Donald Trump joined the forum today with full disclosure if his identity, would the dissidents have the fortitude to continue the Trump bashing? Or would it be more like when we were in school and saying bad things about a teacher we didn't like until s/he walked into the classroom, or at work talking about a boss we can't stand and the room becoming silent when s/he walks through the door?

Are we more comfortable talking about people behind their backs than we are confronting them in person about our judgments? Why or why not?

If you feel that we are and that we do, how productive is such behavior in society?

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If you're right about some posters being opposed to Trump,
I'd predict some unrestrained incivility towards him.

SalixIncendium said:

There's no doubt the anti-Trump sentiment runs strong in this forum.

This leads me to wonder, if Donald Trump joined the forum today with full disclosure if his identity, would the dissidents have the fortitude to continue the Trump bashing? Or would it be more like when we were in school and saying bad things about a teacher we didn't like until s/he walked into the classroom, or at work talking about a boss we can't stand and the room becoming silent when s/he walks through the door?

Are we more comfortable talking about people behind their backs than we are confronting them in person about our judgments? Why or why not?

If you feel that we are and that we do, how productive is such behavior in society?

Click to expand...

The only thing is, since this is a public forum and available to all with internet access, then nothing is really being discussed behind anyone's back. That's not to say that Trump actually has the time to peruse the forum or respond to anything being said here. But he may have assistants to compile summaries and dossiers on all the people here. Some of us could end up on an enemies' list with comments next to their names.

Your phones may be tapped, your movements tracked, and there may be hidden cameras and microphones in your bathroom. Every time you go in to take a dump, Trump may be watching you from his secret room full of monitors.

SalixIncendium said:

There's no doubt the anti-Trump sentiment runs strong in this forum.

This leads me to wonder, if Donald Trump joined the forum today with full disclosure if his identity, would the dissidents have the fortitude to continue the Trump bashing? Or would it be more like when we were in school and saying bad things about a teacher we didn't like until s/he walked into the classroom, or at work talking about a boss we can't stand and the room becoming silent when s/he walks through the door?

Are we more comfortable talking about people behind their backs than we are confronting them in person about our judgments? Why or why not?

If you feel that we are and that we do, how productive is such behavior in society?

Click to expand...

If a famous person were to join the forum and identify themselves the staff would probably consider protecting them from criticism, because they'd be a member then. On the other hand there isn't much of a way to guarantee that they are really who they say that they are. Anyways it might suddenly be against rules to lambaste Trump, in that case. I don't know.

SalixIncendium said:

There's no doubt the anti-Trump sentiment runs strong in this forum.

This leads me to wonder, if Donald Trump joined the forum today with full disclosure if his identity, would the dissidents have the fortitude to continue the Trump bashing? Or would it be more like when we were in school and saying bad things about a teacher we didn't like until s/he walked into the classroom, or at work talking about a boss we can't stand and the room becoming silent when s/he walks through the door?

Are we more comfortable talking about people behind their backs than we are confronting them in person about our judgments? Why or why not?

If you feel that we are and that we do, how productive is such behavior in society?

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Bash him to pulp.

Brickjectivity said:

If a famous person were to join the forum and identify themselves the staff would probably consider protecting them from criticism, because they'd be a member then. On the other hand there isn't much of a way to guarantee that they are really who they say that they are. Anyways it might suddenly be against rules to lambaste Trump, in that case. I don't know.

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Pbbbttttt!
That's ridiculous.
Staff would be the first to hang the miscreant from a meathook.
(Especially that one who looks like a squirrel.)

Brickjectivity said:

If a famous person were to join the forum and identify themselves the staff would probably consider protecting them from criticism, because they'd be a member then. On the other hand there isn't much of a way to guarantee that they are really who they say that they are. Anyways it might suddenly be against rules to lambaste Trump, in that case. I don't know.

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Should a celebrity be more protected from criticism than any other forum member?

SalixIncendium said:

Should a celebrity be more protected from criticism than any other forum member?

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No, not at all; but public figures are less protected.

Revoltingest said:

Pbbbttttt!
That's ridiculous.
Staff would be the first to hang the miscreant from a meathook.
(Especially that one who looks like a squirrel.)

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You mean creatively ban? There are only so many ways to do it.

SalixIncendium said:

There's no doubt the anti-Trump sentiment runs strong in this forum.

This leads me to wonder, if Donald Trump joined the forum today with full disclosure if his identity, would the dissidents have the fortitude to continue the Trump bashing? Or would it be more like when we were in school and saying bad things about a teacher we didn't like until s/he walked into the classroom, or at work talking about a boss we can't stand and the room becoming silent when s/he walks through the door?

Are we more comfortable talking about people behind their backs than we are confronting them in person about our judgments? Why or why not?

If you feel that we are and that we do, how productive is such behavior in society?

Click to expand...

If Trump joined that would give him certain rights and privileges as a member. We could not call him an idiot to his face, but we could also demand that he defend his ideas. Those would be open to ridicule and it would be very entertaining to watch him try to defend the indefensible.

SalixIncendium said:

There's no doubt the anti-Trump sentiment runs strong in this forum.

This leads me to wonder, if Donald Trump joined the forum today with full disclosure if his identity, would the dissidents have the fortitude to continue the Trump bashing? Or would it be more like when we were in school and saying bad things about a teacher we didn't like until s/he walked into the classroom, or at work talking about a boss we can't stand and the room becoming silent when s/he walks through the door?

Are we more comfortable talking about people behind their backs than we are confronting them in person about our judgments? Why or why not?

If you feel that we are and that we do, how productive is such behavior in society?

Click to expand...

Sometimes "talking behind someones back" might be not so bad, when the person is mean and has a gun at your head.
I read some unknown hackers hacked hundreds of letters from the white house, exposing their devious habits; felt good.

In world war 2 my grandfather was part of the "resistance".
Even in Islam, religion of Peace they have "Takiyya"

I do remember the article that quite a few were charged with 10-60 years jail by demonstrating against Trump a few month back.
(That really felt bad to me. If you are a murderer okay, but for demonstrations, just outrageous)

Brickjectivity said:

You mean creatively ban? There are only so many ways to do it.

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No, the opposite....
Staff would hold him captive, & pepper him with insults & accusations.
(I know of the not-so-secret torture chamber.)
And I bet @Polymath257 would design wickedly complicated math
story problems he'd be forced to solve.

SalixIncendium said:

There's no doubt the anti-Trump sentiment runs strong in this forum.

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I wonder if that is quite true.

Or rather, how remarkable (if at all) and in which way that sentiment is when contrasted with more general environments that are aware of Trump.

One his main skills, after all, is that of provoking people into being aware of him and displaying some form of reaction.

Superficially, sure, these forums have criticism aplenty directed towards him. But the only sense in which that is remarkable far as I can see is the degree to which non-Americans voice their opinions along with Americans.

Also, and that is IMO a very significant fact, Trump supporters are also very vocal here. I don't expect such a mix to be particularly expected or typical of the average forum or social environment.

This leads me to wonder, if Donald Trump joined the forum today with full disclosure if his identity, would the dissidents have the fortitude to continue the Trump bashing?

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I would expect and hope so. Maybe some of the Americans would feel a bit worried about the impact on their families, I don't know. But word has it that you take the First Amendment very seriously.

Or would it be more like when we were in school and saying bad things about a teacher we didn't like until s/he walked into the classroom, or at work talking about a boss we can't stand and the room becoming silent when s/he walks through the door?

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That is conceivable. But I don't think so. Odds are that very few (or no) people here have a particularly close access to Trump, and therefore overall there is little reason to insist on being on his good side.

Are we more comfortable talking about people behind their backs than we are confronting them in person about our judgments? Why or why not?

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Talking behind backs is certainly common and has a general perception of being safer, although I think that such safety is largely a mistake of perception and judgement.

The general idea seems to be that speaking ill of people behind their backs is usually "venting off" and not meant to have consequences or even to be taken very seriously. But there is a lot of ambiguity there.

If you feel that we are and that we do, how productive is such behavior in society?

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Politicians should expect it. As representatives with decision power, they ought to have checks and balances.

In recent times, I have come to feel that so should their supporters. There is a very troubling understream of obliviousness to one's responsibility running through some circles, Trump supporters definitely being one of those.

It is a bloody mess of a challenge, and it will hurt a lot. But postponing that will only make things worse.

As I mentioned Trump becoming a member would give him certain rights. Sadly no one could call him an idiot any longer. Though we may have an out if he did not make his membership public. If he was an anonymous member we could still call Trump the politician an idiot. We could not call Trump the member an idiot

Brickjectivity said:

If a famous person were to join the forum and identify themselves the staff would probably consider protecting them from criticism, because they'd be a member then. On the other hand there isn't much of a way to guarantee that they are really who they say that they are. Anyways it might suddenly be against rules to lambaste Trump, in that case. I don't know.

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Gawds! If Trump joined the staff would be awake 24/7 issuing Rule 1 violations!

SalixIncendium said:

There's no doubt the anti-Trump sentiment runs strong in this forum.

This leads me to wonder, if Donald Trump joined the forum today with full disclosure if his identity, would the dissidents have the fortitude to continue the Trump bashing? Or would it be more like when we were in school and saying bad things about a teacher we didn't like until s/he walked into the classroom, or at work talking about a boss we can't stand and the room becoming silent when s/he walks through the door?

Are we more comfortable talking about people behind their backs than we are confronting them in person about our judgments? Why or why not?

If you feel that we are and that we do, how productive is such behavior in society?

Click to expand...

I can't imagine him keeping up so well in debates against most members of RF. He'd probably last a week before he'd rage quit.

SalixIncendium said:

There's no doubt the anti-Trump sentiment runs strong in this forum.

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It is well deserved. This shut out and the many affected families who have to pay their rent and other financial responsibilities are a prime example as to why he deserves these sentiments.

SalixIncendium said:

This leads me to wonder, if Donald Trump joined the forum today with full disclosure if his identity, would the dissidents have the fortitude to continue the Trump bashing?

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I didn't realize pointing out facts is synonymous with bashing well, that is "Trumpesque" of his supporters to make such a paralleled statement (not saying you in particular are a supporter or not).

SalixIncendium said:

Or would it be more like when we were in school and saying bad things about a teacher we didn't like until s/he walked into the classroom, or at work talking about a boss we can't stand and the room becoming silent when s/he walks through the door?

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I grew up in Compton California where my house was being shot at. Grew up with the toughest and roughest people in the streets. From these experiences I learned to show no fear to no human and I would rather tell Trump how I feel to his face as oppose to RF noticed most people who are perpetual bloggers online with dangerous vitriol that they espouse typically do not fend well in public when they are called out. This is how you separate the weak from the strong.

SalixIncendium said:

Are we more comfortable talking about people behind their backs than we are confronting them in person about our judgments? Why or why not?

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This is a very good question and it is my impression on this forum that many people here are comfortable talk behind the backs of others as opposed to personal confrontation. I work with a lot of people that are very articulate online who are masters at articulating their thought through typing but in public discourse they stumble on their words and are horrible at conveying thoughts to reason. I cannot do both, you have no reason to even talk about anyone is my opinion. I grew up with the philosophy that, if you stand by a personal conviction that is against someone you need to have the courage to show it both behind their back and to their face.