Jonathan Chance's warning of LHoD

[Left_Hand_of_Dorkness]

@bucketybuck

The changed quote clearly made it appear that Starving Artist either said the words himself or agreed with the sentiment regarding Trump, thats how I read it when I saw it first.

Here’s what Superdude said, and SA quoted.

@Superdude

Part of me wants to believe that. But he’s such an egotistical, self-aggrandizing narcissist that I can’t see him being altruistic, even for his family.

Here’s what SA said in response to that quote:

@Starving_Artist

My opinion is that most of that is just an act.

Now that you’ve read up on demonstrative pronouns, what do you believe is the antecedent to the word “that”?

I see a few possibilities:

1. The whole statement. SA believes that it’s just an act that Superdude wants to believe that Trump is setting up Ivanka for politics–Superdude doesn’t really believe that.
2. Superdude’s inability to see Trump as being altruistic: SA thinks Superdude is just acting like he can’t see Trump that way.
3. Trump’s being an egotistical, self-aggrandizing narcissist. SA thinks that’s mostly just an act.
4. Something else that I haven’t thought of.

#3 is far and away the likeliest antecedent, to the degree that the others are absurd readings of the text IMO. Do you see a different antecedent?

It’s not enough just to say I’m wrong, if you don’t see an antecedent yourself.