# I live in the US, but I don't vote. Never have, never will. Ask Me Anything if you want. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 8, 2016, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059 "2016-11-08T13:49:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![Gukumatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/74df32/32.png) [@Gukumatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gukumatz)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2016, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/241 "2016-11-09T09:06:09Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > I have no doubt that **Idle Thoughts** is depressed. > > But by his own words, there has never been a time when he has kept up with current events and politics. Has he been depressed his entire life? […] Sure. Dysthymia typically kicks in around puberty for men and, without treatment, is more or less permanent. (It’s rarely diagnosed because it’s so pervasive and unremitting, yet not disabling, that people see it as part of their personality.) Not saying **Idle Thoughts** is dysthymic. Just saying that it’s definitely possible. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2016, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/242 "2016-11-09T09:10:07Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Again, this is the pit and I’m not criticizing you for your gender, religion or race. I’m criticizing you for being a douche. Oh that was brave. I love this internet thing, where names are hurled from behind mama’s skirt. Or a keyboard. ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2016, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/243 "2016-11-09T10:07:28Z")
I keep telling myself, Channing, you never know, Donald Trump may end up being the best president, ever. One can still hope, right? ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2016, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/244 "2016-11-09T10:11:11Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > Oh that was brave. I love this internet thing, where names are hurled from behind mama’s skirt. Or a keyboard. I’m currently working in Ramallah, if you want to come to the West Bank, I can call you a piece of shit to your face. I got the time. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2016, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/245 "2016-11-09T10:17:20Z")
Yeah, thanks for your non-input **Idle** (and your brethren). The whole world congratulates you and your apathy. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2016, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/246 "2016-11-09T11:39:01Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > So… > > Who wants to _JOIN_ me in not caring about politics for the next four years? That’s your takeaway? ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2016, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/247 "2016-11-09T12:08:32Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > And this is partly why. Is this not a good reason against it? I mean, I’m not too thrilled with what I’m seeing here and it’s hard to imagine that if I had voted one extra vote, that it would have stopped or changed it. One extra vote? Of course not. But the votes of all those thinking like you? Certainly. However, of those crowd, you only have control over one element, and that’s you. So if you wish now that this election had turned out differently, you should have voted, and you and this kind of thinking is responsible for it turning out the way it did. I know this will only get you to dig your heels in deeper—it’s the way things go on the internet. But I would humbly ask you to entertain the thought that perhaps, in four years time, if you believe that the country you live in might be better off with a different president, you might try and do something about that. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2016, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/248 "2016-11-09T15:50:03Z")
Okay, I will. (to the above post, last sentence) ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2016, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/249 "2016-11-09T15:56:39Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > So… > > Who wants to _JOIN_ me in not caring about politics for the next four years? “Who wants to join me in not caring about health care for everyone?” “Who wants to join me in not caring abortion rights?” “Who wants to join me in not caring about freedom of speech?” “Who wants to join me in not caring about safe food and water?” I was willing to sit this out and give you a pass, **Idle Thoughts** , but now you’re actively trolling the SDMB. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2016, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/250 "2016-11-09T18:02:38Z")
**Idle Thoughts** : I just want you to know that I have ZERO respect for you, and all the other ass hole douches who are too precious to give a fuck about what happens in the world. Whatever is fucked up in the world – and it’s a whole lot worse today than it was yesterday – it’s specifically your fault, and I’m holding you specifically responsible. I’m not even blaming the “deplorables” who actually voted for that monster; they actually thought they were acting in their own self interest. But you didn’t act at all, you special snowflake. You couldn’t be bothered to lift a fucking finger to save your own pathetic neck. You are worse than deplorable. You are nothing to me. And whatever Moderating you do around here, will also be nothing to me. You make me want to puke. ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2016, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/251 "2016-11-09T18:07:28Z")
I have a feeling that the bitterness and disappointment that arose from Trump’s victory is getting channeled a bit in Idle Thoughts’ direction. [FWIW, and since I mentioned it earlier, my wife ended up voting after all. What happened was that there was a slot on the school board election with no named candidate so I wrote my wife’s name as a write in candidate. One of my daughters, on hearing about it, did the same, and at that point my wife’s interest was piqued and she went out to vote for herself too. However, she lost that election. :(] ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2016, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/252 "2016-11-09T18:29:38Z")
Well congratu-fucking-lations **Idle**. Because your dumb ass didn’t vote Trump won the election. Now that civil war has broken out I’m going to go have to buy a gun to save myself from the gun nutters. So by the way I figure it since you single handedly caused the civil war you owe me like $500 for the money I now have to spend on the gun. I hope you’re proud of yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Debillw3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@Debillw3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debillw3)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2016, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/253 "2016-11-09T18:42:45Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > So, the predominance of the post and thread title is to invite questions and not scorn, and to invite an understanding of his point of view. So, even though he admits to putting it in the Pit instead of Elections solely to give people a chance to bash him, you still think that he’s not inviting people to bash him? Un-freaking-believable. :rolleyes: I’ll put this in simpler terms for you: If the goal was to not get bashed & strictly invite questions this thread would be in Elections or Great Debates. The purpose of the Pit isn’t to ask questions, it’s to bash. If you post a thread here, you’re doing it so people can bash, not “attempt to understand”. Got it yet? > [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > I have a feeling that the bitterness and disappointment that arose from Trump’s victory is getting channeled a bit in Idle Thoughts’ direction. To be fair, I think a lot of these comments (or, at least, a version of them) would’ve come even if Clinton won in a landslide. One of the reasons that Clinton didn’t win in a landslide is because of people who claim to have certain values but don’t care enough to defend them when the time comes to do so. Given that the defense we’re talking about isn’t going to war, but, rather, touching a few things on a screen or filling in a few bubbles on a piece of paper, not doing it is generally seen as an asshole-y thing to [not] do, even by those who don’t necessarily share those values. It’s more of a matter of honor–standing up when your values, regardless of what those values may be, are being questioned or in danger. That’s, of course, not wholly their fault, but, as the saying goes, “No single raindrop believes it is to blame for the flood.” ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2016, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/254 "2016-11-09T19:03:38Z")
> [@Banquet\_Bear](#): > > And while you are here: randomly “friending me” is pretty fucking creepy. I don’t know you. And even worse: the system won’t let me get rid of the notification so it keeps blinking, reminding me that I don’t want to be your friend. You can reject the friend request, there should be an option there if you click on it. And yes, why the fuck is this guy sending out creepy friend requests? ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2016, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/255 "2016-11-09T19:25:59Z")
I’ll never understand stuff like this. Years back, there was a trend for teenage girls to offer up pictures of themselves on websites like Hot or Not, to be critiqued by every random asshole that came along, plus invite their entire school to get in on the action. Why that would seem like a good idea to even the most pretty and popular is foreign to me, but why in the holy hell would you attempt it’s equivalent when you know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that all you’ll get is scorn and abuse? Someone, please explain this to me beyond “even bad attention is better than none.” ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2016, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/256 "2016-11-09T20:00:21Z")
**Idle Thoughts** , I’m really sorry I said I’d turn the DeathPool game over to you. I didn’t understand the type of…person…you are. With your apathetic attitude I hope you can handle the sniping and criticisms I get by PM(in the month of December, anyway, when folks are making their choices. You have a lot of mod duties, so do try to keep up with the job, will you? ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2016, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/257 "2016-11-09T20:06:10Z")
I’d think an indifferent attitude would work best to handle things like sniping and criticisms, what am I missing? I’m not one to take things like that personally, very often. I can be insulted or told I suck without batting an eye. …but if people have any real concerns while playing the game, I’d be able to address them, so it should be no problem. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2016, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/258 "2016-11-09T20:13:59Z")
Well, okay. But it feels as if I’ve turned the game over to the Orange One, and that’s depressing. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2016, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/259 "2016-11-09T20:17:32Z")
> [@bucketybuck](#): > > You can reject the friend request, there should be an option there if you click on it. > > And yes, why the fuck is this guy sending out creepy friend requests? Why is it “creepy?” Some of you really are special snowflakes. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2016, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/260 "2016-11-09T22:30:37Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > Well, okay. But it feels as if I’ve turned the game over to the Orange One, and that’s depressing. So you’re saying that \*\*Idle \*\*will “Make the Death Pool Great Again!”…what’s wrong with that? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059.md?page=14)