# 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:** 16
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2025, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/301 "2025-08-15T19:09:10Z")
It’s worth noting how many non-genocides have genocidal aspects to them. The ethnic Vietnamese of Cambodia were wiped out straightaway, before Pol Pot settled in on the Cambodian middle class. The USSR, with a white Slavic population majority, killed off suspect minorities in lopsided proportions, even taking the Ukrainians into account. Turkmen, Siberians and especially ethnic Poles. OTOH, I read today how a green-card New Zealand woman and her daughter were nabbed in Washington State and slammed-up for weeks in Texas. That had to be some comfort to their Hispanic cell mates. ---
**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:** [August 15, 2025, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/302 "2025-08-15T19:09:40Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > No it hasn’t been and it still isn’t. Then what is the point of the thread? ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2025, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/303 "2025-08-15T19:20:38Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I didn’t mention Cambodia because it’s a rather bizarre example of a genocide. Genocides usually occur when one group targets a different group for extermination. But in the late seventies, the Cambodians decided to exterminate the Cambodians. Mannn, I shoulda called this in a post 'cause I knew it was coming. I really coulda used the quatloos. But nice to know that if Trump starts rounding up and slaughtering Americans it still won’t be a “real” genocide. ---
**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:** [August 15, 2025, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/304 "2025-08-15T19:25:50Z")
> [@Frilly\_Heck](#): > > Then what is the point of the thread? Same as it’s always been. > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Why do I think this needs to be said? Because I feel that these false accusations (which have been made on this board) are helping Trump by making the crimes he is committing seem less serious. > > Trump can legitimately deny he’s committing genocide as he illegally arrests people. Trump can legitimately deny he is restoring slavery as he guts civil rights. Trump can legitimately deny he is planning on launching nuclear weapons as he ruins America’s standing in the word. Making these wild and untrue accusations against Trump gives him cover for the things he’s actually doing. > > The truth is on our side. We don’t need to fight Trump and the Republicans with lies. (And besides, the Republicans are much better at telling lies so they’d have an advantage in that fight.) ---
**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:** [August 15, 2025, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/305 "2025-08-15T19:29:55Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > But nice to know that if Trump starts rounding up and slaughtering Americans it still won’t be a “real” genocide. If? What do you mean if? I have been repeatedly told in this thread that Trump has already committed genocide. Don’t backslide. The others are all watching. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2025, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/306 "2025-08-15T19:30:47Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Genocides usually occur when one group targets a different group for extermination. There _were_ distinct groups - there were the Khmer Rouge, and there was everyone else. Although there was also a substantial ethnic component as well, you’re right that it was _ethnically_ largely autogenocide. But it’s still generally considered a genocide, one of the archetypical ones. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2025, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/307 "2025-08-15T19:33:41Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Don’t backslide. It’s almost as if the folks that are disagreeing with you don’t all share the same strawman opinion you need to argue against. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2025, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/308 "2025-08-15T19:36:18Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > If? What do you mean if? I have been repeatedly told in this thread that Trump has already committed genocide. Don’t backslide. The others are all watching. The others are just looking at a tired grammar Nazi act coming from you. ---
**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:** [August 15, 2025, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/309 "2025-08-15T19:48:52Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Same as it’s always been. Which is …? ---
**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:** [August 15, 2025, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/310 "2025-08-15T19:51:59Z")
Seriously? I quoted my post. Do you want me to quote it again? ---
**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:** [August 15, 2025, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/311 "2025-08-15T20:06:45Z")
I must’ve missed it. You keep repeating yourself, but not in a way that feels like conversation. Don’t bother quoting yourself. I’ll either find it, if I’m bored enough, or I won’t. Enjoy your scolding session! ---
**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:** [August 15, 2025, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/312 "2025-08-15T20:08:40Z")
Oh, I see. You think you answered my question by requoting your post. That was not sufficient, because that post still reads as telling people what to do/not do. ---
**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:** [August 15, 2025, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/313 "2025-08-15T20:26:18Z")
You asked me what I felt was the point of this thread. I told you what I thought it was. And as the person who wrote the OP, I feel I have a valid idea of what I meant when I wrote it. You may not agree with what I said. And you may not agree with what I think. But this is what I said and it is what I think. Asking me the same question a fourth time isn’t going to produce a new answer. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2025, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/314 "2025-08-15T20:27:12Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > The truth is on our side. We don’t need to fight Trump and the Republicans with lies. The truth is indeed on our side, the truth also includes that ignoring what Trump and henchmen can and want to do next has support thanks to what history tell us about past dictators. Incidentally, Trump can deny that he will commit genocide, but then again, he is already denying that he is slouching towards mass murder, when that is happening already. > **[Trump closing U.S.A.I.D. could cost an estimated 14 million lives by 2030](https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2025/07/02/usaid-lancet-humanitarian-aid-hunger-disease-14-million-deaths-251050/)** > > The end of U.S.A.I.D. will result in the loss of a “staggering” 14 million lives by 2030, including the deaths of 4.5 million children under age 5. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2025, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/315 "2025-08-15T20:28:27Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Asking me the same question a fourth time isn’t going to produce a new answer. That is OK, that you are branding yourself as a Grammar Nazi is your problem. ---
**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:** [August 15, 2025, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/316 "2025-08-15T20:42:18Z")
It would if you were a better conversationalist. But I get it, that’s not your goal. Your goal is to scold people. Which, fine. It’s the pit. But let’s not pretend this is doing anything in the fight against Trump. You have a peeve, and you want to scold people for it, and you don’t much care about accuracy or how the psychology of persuasion works or anything. You want to whine about other people’s whining. ---
**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:** [August 15, 2025, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/317 "2025-08-15T21:47:49Z")
One more thought. I rarely miss a YouTube video from Heather Cox Richardson. One of her recurrent themes (paraphrasing) is that people who value small-d democracy don’t _need_ to coalesce around a common platform _right now_. Not at all. Rather, I think she puts the onus on the politicians to listen to their constituents’ _many_ voices, many thoughts, many goals, many values, many concerns, and many proposals, and then apply their own breed of wisdom as to where the country is and how best to package that into policy positions and proposals. I might cite Gavin Newsom as a case in point. Not long ago, he was a frequent guest on podcasts in the ‘Manosphere,’ apparently thinking that a rightward shift on the cultural issues might be a winning strategy. Then, most of Trump 2.0 happened, and Newsom – savvy politician that I think he is – pivoted (arguably, back) to the left. Richardson tends to point to Abraham Lincoln as perhaps a standout example of supply arising _out of_ popular demand – maybe an idealized case of the voters picking the politician. I think there’s room in the conversation, at this point, for most of this and all of us. It’s a vetting process – one that, ideally, should be watched by those who aspire to elected office. I also support Richardson’s constant refrain that we need to be allies with _any_ who value, cherish, support, and are concerned about democracy, _so clearly_ on the line. The only non-negotiable caveat that I can ever recall her offering up is _no violence_ [ETA: which I _presume_ she would extend to vandalism and property destruction]_._ I don’t even get the sense that she’s a pacifist, per se. It’s more that, once that line is crossed, you lose the support of the masses. Short of that … _**[Laissez les bons temps rouler](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laissez_les_bons_temps_rouler).**_ ---
**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:** [August 15, 2025, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/318 "2025-08-15T22:02:51Z")
> [@Frilly\_Heck](#): > > But I get it, that’s not your goal. > > Your goal is to scold people. You declaring what my goal is doesn’t make it my goal. ---
**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:** [August 15, 2025, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/319 "2025-08-15T22:05:53Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > That is OK, that you are branding yourself as a Grammar Nazi is your problem. Me branding myself a Grammar Nazi would be a silly thing for me to do. You branding me a Grammar Nazi isn’t a problem for me. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2025, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/320 "2025-08-15T22:14:31Z")
Trump’s federal forces have taken Washington D.C. and he’s threatening other cities next. When does the anti-Trump hysteria simply become the Trump truth? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735.md?page=17)