# Will Trump kill himself on January 20? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 3, 2021, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-kill-himself-on-january-20/929593 "2021-01-03T20:31:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**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:** [January 10, 2021, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-kill-himself-on-january-20/929593/182 "2021-01-10T15:28:31Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > “anapest” is a dactyl It is? I thought the stress was on the third syllable. I’d say I’ve been pronouncing it wrong but let’s be honest, I’ve probably never spoken that word out loud. ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-kill-himself-on-january-20/929593/183 "2021-01-10T15:33:39Z")
Anapest Dei, qui tollis prosodiam mundi, dona nobis pedem. ---
**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:** [January 10, 2021, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-kill-himself-on-january-20/929593/184 "2021-01-10T15:35:30Z")
On the few occasions that I’ve said it out loud, I’ve accented the first syllable. Aside: it would be a great cat name. ---
**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:** [January 10, 2021, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-kill-himself-on-january-20/929593/185 "2021-01-10T15:35:56Z")
😁 👍🏽 ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-kill-himself-on-january-20/929593/186 "2021-01-10T15:37:23Z")
In a couple of weeks when I want to revisit an interesting discussion of language, I don’t think the “Will Trump Kill Himself” thread is the first place I’m going to look. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-kill-himself-on-january-20/929593/187 "2021-01-10T15:40:53Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > In a couple of weeks when I want to revisit an interesting discussion of language, I don’t think the “Will Trump Kill Himself” thread is the first place I’m going to look. - That’s what I like about this place. We’re not just a bunch of internet Neanderthals beating up on each other, we’re a bunch of _educated_ internet Neanderthals beating up on each other. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-kill-himself-on-january-20/929593/188 "2021-01-10T16:06:52Z")
Coleridge to the rescue. > Trochee trips from long to short; > From long to long in solemn sort > Slow Spondee stalks, strong foot!, yet ill able > Ever to come up with Dactyl’s trisyllable. > Iambics march from short to long. > With a leap and a bound the swift Anapests throng. > One syllable long, with one short at each side, > Amphibrachys hastes with a stately stride – > First and last being long, middle short, Amphimacer > Strikes his thundering hoofs like a proud high-bred Racer. (And the stress is on the first syllable of “anapest.”) ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-kill-himself-on-january-20/929593/189 "2021-01-10T16:28:15Z")
Heh, I was just making a snarky aside from the margins, I didn’t expect it to, like, turn into a whole thing. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-kill-himself-on-january-20/929593/190 "2021-01-10T16:29:29Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > On the few occasions that I’ve said it out loud, I’ve accented the first syllable. > Aside: it would be a great cat name. If “Anapest” is a good cat name perhaps you could get a dog named “IANApest”. Who’d be much less trouble. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-kill-himself-on-january-20/929593/191 "2021-01-10T16:40:17Z")
It’s getting legit weird that Trump has been radio-silent and off social media for 72 hours without using, you know, the enormous TV studio in his residence that is dedicated to facilitating him speaking directly to the people. Either he’s being restrained, or scared, or confused, or is figuring out another “release the Kraken” move. At a minimum I’m sure he’s horse-trading with the cabinet as well as Senate Republicans to undermine any 25th-Amendment initiative as well as impeachment. I hope someone’s got the tapes rolling, but these greasy toads have a remarkable talent for circling the wagons even after they’ve abused and betrayed each other. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-kill-himself-on-january-20/929593/192 "2021-01-10T16:40:49Z")
I hope he’s deeply sedated. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-kill-himself-on-january-20/929593/193 "2021-01-10T16:46:01Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > It’s getting legit weird that Trump has been radio-silent and off social media for 72 hours without using, you know, the enormous TV studio in his residence that is dedicated to facilitating him speaking directly to the people. Yeah, I’m starting to wonder if @LSLGuy is right about someone tricking him into thinking he’s actually tweeting. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-kill-himself-on-january-20/929593/194 "2021-01-10T16:54:41Z")
That’s be great. And it would be exceedingly simple to have an AI that would auto-respond to his every tweet. _You’re so right! God bless our President Fuck the libs_ ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-kill-himself-on-january-20/929593/195 "2021-01-10T17:01:22Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > That’s be great. And it would be exceedingly simple to have an AI that would auto-respond to his every tweet. For a moment I entertained the idea that the social-media staffer has just started saying “Sir, I’ve just sent that amazing tweet, and goodness, already 1200 retweets in 2 minutes! You’re certainly owning the libs and very popular!” But, like everyone else, I forget he’s not just on Twitter, he’s mainlining Fox News 24x7. He knows what’s going on, and he could phone in a statement at any time. He may very well be so obsessed with getting back online that it’s crowded out every single competing thought. I wouldn’t put it past an enraged narcissist like him. I’m sure his enablers and hangers-on are happy to keep that distraction stoked and burning. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-kill-himself-on-january-20/929593/196 "2021-01-10T17:12:26Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > And it would be exceedingly simple to have an AI that would auto-respond to his every tweet. To the contrary, with current technology it would be extremely difficult to simulate the typical positive responses to his tweets. It would require a whole new research paradigm, since all the R&D focus so far has been toward developing artificial _intelligence_. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-kill-himself-on-january-20/929593/197 "2021-01-10T17:18:54Z")
That’s the beauty of it. No real intelligence is required, just a list of fifty or so canned phrases to cycle through. I highly doubt he’ll even notice the repetition and if he does, just add some [ELIZA](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ELIZA) coding to bonce his own phrases back at him. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-kill-himself-on-january-20/929593/198 "2021-01-10T17:24:57Z")
Yeah. AI is a genuinely hard problem. Whereas artificial stupidity is dirt simple. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-kill-himself-on-january-20/929593/199 "2021-01-10T17:28:23Z")
Instead of the Turing test I guess it would be the Tuscoops test. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-kill-himself-on-january-20/929593/200 "2021-01-10T17:33:32Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > It’s getting legit weird that Trump has been radio-silent and off social media for 72 hours without using, you know, the enormous TV studio in his residence that is dedicated to facilitating him speaking directly to the people. You see, _we’re_ going through withdrawal too. And at the worst possible time, Schadenfreude time. Won’t somebody please hack the security video feed in the White House so we can see him melting down? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-kill-himself-on-january-20/929593/201 "2021-01-10T17:39:06Z")
As any infantryman will tell you, the most dangerous time in a battle is when you’ve just lost contact with the enemy. You know they’re nearby, you know they’re angry, and you no longer know where they are are or what they’re doing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-kill-himself-on-january-20/929593.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-kill-himself-on-january-20/929593.md?page=11)