Carry On Trumping*

[elisi]

First of all, something which sums things up perfectly:


(x)

It's funny/terrifying because it's true: Back to the Future writer: bad guy Biff was based on Donald Trump ...



Anyway, two articles that dig into why Trump is popular. And it's not really *him*, it's about people's fears - the second article especially is worth reading, even though it's very long:

Trump Supporters Aren’t Stupid
America incentivizes racism in working class white people, and if we fail to understand this, we will fail to fix it.

The rise of American authoritarianism
A niche group of political scientists may have uncovered what's driving Donald Trump's ascent. What they found has implications that go well beyond 2016.


*So, this subject-line is a two-fold pun. Firstly, in case anyone isn't aware, in the UK 'trump' means 'fart'. Trump's name is unintentionally hilarious, and the fact that he seems to proud of it makes it impossible to take him seriously. ('Eau de Trump' anyone?) Secondly, 'Carry On' is riffing off the Carry On movies - a series of low-budget, high-camp British films which are crammed full of stupid puns and filthy, puerile humour. (Examples here and here.)

Consequently I'm very pleased with this subject line. Might use it as a tag on Tumblr. :)

Comments

[ragnarok-08.livejournal.com]

Oh God :O

[elisi]

Sorry?

[geekslave.livejournal.com]

The only word I can think of when I think of Trump and his supporters is "scary." I was reading an article in The New York Times yesterday where they were interviewing some Trump supporters and one older woman said that short of Trump shooting her daughter and granddaughter nothing would stop her from voting for him. *shudders*

Stacey

[elisi]

Yikes. :(

[kita0610.livejournal.com]

He's a horrible waste of space and a poor excuse for a human being. But the quote from People magazine never happened. Check out Snopes.

[elisi]

Ah - thank you! It seemed too good to be true. I shall edit.

[double_dutchess]

I used to think that Trump could not be taken seriously (surely no one in their right mind would vote for him?) so the current developments are quite shocking to me. But I guess I should not have been surprised, given that in my country we have a similar guy (a total embarrassment) who is also quite popular.

That second article was indeed very interesting; it explains a lot. I'm sure similar results would be found outside the USA.

[elisi]

But I guess I should not have been surprised, given that in my country we have a similar guy (a total embarrassment) who is also quite popular.
Yeah, there is a saying where I'm from: 'The crowd is stupid'... :(

That second article was indeed very interesting; it explains a lot. I'm sure similar results would be found outside the USA.
*nods* It depends on what else is going on, not on the Trumps of this world...

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

In some small way, it brings me joy to know that Trump's name has a whole other meaning in the UK.

Read that first article you linked and I was aware that Trump's supporters were mostly lower class white workers, but that was a very interesting take on the situation and how to remedy it (or why we can't remedy it any time soon). It's so very sad and frustrating.

[elisi]

In some small way, it brings me joy to know that Trump's name has a whole other meaning in the UK.
To us, it's as if you've got a guy called 'Fart Man' running for the top job...

Read that first article you linked and I was aware that Trump's supporters were mostly lower class white workers, but that was a very interesting take on the situation and how to remedy it (or why we can't remedy it any time soon). It's so very sad and frustrating.
Also it parallels to the situation in Germany in the 30s. :(

[sea_thoughts]

My Tumblr tag for him is The living human equivalent of a fart: he's loud, he's rude, he's all hot air and he poisons the atmosphere of any room he's in

[elisi]

Nice. Although my favourite might be Jon Stewart's 'Fuck Face von Clown Stick'. :)

[greensword.livejournal.com]

Thanks for these links. I live in such a bubble that I don't know any Republicans, even Trump supporters, and yet the single most important thing I think I could do is have honest, kind conversations with Trump supporters. I don't think they're all hateful and stupid, I think they're deeply afraid, and I think there are ways to positively address those fears without resorting to fascism.

[elisi]

yet the single most important thing I think I could do is have honest, kind conversations with Trump supporters.
*nods a lot*

[urb-banal.livejournal.com]

The article on Authoritarianism was very helpful. Lately I have been thinking about Mussolini a lot. He was such a boorish pig and yet he was adored by the people.

Thuggism is gaining popularity. It is something we need to pay attention to and have a ready response to beyond shock and amazement. Otherwise history might just repeat itself, this time with bigger weapons and even greater losses.

In Canada the types of things Trump is saying are illegal. They are hate mongering and inciting racism and violence which is against the law. He would have been censured long ago.

[elisi]

The article on Authoritarianism was very helpful. Lately I have been thinking about Mussolini a lot. He was such a boorish pig and yet he was adored by the people.
It's baffling, but the article does help explain it. Fear is a powerful motivator.

Otherwise history might just repeat itself, this time with bigger weapons and even greater losses.
Uh-huh. :(

In Canada the types of things Trump is saying are illegal. They are hate mongering and inciting racism and violence which is against the law. He would have been censured long ago.
Hey, we're trying to help you!

[a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com]

Trump terrifies me. Which is wierd, because the man cannot be serious! I just...can't get the two emotions to agree. The man is @#$%ing scary. He is a lunatic. He is a delusional lunatic. He is a delusional lunatic with an extreme dose of narcissism. And for some reason, Biff being designed off of him makes perfect, perfect sense and answers a lot of questions I've had about that character over the decades.

That being said.Trump may be scary but his supporters are even MORE so. The dreamy, delusional statements they make (and you can tell some of them are highly intelligent people) only make them seem fit for an asylum. There are no words in the english language that can express how Trump and his supporters make me feel. I wish I could ignore them, but that means they will never go away. And really, there is something wrong with our country. Wrong enough to make people like that pour out of the woodwork and champion him in the name of fear and hatred. Something must be done. But they resist/reject all reason, discourse and common sense.

*HUGS*

Other than that, his name is irony in and of itself...oi.

[elisi]

Trump terrifies me. Which is wierd, because the man cannot be serious! I just...can't get the two emotions to agree.
He's scary BECAUSE he's not serious. He'll say anything just to get attention/approval.

And for some reason, Biff being designed off of him makes perfect, perfect sense and answers a lot of questions I've had about that character over the decades.
IKR? Like, no, he's not a ridiculous exaggeration, just look at the news...

Wrong enough to make people like that pour out of the woodwork and champion him in the name of fear and hatred. Something must be done. But they resist/reject all reason, discourse and common sense.
If you have the time (a scarce commodity, I know), read the articles I linked to - they're good at explaining WHY the Trump supporters behave the way they do.

Other than that, his name is irony in and of itself...oi.
I can't with the name. I just can't.