this post was submitted on 01 May 2025
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They do it themselves and already accuse everyone else of sharing fake stuff. Has the moral high ground really worked so far?
All I see is that lies and appeal to emotion is what has given them real power. So when it comes to ridiculing the trump administration, I say fuck it, the alternative hasn't worked so far. It's only gotten worse
It has nothing to do with morality. People largely distrust politicians and politics in general. "Never Trump" Republicans and middle-of-the-road Independents. People we actually do need to vote. They'll say "both sides are the same" when they're obviously not. When we prove them right by stooping to the extremists' level, they disengage, along with millions of other people. They won't trust us, and why should they?
And I ask again, has that call to voting and high-roading strategy worked so far? All I see is a fascist US that will now inevitably end in bloodshed. People already disengaged without the opposition "stooping down to extremist levels". I'd even argue that that sort of weak opposition is exactly why people disengaged in the first place
Not to mention, the US is beyond that stage now. Fascism has arrived there, and it has entrenched itself. It will not leave peacefully, just like it didn't historically. No matter what, it's time for new strategies
Literally no one is saying to use the "high road", I'm saying that, as a strategy, using disinformation will not accomplish our goals. And that's not even taking into account the results. You think tricking people into following us based on doctored images will get loyal, dependable supporters??
Look, you have your opinion and I have mine. Plenty of progressive think tanks, organizations, podcasts, etc will do focus groups and surveys closer to the midterms elections. At which point we'll have a better understanding of voters and messaging... In the meantime, I can only speak for myself: I, personally am far less likely to support any candidate that uses disinformation and blatant lies. Am I alone? Maybe. But I'm willing to bet there's millions more that feel the same way...
We don't get to peek at an alternate universe in which non-MAGA decided to play dirty too.
For all you know, many people who voted against Trump would've stayed home if alternatives were just as dishonest.
We don't need to look at an alternate one to see that your way already hasn't worked
A fire not being resolved by throwing a bucket of water on it doesn't mean it's time to break out the gasoline.
"But your bucket of water didn't work!"
I think we honestly have to step back and wonder how why so many people are emphatically obsessed with the lie and derailing discourse with it, rather than picking and choosing any of the actual, factual items of a similar nature that have actual evidence backing them up.
My guess is its a probing campaign trying to see if right wing troll farms can sow discord and muddy the discussions, or trying to pull pliable people into the misinformation/echochamber bubble.
agreed. it's appropriate sometimes, especially when humor and mockery is being used to generate a sentiment/vibe. no one believes this meme image is meant to establish an orderly basis of factual reality based consensus about Trump. it's a joke.
besides, there is no amount of "high roading" with facts and logic that will reverse millions of hours of targeted brainwashing that caused a third of the population to vote against their own interests. we need to use multiple tactics, and appeals to humor/vibes/insults is one way we can make those backwards voters feel differently.
end of the day, subtle manipulation of images to create a vibe WORKS on people and shifts perceptions. the left should weaponize it to achieve goals, imo.