# I pit over-the-top Anti-Trump hysteria **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [August 5, 2025, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735 "2025-08-05T18:11:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 108
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2026, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/2328 "2026-07-15T19:15:11Z")
Yeah. When somebody says something like “I’d vote Democrat but Random Guy X said something I didn’t like so I won’t”, my assumption is that they are just lying. Also, I’m not a Democrat. I don’t even _like_ them. I certainly don’t represent them, and they don’t represent me. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2026, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/2329 "2026-07-15T21:18:48Z")
Der, _nobody_ represents you as far as we can tell. That’s what so endears you to us. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2026, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/2330 "2026-07-15T21:32:34Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > When somebody says something like “I’d vote Democrat but Random Guy X said something I didn’t like so I won’t”, my assumption is that they are just lying. I suspect that’s true. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2026, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/2331 "2026-07-15T21:43:32Z")
Apropos of nothing in particular, does a Roomba _work_ in that environment? How’s the WiFi thing work? Do you have to run dehumidifiers … like … _constantly_? Where do you get your mail? Do you pay property taxes? Is it a motivating environment, or do you find yourself tending to just sit on your ash?? I’ve always wondered about all of these things. Really not too sure why. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Frilly\_Heck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/90ced4/32.png) [@Frilly\_Heck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frilly_Heck)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2026, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/2332 "2026-07-15T22:37:55Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Also, I’m not a Democrat. I don’t even _like_ them. I certainly don’t represent them, and they don’t represent me. I need to learn how to live in this headspace. Democrats are certainly not ever going to appreciate any attempts I make to be in coalition, and it’s not good for my spirit to expect otherwise. It’s hard to watch them be this bad at everything when I have so much sunk cost, though. ---
**Author:** ![Frilly\_Heck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/90ced4/32.png) [@Frilly\_Heck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frilly_Heck)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2026, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/2333 "2026-07-18T14:16:41Z")
This article lays out nicely why this conversation is so frustrating – it’s an example of pandering to normalcy bias: > **[Normalcy Bias: Definition, Causes & How to Avoid It](https://www.researchprospect.com/what-is-normalcy-bias/)** > > Normalcy bias is the tendency to underestimate disaster because the future is assumed to mirror the past. Learn its causes, examples and how to reduce it. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2026, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/2334 "2026-07-18T14:23:38Z")
> [@Frilly\_Heck](#): > > This article lays out nicely why this conversation is so frustrating – it’s an example of pandering to normalcy bias: So once again, I’ll ask what it is I’m so wrong about. Am I wrong because nobody has ever said that Trump is planning on committing genocide or restoring slavery or starting a nuclear war? Or am I wrong because it’s true that Trump is planning on committing genocide or restoring slavery or starting a nuclear war? Because I’m being accused of both even though these two claims contradict each other. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2026, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/2335 "2026-07-18T14:32:52Z")
You are wrong because you are demeaning people you disagree with, even though they will vote the right way. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2026, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/2336 "2026-07-18T14:37:41Z")
How am I demeaning people? I have not made any personal attacks against anybody in this thread unless you feel that disagreeing with somebody is a personal attack. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2026, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/2337 "2026-07-18T16:15:29Z")
Calling sometime hysterical is demeaning and insulting. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2026, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/2338 "2026-07-18T16:25:24Z")
And dismissive. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2026, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/2339 "2026-07-18T19:15:41Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > unless you feel that disagreeing with somebody is a personal attack. Dude, you haven’t been just **disagreeing with** concerns about Trump that you feel are exaggerated or unwarranted. You started **an entire Pit thread for the express purpose of heaping scorn on such concerns** as “over-the-top” and “hysteria”. Don’t come around now whining how you’ve been _unfailingly polite_ and it’s unfair for other posters to react as though you attacked them. Your whole fucking Pit thread is a gratuitous attack. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2026, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/2340 "2026-07-18T19:46:28Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Calling sometime hysterical is demeaning and insulting. As I’ve pointed out, the word has been used regularly on this board without causing any protest. It appears the word is only a problem when it’s used by somebody expressing a view that people don’t like hearing. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2026, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/2341 "2026-07-18T19:54:54Z")
Um, when you are using it to describe people on the board, i think you are safe to assume they will be insulted. I am not aware of where it’s been used without comment, but I’m willing to bet it wasn’t aimed at people here who were expressing things they were concerned about. You’ve had a whole lot of people all agree that you are being rude, dismissive, demeaning, and insulting. I haven’t seen anyone come to your defense saying, “yeah, that’s a commonly used word that’s really mild.” Words mean what the reader think they mean. You probably want to revisit your vocabulary, not double down. Fwiw, i can think of two times when i used a word that i thought was mild, and had others react badly. I don’t want people to think I’m rude and bigoted, so i don’t use those words in that way any more. ---
**Author:** ![Frilly\_Heck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/90ced4/32.png) [@Frilly\_Heck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frilly_Heck)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2026, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/2342 "2026-07-18T20:20:08Z")
> [@I pit over-the-top Anti-Trump hysteria](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/2284): > > And this should, perhaps, give us some pause before we call someone “hysterical.” The word’s origin ties it to the idea that any show of emotion or force from a woman is evidence of her fragility and inherent instability, and echoes of that are still present in its uses today. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2026, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/2343 "2026-07-18T20:21:11Z")
It’s. An. Insult. It attacks others for their opinion because it disagrees with yours, claiming they only believe it because they are being overly emotional. It ignores any merits their opinions might have. But fine, I don’t like the term, but I will start referring to you as “hysterical Little Nemo” in every Pit thread. You can’t get mad at it, since you think it’s okay. I will dismiss every argument you make as you being overly emotional. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2026, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/2344 "2026-07-18T20:50:39Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > It attacks others for their opinion because it disagrees with yours, claiming they only believe it because they are being overly emotional. It ignores any merits their opinions might have. If people feel that their opinions that Trump is going to commit genocide or restore slavery or start a nuclear war, then let them present the merits of these opinions. If people can’t support their opinions, maybe they need to consider the possibility that their opinions are overly emotional. When right wingers were saying that immigrants were eating pets in Ohio, were we saying “Well, we have to respect their opinions even though it disagrees with what we believe”? > [@BigT](#): > > But fine, I don’t like the term, but I will start referring to you as “hysterical Little Nemo” in every Pit thread. You can’t get mad at it, since you think it’s okay. I will dismiss every argument you make as you being overly emotional. No problem. I’ve been called much worse in this thread. In fact, one of the reasons I keep posting here is because I feel I’m giving people a safe place to vent. They can attack me and it won’t have any effect on the mid-term elections. I’m going to vote for Democrats regardless of what other people say to me. So better they attack me then attack somebody who might be offended. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2026, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/2345 "2026-07-18T21:00:27Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Um, when you are using it to describe people on the board, i think you are safe to assume they will be insulted. No, I was using it to describe people on the board. I am not using it now. Since people in this thread said they were offended by the word, I haven’t used it towards anybody. It’s been months now. As I’ve been saying all along, my point is that we should try to get along with people who disagree with us on some issue and not seek out arguments. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2026, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/2346 "2026-07-18T21:57:18Z")
Can’t help but wonder if you ever went to the trouble of _asking the mods_ if they’d change the title for you. I don’t know whether or not they _would_ (it may not be customary to do so), but it would certainly help your vestigial _bona fides_ if they did, or if you even made the request and had it refused. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2026, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/2347 "2026-07-18T22:16:39Z")
I have not requested such a change. As I’ve said, I don’t feel the word is offensive even though I recognize other people are saying they do. I also feel the word is not the real issue here. As I’ve noted, it’s been regularly used elsewhere on this board, including in thread titles, without protest. And this thread was months old before it became a major issue even though it was in the thread title. I feel that if I asked the mods to change the thread title and edit out all appearances of the “h-word” in this thread, people would soon discover something else I have written that is equally offensive. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735.md?page=107) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735.md?page=109)