# Is "empty barrel" a racist attack? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 20, 2017, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-empty-barrel-a-racist-attack/799389 "2017-10-20T21:23:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-empty-barrel-a-racist-attack/799389/281 "2017-10-27T16:18:06Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > He is telling us what he plans on doing No he isn’t. He’s telling lies about the lies he heard when he made up stories to lie about when he was spouting nonsense during his made up stories about lies. > [@](#): > > You feel that we should wait until he is actually doing it to criticize? Criticize? Of course not. Feel free to do so. Being afraid that we are so close to tyranny or fascism or whatever? I don’t think that is a productive use of time. > [@](#): > > Well, right here, right now, I am asking others to remain vigilant, to take this seriously, to not accept these things as normal I doubt this will do much to protect us from tyranny. Let me know when you go protesting in front of the White House, I’ll join you there if you make a sign for me. > [@](#): > > I have found out that there are no checks Of course there are checks. You might just be more worried about tyranny than the people who maintain those checks. I say this as someone who doesn’t believe that Trump is qualified to be President. But keep things in perspective. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-empty-barrel-a-racist-attack/799389/282 "2017-10-27T16:54:20Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > No he isn’t. He’s telling lies about the lies he heard when he made up stories to lie about when he was spouting nonsense during his made up stories about lies. So, he has succeeded in gaslighting you. Sure, he tells lots of lies, but he also indicates his desires and plans. Did he tweet that he was going to release the JFK papers on @potus, or @rdjt? That he has been restrained from implementing his plans does not mean that he is continuing to try to find a way. How many times did he try the muslim ban, though it has been found to be unconstitutional? > [@](#): > > Criticize? Of course not. Feel free to do so. Being afraid that we are so close to tyranny or fascism or whatever? I don’t think that is a productive use of time. Afraid is not the same as concerned. Afraid is what makes people make irrational decisions because they are afraid that Obama is going to take their guns. Concern is when someone says he wants to do something that is harmful, and there is little to keep them from doing so. Please do not equate me with the types of people that would lie to a doctor about whether they have a gun in the house out of a paranoia of going on some gov’t list for when they come and collect them. That’s just paranoia, as there are no people with any sort of power (and few people at all) desiring something like that. Trump, the president, has said that he wants to silence the voices in media that say unflattering things about him. He will try to do so, and continue to try to do so, until he either finds a way to succeed, or he no longer has the power he currently wields. He has tyrannical and fascist desires that must be constantly held back, and every time he oozes through a loophole, he is lauded and justified that what he just did was legal. > [@](#): > > I doubt this will do much to protect us from tyranny. Let me know when you go protesting in front of the White House, I’ll join you there if you make a sign for me. I said, right here, and right now. I also vote. I also talk to my senators, both Sherrod Brown, with whom I had a very nice conversation, and Rob Portman, with whom I have left a message with a staffer and sent a letter. I have spoken to my congressmen, who did not agree with me at all. I talk to my local politicians on a pretty regular basis. I go to zoning board meetings, and tell “Joe” to stop with all the racist talk, the fact that the store is owned by a (insert ethnic slur here) doesn’t mean that he shouldn’t get his building permit. You live in maryland, so it’s just a day trip for you, at most. I got a fairly long drive to go hold a sign in front of the white house. Politics is local, and that is where I can do the best. There are better methods of affecting social change than standing in front of the white house with a sign. > [@](#): > > Of course there are checks. We like to think so, but we thought that there were checks to keep the executive from going this far in abusing his power. > [@](#): > > You might just be more worried about tyranny than the people who maintain those checks. In this, you are likely right, and that concerns me even more. The people maintaining those checks mostly have an ‘R’ in front of their name, and they are more worried about their short term goals than preventing trump from abusing his power. > [@](#): > > I say this as someone who doesn’t believe that Trump is qualified to be President. But keep things in perspective. I don’t see how it is that much of an odd perspective. A person with power wants to amass more power to himself. The checks that have prevented that in the past are failing, one by one, while those who support his agenda make excuses and justifications for every step he takes. It is not like no country has ever fallen before, it’s not like there has never been a dictatorship or tyranny before. In fact, a tyranny is the most natural form of gov’t there is. It requires work to not be a tyranny. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-empty-barrel-a-racist-attack/799389/283 "2017-10-27T17:26:30Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > So, he has succeeded in gaslighting you. Sure, he tells lots of lies, but he also indicates his desires and plans. Did he tweet that he was going to release the JFK papers on @potus, or @rdjt? How what twitter account he used even remotely relevant to anything? You seem to be irrationally hooked on twitter accounts for some reason. His desires and plans are just crap he makes up off the top of his head most times. > [@](#): > > How many times did he try the muslim ban, though it has been found to be unconstitutional? How many times has it been found unconstitutional and was not followed? That’s checks and balances. Seems to be working pretty well. > [@](#): > > Trump, the president, has said that he wants to silence the voices in media that say unflattering things about him. He will try to do so, and continue to try to do so When he actually TRIES to do so, let me know. Until then, meh. > [@](#): > > I said, right here, and right now. I also vote. I also talk to my senators, both Sherrod Brown, with whom I had a very nice conversation, and Rob Portman, with whom I have left a message with a staffer and sent a letter. I have spoken to my congressmen, who did not agree with me at all. I talk to my local politicians on a pretty regular basis. I go to zoning board meetings, and tell “Joe” to stop with all the racist talk, the fact that the store is owned by a (insert ethnic slur here) doesn’t mean that he shouldn’t get his building permit Well that’s something at least. How effective do you think this will be in the next Congressional elections? > [@](#): > > You live in maryland, so it’s just a day trip for you, at most. I got a fairly long drive to go hold a sign in front of the white house. Politics is local, and that is where I can do the best. There are better methods of affecting social change than standing in front of the white house with a sign Of course there are, but at least standing there is a visible signal that you are fighting for change. Words on a messageboard not so much. > [@](#): > > In this, you are likely right, and that concerns me even more. The people maintaining those checks mostly have an ‘R’ in front of their name, and they are more worried about their short term goals than preventing trump from abusing his power Perhaps they, too, are waiting for the President to actually DO something, instead of just talking nonsense. > [@](#): > > while those who support his agenda make excuses and justifications for every step he takes Again, WHAT steps? Muslim ban? Shot down by the court. Anything else? Build a wall? hahahaha! Arrest reporters? hahahaha! Take away NBC’s license? hahahaha! He’s not going to do any of these things and people know it. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-empty-barrel-a-racist-attack/799389/284 "2017-10-27T17:35:40Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > He’s not going to do any of these things and people know it. Meh, Nero was not the only one to fiddle for the fall of Rome. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-empty-barrel-a-racist-attack/799389/285 "2017-10-27T18:18:02Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > How what twitter account he used even remotely relevant to anything? You seem to be irrationally hooked on twitter accounts for some reason. His desires and plans are just crap he makes up off the top of his head most times. > > How many times has it been found unconstitutional and was not followed? That’s checks and balances. Seems to be working pretty well. > > When he actually TRIES to do so, let me know. Until then, meh. > > Well that’s something at least. How effective do you think this will be in the next Congressional elections? > > Of course there are, but at least standing there is a visible signal that you are fighting for change. Words on a messageboard not so much. > > Perhaps they, too, are waiting for the President to actually DO something, instead of just talking nonsense. > > Again, WHAT steps? Muslim ban? Shot down by the court. Anything else? > > Build a wall? hahahaha! > Arrest reporters? hahahaha! > Take away NBC’s license? hahahaha! > > He’s not going to do any of these things and people know it. The president is making stuff up off the top of his head. He is proposing stuff that if he “tried” to accomplish, would be disastrous. The President is “telling lies about the lies he heard when he made up stories to lie about when he was spouting nonsense during his made up stories about lies.” He is saying shit that people “know” he can’t do, but because you think he can’t follow through, you’re OK with it? You are doing a lot of laughing these days. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-empty-barrel-a-racist-attack/799389/286 "2017-10-27T18:36:31Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > The president is making stuff up off the top of his head. He is proposing stuff that if he “tried” to accomplish, would be disastrous. The President is “telling lies about the lies he heard when he made up stories to lie about when he was spouting nonsense during his made up stories about lies.” He is saying shit that people “know” he can’t do, but because you think he can’t follow through, you’re OK with it? > > You are doing a lot of laughing these days. Yes, I laugh pretty much continuously. As I have been since January 20. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-empty-barrel-a-racist-attack/799389/287 "2017-10-27T18:45:07Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Yes, I laugh pretty much continuously. As I have been since January 20. Haha, hehe, oh, [what a riot](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfoQBgI4-lQ). So much to laugh at. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-empty-barrel-a-racist-attack/799389/288 "2017-10-27T18:46:47Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Yes, I laugh pretty much continuously. As I have been since January 20. What’s the joke? ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-empty-barrel-a-racist-attack/799389/289 "2017-10-27T18:49:54Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > Haha, hehe, oh, [what a riot](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfoQBgI4-lQ). So much to laugh at. Yeah, his statement was laughable. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-empty-barrel-a-racist-attack/799389/290 "2017-10-27T19:24:49Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Yeah, his statement was laughable. Hmmm, I’ve never laughed at a murderer’s statement before. Maybe I just don’t share your sense of humor. I don’t laugh at the misfortunes of others, though I hear that’s a big thing. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-empty-barrel-a-racist-attack/799389/291 "2017-10-27T19:30:06Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > Hmmm, I’ve never laughed at a murderer’s statement before. > > Maybe I just don’t share your sense of humor. I don’t laugh at the misfortunes of others, though I hear that’s a big thing. I don’t laugh at the misfortunes of others either. I laugh at ridiculous statements that a reality TV star turned President makes because he doesn’t know how to be Presidential. If any of these ridiculous statements actually turn into action, then no, I wouldn’t laugh at that. Until then, I’ll just keep on watching and laughing at the “dumpster fire” that is our current government. ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-empty-barrel-a-racist-attack/799389/292 "2017-10-27T19:43:04Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > I don’t laugh at the misfortunes of others either. I laugh at ridiculous statements that a reality TV star turned President makes because he doesn’t know how to be Presidential. If any of these ridiculous statements actually turn into action, then no, I wouldn’t laugh at that. Until then, I’ll just keep on watching and laughing at the “dumpster fire” that is our current government. And what, just hope that we don’t have any real crises happen that require actual competent leadership in the next 3 plus years? You trust the dumpster fire to work things out peacefully with North Korea? If the dumpster fire was president during the Cuban missile crisis would we even be here to have this conversation? ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2017, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-empty-barrel-a-racist-attack/799389/293 "2017-10-28T01:17:43Z")
> [@Airbeck](#): > > And what, just hope that we don’t have any real crises happen that require actual competent leadership in the next 3 plus years? You trust the dumpster fire to work things out peacefully with North Korea? If the dumpster fire was president during the Cuban missile crisis would we even be here to have this conversation? Yeah. I hope that. I didn’t vote for him, that’s pretty much why. I don’t trust him to work out things with anyone about anything. But I’m not going to freak out over things he says until anything he says actually looks like it might happen. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2017, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-empty-barrel-a-racist-attack/799389/294 "2017-10-28T17:17:43Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > I don’t laugh at the misfortunes of others either. I laugh at ridiculous statements that a reality TV star turned President makes because he doesn’t know how to be Presidential. If any of these ridiculous statements actually turn into action, then no, I wouldn’t laugh at that. Until then, I’ll just keep on watching and laughing at the “dumpster fire” that is our current government. Then all I ask is that you keep watching. If at some point, the humor goes to horror, I’ll still be here. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-empty-barrel-a-racist-attack/799389/295 "2017-10-31T00:59:30Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > Then all I ask is that you keep watching. If at some point, the humor goes to horror, I’ll still be here. Fair enough. I’ll make you a sign 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-empty-barrel-a-racist-attack/799389/296 "2017-10-31T06:31:17Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Yeah. I hope that. I didn’t vote for him, that’s pretty much why. I don’t trust him to work out things with anyone about anything. But I’m not going to freak out over things he says until anything he says actually looks like it might happen. I do NOT understand this attitude. Trump has already gutted U.S. participation in TPPA, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, the Iran Nuclear Deal, and almost every single federal science program. He has threatened to withdraw support from NAFTA and NATO. His immigration policies have upended the lives of at least a million honest people. He has filled his cabinet with kleptocrats and haters. Neo-Nazis and their ilk have been emboldened: some have even committed murder thinking they were following their Great Leader. The damage done in four years will be severe and permanent even if Trump causes no nuclear war. When people say they view Trump with humor rather than horror all I can think is that they support his extreme right-wing agenda. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-empty-barrel-a-racist-attack/799389/297 "2017-10-31T13:54:56Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > The damage done in four years will be severe and permanent even if Trump causes no nuclear war. When people say they view Trump with humor rather than horror all I can think is that they support his extreme right-wing agenda. Of course you would think that. Because you think if someone doesn’t agree with you 100% on everything, then they 100% agree with whatever you oppose. And if you are that worried about it, what are YOU personally doing about it? Anything? Besides posting on a message board? If you were THAT concerned, I imagine you would be posting for help in organizing your campaign to do something. Do you have such a campaign? Wanna come join the protest outside of the White House? I can make a sign for you too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-empty-barrel-a-racist-attack/799389.md?page=14)