# Was it reasonable to close my "Should Biden unveil the Donald and Melania Trump portraits? I mean, will that even be an option?" thread? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [September 7, 2022, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-it-reasonable-to-close-my-should-biden-unveil-the-donald-and-melania-trump-portraits-i-mean-will-that-even-be-an-option-thread/971167 "2022-09-07T21:41:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2022, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-it-reasonable-to-close-my-should-biden-unveil-the-donald-and-melania-trump-portraits-i-mean-will-that-even-be-an-option-thread/971167/21 "2022-09-07T23:37:47Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I’m also not clear on what you want me to provide - some sort of fictional dialogue between Dopers? Maybe this is why you are still waiting. For the record, pretty sure @Aspenglow was asking about this - > [@Aspenglow](#): > > The subject matter is the problem with this thread, not the OP. Again, if you can offer some example of what reasonable and productive political discussion can be had around this subject, I am completely agreeable to reopening the thread. I just couldn’t think of any. Can you? Which is what I tried to do on my prior post, in terms of modifying the question/OP so that it didn’t directly lead to a cycle of Trump bashing hijacks. But if our OP is content, why keep trying to save the question? It’s probably not that important in the scheme of things, even if it is still an interesting question (and I’d snark away about it in a pit thread!). ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2022, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-it-reasonable-to-close-my-should-biden-unveil-the-donald-and-melania-trump-portraits-i-mean-will-that-even-be-an-option-thread/971167/22 "2022-09-08T06:20:33Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > Sorry, had to step out to buy peaches. Hmm, trying to figure out what this is a euphemism for. Is it like seeing a man about a horse? 🙂 Even tho **Mahaloth** seems to have dropped his objection, why can’t you just put a reminder, like “This is not a Pit thread, don’t treat it as such.” At least give it a try for some civil discussion. I’m not a big Politics reader, but it seems there are plenty of threads in there that are harshly critical of Trump. I’m pretty sure I’ve seen calls for his execution in threads about the FBI search. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2022, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-it-reasonable-to-close-my-should-biden-unveil-the-donald-and-melania-trump-portraits-i-mean-will-that-even-be-an-option-thread/971167/23 "2022-09-08T12:53:51Z")
I was one of the last posters in that thread with a pretty snarky post (complete with visual aid), so I imagine I was a contributor to the thread closing decision. I apologize and promise to take P&E threads more seriously from now on 😊 ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2022, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-it-reasonable-to-close-my-should-biden-unveil-the-donald-and-melania-trump-portraits-i-mean-will-that-even-be-an-option-thread/971167/24 "2022-09-08T15:31:35Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I couldn’t help it. We got a _rare_ gentle rainstorm and the lovely sound sent me and my cat Tikva straight off to dreamland. It’s her birthday. Pardon the hijack, but Happy Birthday, Tikva. ---
**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:** [September 8, 2022, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-it-reasonable-to-close-my-should-biden-unveil-the-donald-and-melania-trump-portraits-i-mean-will-that-even-be-an-option-thread/971167/25 "2022-09-08T16:57:04Z")
Because the Pit allows us to insult other posters. And if that’s not the type of discussion you want to have, you opt out of posting in the pit. I don’t have any problem thinking of non-rant content. We’d discuss the political reasons why Biden might choose not to reveal the image. We could discuss whether it’s a good idea not to. We could discuss ramifications if he does reveal it and Trump is indicted. I was disappointed it became a trash Trump thread, but I didn’t think it was too far gone. The OP says they aren’t interested in it, so fine. It genuinely isn’t a big deal. But I think it would have made more sense to try and salvage the thread per above first. And if it turns out there’s not a lot to say outside of the Pit stuff, then the thread will just be short and die off like many other threads. So that’s what I’d propose going forward if the OP itself is fine but the replies are getting Pit-like. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2022, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-it-reasonable-to-close-my-should-biden-unveil-the-donald-and-melania-trump-portraits-i-mean-will-that-even-be-an-option-thread/971167/26 "2022-09-08T17:14:24Z")
I say give a general warning about using the thread just to trash Trump. If anyone continues to do it give an official warning for not following mod directions. Agree with BigT that it is not very difficult to think of non-rant discussion. I immediately thought of the question Will Biden return to old normalcy and unveil Trump’s picture and put him in the uncomfortable position of deciding whether or not to go OR continue the new normalcy and not unveil it because Trump is in the opposing party. What about: If Biden unveils Trump’s portrait, what is the best time to do it? Just before midterms? 2024 General? Or at a time where the news cycle will have played out by the time the election rolls around? ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2022, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-it-reasonable-to-close-my-should-biden-unveil-the-donald-and-melania-trump-portraits-i-mean-will-that-even-be-an-option-thread/971167/27 "2022-09-08T18:29:58Z")
Meororw-_ow_! 😻 _Thank you_ in felinese. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2022, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-it-reasonable-to-close-my-should-biden-unveil-the-donald-and-melania-trump-portraits-i-mean-will-that-even-be-an-option-thread/971167/28 "2022-09-08T19:13:38Z")
I read Nixon’s portrait was unveiled in private without fanfare. I’d imagine something similar will be done for Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2022, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-it-reasonable-to-close-my-should-biden-unveil-the-donald-and-melania-trump-portraits-i-mean-will-that-even-be-an-option-thread/971167/29 "2022-09-08T20:30:05Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > I read Nixon’s portrait was unveiled in private without fanfare. I’d imagine something similar will be done for Trump Hey, thanks, I never thought about that. Yeah, that probably makes the most sense, especially if Joe Biden wins the next election, which I kind of think he will. My wild prediction is that the Republicans put up a candidate and Trump will run third party “MAGA party” or something. The division will be so great, Biden or Harris(or Buttgieg or whoever) will win the largest amount of votes and electoral votes. ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2022, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-it-reasonable-to-close-my-should-biden-unveil-the-donald-and-melania-trump-portraits-i-mean-will-that-even-be-an-option-thread/971167/30 "2022-09-09T05:38:21Z")
I think it could have been interesting to discuss what would happen to the Trump portrait if he gets indicted and convicted. Portrait of his tiny little hands holding bars as he looks out of his cell door? I wouldn’t put it past Trump to want to use one of those godawful paintings of him as a warrior or as a Christ figure. > **[President Donald Trump Built Epic Wall on USA Borders Custom - Etsy](https://www.etsy.com/listing/808411007/president-donald-trump-built-epic-wall)** > > This Digital Prints item by PrintStarTee has 61 favorites from Etsy shoppers. Ships from Valencia, CA. Listed on Nov 26, 2022 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-it-reasonable-to-close-my-should-biden-unveil-the-donald-and-melania-trump-portraits-i-mean-will-that-even-be-an-option-thread/971167.md?page=1)