# What were you THINKING? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 13, 2023, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532 "2023-10-13T19:36:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 162
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2024, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3476 "2024-11-08T21:12:48Z")
I think it will be much worse than what you describe. However, I only post my prediction of doom in threads where it is relevant. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2024, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3477 "2024-11-08T21:17:01Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Good lord, Der\_Trihs has taken up doomposting as a full-time job Are you new here or something? Der Trihs has been exactly like this for as long as I can remember (Bush II era). It would probably be a fun game, to post quotes from Der Trihs in the Bush and Trump eras and try to guess who he is talking about. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2024, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3478 "2024-11-08T21:21:57Z")
I’m more concerned about **Saint\_Cad** , and his strawmanning and Olympic-level of gymnastics in trying to say that the institutions that kept America relatively safe during the last Trump term will hold again. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2024, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3479 "2024-11-08T21:22:36Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > Are you new here or something? Not in the slightest. > [@](#): > > Der Trihs has been exactly like this for as long as I can remember (Bush II era). It’s the particular _volume_ of their current posting, over the past three days, which got my attention. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2024, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3480 "2024-11-08T21:29:41Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Good lord, Der\_Trihs has taken up doomposting as a full-time job. > [@Superdude](#): > > I’m more concerned about **Saint\_Cad** , and his strawmanning and Olympic-level of gymnastics in trying to say that the institutions that kept America relatively safe during the last Trump term will hold again. I’m not concerned with either extreme. I suspect reality is going to fall somewhere between “we’ll all be sacrificed to the Great Old Ones” and “our institutions will continue to keep us gamboling about like happy puppies”, but it’s pretty fucking hard to say how bad it will get until it happens. I tend slightly towards more of a “cannibalistic apocalypse” myself, but for the nonce I’m pretty much ignoring both the prophets of doom and the chirpy it-will-be-okayish types. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2024, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3481 "2024-11-08T21:31:37Z")
Oh you all may want to know- I just made a post comparing Trump to Hitler. Given the current situation, does Godwin still apply? ---
**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:** [November 8, 2024, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3482 "2024-11-08T21:33:24Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > “we’re fucked, Trump will be able to do whatever he damned well pleases now, his followers are all racists and/or Nazis, and they’re going to be persecuting, if not outright killing, Democrats and non-whites.” I’m trying my best in one of the thread but his MO in replies is, “He can do it so I’ll not address your point. Therefore I’m right.” At least others in the thread are countering me with actual arguments. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2024, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3483 "2024-11-08T21:33:49Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > I just made a post comparing Trump to Hitler. Given the current situation, does Godwin still apply? I’m afraid that is an awful faux pas. Only the first 1,000 posters on this board are allowed to make that sort of comparison. As you’re #1,001, I’m afraid you’re now guilty of bandwagon jumping. Hang your head in shame. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2024, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3484 "2024-11-08T21:35:55Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > It’s the particular _volume_ of their current posting, over the past three days, which got my attention. It’s been a rough week for lots of people. ---
**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:** [November 8, 2024, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3485 "2024-11-08T21:37:26Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > I’m more concerned about **Saint\_Cad** , and his strawmanning It’s not strawmanning when people are arguing he can willingly violate the Constitution and there’s not a thing that can or will stop him and I’m saying I don’t agree. Tell me how that works and their reply is, “He’ll do it.” I think you might be referring to my overly ridiculous examples, but that’s not a strawman. If you say, “He can do anything.” I’m free to test your definition of ‘anything’ by asking if it includes shooting all the Dems in the face. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2024, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3486 "2024-11-08T21:37:33Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > I’m not concerned about either of them. I suspect reality is going to fall somewhere between “we’ll all be sacrificed to the Great Old Ones” and “our institutions will continue to keep us gambling about like happy puppies”, but it’s pretty fucking hard to say how bad it will get until it happens. I was about to post the exact same thing. Some of the things that make Trump despicable may be helpful here. He is lazy, he often makes promises he doesn’t keep, he has no loyalty to anyone. A lot of the things he said he’ll do, he probably won’t. Also, he and his people are spectacularly incompetent and many Republicans hate each other and are prone to infighting. There may not be much done in the next couple of years that they are guaranteed full control of government. They will mostly waste the opportunity. BUT, all that being said, something infuriating, inexplicable, unexpected, and probably very damaging will probably happen. I have no idea what it might be (that’s kind of the point) but mark my words, expect some horrific shitshow that we’d never even considered might happen. I am **not** hopeful for the immediate future and will not say everybody needs to calm down and relax. But I also think that many of the specific things people are concerned about right now are probably not going to be as bad as they fear. ---
**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:** [November 8, 2024, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3487 "2024-11-08T21:40:01Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Also, he and his people are spectacularly incompetent Amen. He failed at destroying the Executive Branch when he was given almost unlimited power over it. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2024, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3488 "2024-11-08T21:43:12Z")
Very mild: I disagree with Banquet\_Bear’s recent statement about sitting out elections if the candidate doesn’t hit the right buttons, and so I’m disappointed in him. (Doing it here because I really don’t feel like debating the point.) ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2024, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3489 "2024-11-08T21:43:49Z")
I may have told this story before, here it is again- When Trump started to gain popularity and momentum when he first ran for President, my mother’s friend Helga said ‘His rise reminds me of Hitler’ Normally, I would have objected to that comparison. It is generally hyperbole based on little fact. Helga was an immigrant from Germany. She and her husband lived there during Hitler’s rise to power… Being Jews, they both ended up in the camps. Helga, though of advanced age, continued to give lectures at schools on bigotry in general and the Holocaust in particular. I coudln’t just dismiss what she said, It terrified me at the time and near drives me out of my mind with panic now. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2024, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3490 "2024-11-08T21:52:13Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > I coudln’t just dismiss what she said, It terrified me at the time and near drives me out of my mind with panic now. Trump is not Hitler. Maybe someone in his camp could become Hitler, but Trump just doesn’t have it in him. Trump is far too entitled to put in the effort if nothing else. Now, Trump could pave the way for a Hitler type. You might have one rise up out of MAGA. But it’s not going to be the ketchup-flinging manbaby suffering from dementia. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2024, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3491 "2024-11-08T21:55:34Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Trump just doesn’t have it in him. Trump is far too entitled to put in the effort if nothing else. Trump tried to become Hitler, not because it was easy, but because he thought it would be easy. I know that’s based on a joke, but I think it’s, at least in part, true. I think Trump was rather surprised when all these things he wanted to do wouldn’t just…happen. I don’t think he expected any real pushback on anything he wanted done. I think he thought he was going to be a dictator on Day 1. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2024, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3492 "2024-11-08T21:58:07Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Trump tried to become Hitler, not because it was easy, but because he thought it would be easy. I know that’s based on a joke, but I think it’s, at least in part, true. I totally agree with you. And people may pick up on the idea that I’m not trying to reassure anyone in my comments here, and that’s because I’m not. Things _aren’t_ okay. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2024, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3493 "2024-11-08T21:59:36Z")
That’s the thing: to some folks, any gleam of hope or hint of denial that Trump will not do literally anything he wants with literally no issue is “sugar coating” and thus unrealistic expectations that need to be trampled as flat as possible. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2024, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3494 "2024-11-08T22:19:11Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > I’m free to test your definition of ‘anything’ by asking if it includes shooting all the Dems in the face Only if you’re one of the Cheneys and campaigning with Harris. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2024, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/3495 "2024-11-08T22:27:07Z")
Probably the only thing Trump has said that I agree with is that he _could_ get away with just shooting somebody. EDIT: And since I see people have been discussing me, this is my second period of being awake over 30 hours in a row thanks to stress induced insomnia. I’m been posting so much since I’ve barely slept and need to vent some of my feelings, [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532.md?page=161) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532.md?page=163)