# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2025, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/101 "2025-08-06T16:01:13Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Case in point- saying repeatedly that democracy is already dead. Ironically, such people often immediately follow up their “democracy is already dead” statement with, “Make sure you show up and vote in the midterms!” ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2025, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/102 "2025-08-06T16:02:55Z")
Good ol’ Der\_Trihs, always ruining everyone’s “this is a strawman” posts. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2025, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/103 "2025-08-06T16:05:33Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > This was about five posts above yours. For context, “they” refers to Christian Dominionists here. And there _is_ some evidence that a not-insignificant percentage of CDs like the idea of hastening the End of Days. But while there are a few kicking around the current administration, I’m not seeing signs of them within finger-pushing distance of the button. Although they’re probably happily supporting the genocide in Gaza in whatever way they can. ---
**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 6, 2025, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/104 "2025-08-06T16:10:39Z")
I want to generally apologize for not responding to everyone’s posts. I did not imagine this thread would have over a hundred posts within twenty-four hours. [I feel like this kid.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzW1AjcUlSE) ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2025, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/105 "2025-08-06T16:14:19Z")
That gave me a chuckle. I guess where I come down on this is, even if it were true that Trump planned to take these extreme measures, is it useful to talk about what Trump _might_ do? Or is it better to talk about what he _is_ doing? Nobody on the right has ever taken seriously any of our past dire predictions even though they came to pass. Of course they seem pleased with what he’s doing now, so I dunno. Personally I find hysteria hard to take even if true. I had a friend in one of my message groups freaking out on the daily. It’s like, you’re not _wrong,_ but you’re (unintentionally) screaming at me for not being in a constant state of panic and I don’t think it’s helping anybody. Panic doesn’t make me more effective. I doubt it makes anyone more effective. We need something more like clear-eyed awareness and deliberate action. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2025, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/106 "2025-08-06T16:25:17Z")
Most definitely the latter, and might I suggest that the next time you have a complaint where the problem seems to focus mainly on one or two people (like Der\_Trihs) you just address them directly and skip all this misunderstanding? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2025, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/107 "2025-08-06T16:27:32Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > I guess where I come down on this is, even if it were true that Trump planned to take these extreme measures, is it useful to talk about what Trump _might_ do? Most definitely, because it is easier to stop it (or at least slow it down) before it happens, rather than after the fact when it is usually too late. ---
**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 6, 2025, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/108 "2025-08-06T16:29:36Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Most definitely the latter, and might I suggest that the next time you have a complaint where the problem seems to focus mainly on one or two people (like Der\_Trihs) you just address them directly and skip all this misunderstanding? My hope was to target the behavior rather than pit an individual. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2025, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/109 "2025-08-06T16:31:21Z")
Your “hope” included an unnecessarily broad brush. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2025, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/110 "2025-08-06T16:35:07Z")
I’m not an Historian, but can someone who is look up what happens when you appease fascists? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2025, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/111 "2025-08-06T16:36:58Z")
Pretty much the same thing that happens when you “compromise” between telling the truth and telling a lie, I would guess. ---
**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 6, 2025, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/112 "2025-08-06T16:38:01Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > > [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > > > I guess where I come down on this is, even if it were true that Trump planned to take these extreme measures, is it useful to talk about what Trump _might_ do? > > Most definitely, because it is easier to stop it (or at least slow it down) before it happens, rather than after the fact when it is usually too late. The way I see it the things Trump and the Republicans are doing are necessary steps on the path to the far more extreme things that people can imagine they might do. They can’t, for example, skip right over abolishing civil rights protection and go directly to restoring slavery. So if we focus on the here and now and stop them from abolishing civil rights protection we will also be stopping them from any hypothetical possibility of restoring slavery. The reverse is not true. If we waste efforts on preventing the restoration of slavery, the Republicans will still be able to go halfway and abolish civil rights protection. If we stop the Republicans in 2025, we won’t need to worry about the things they might have done in 2028. But if we worry about all the things the Republicans might do in 2028, they have a better chance in succeeding at the things they are doing in 2025. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2025, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/113 "2025-08-06T16:39:13Z")
> [@The\_Librarian](#): > > but can someone who is look up what happens when you appease fascists? It was alluded to in post four, but ignored. Anyway, it brought us peace in our time. Didn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2025, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/114 "2025-08-06T16:43:20Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > My hope was to target the behavior rather than pit an individual. In general, I appreciate the intent. That said, though, there are legitimate concerns about crimes against humanity when it comes to Gaza. I wouldn’t say that it’s clear that the administration is actively interested in committing any, just that it’s an accusation that does bear an amount of scrutiny and that’s worth keeping an eye on. Trump shouldn’t get keelhauled for imaginary things. But, likewise, he shouldn’t get a pass on grave crimes because crazies highlighted pretend variants and distracted from the plausible ones. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2025, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/115 "2025-08-06T16:46:13Z")
I would like to avoid arguments from the right claiming that “Because these (rare and sparse) statements about Trump aren’t true, that must be evidence that other things about Trump also aren’t true!”. ---
**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 6, 2025, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/116 "2025-08-06T16:46:49Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Your “hope” included an unnecessarily broad brush. Reread the OP. I didn’t say this was a widespread problem. ---
**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 6, 2025, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/117 "2025-08-06T16:48:21Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > the Republicans will still be able to go halfway and abolish civil rights protection. Yes, it would be a shame if Republicans did something to, say, the [Voting Rights Act](https://www.npr.org/2025/08/06/nx-s1-5482864/scotus-voting-rights-act-8th-circuit-vra) in some distant future. ---
**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 6, 2025, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/118 "2025-08-06T16:57:13Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > Yes, it would be a shame if Republicans did something to, say, the [Voting Rights Act](https://www.npr.org/2025/08/06/nx-s1-5482864/scotus-voting-rights-act-8th-circuit-vra) in some distant future. Exactly. This is the kind of real threat we should be worried about and working against. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2025, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/119 "2025-08-06T16:58:54Z")
You are the one that controls what you drop a note about versus what you create a thread about, not me. ---
**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 6, 2025, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735/120 "2025-08-06T17:01:28Z")
But if you misunderstood the post, that’s on you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735.md?page=7)