I could use some advice. A friend of mine suggested that Elon Musk has no ulterior motive for what he's doing. I said, he's after more money and more power. My friend scoffed and said he has enough money and power for a lifetime.
What could I say to this person which might be persuasive? I am not great at debating.
The Joe Rogans of the world, who are paid to simply regurgitate rumors, conspiracies and misinformation, will continue to erode the American public’s hold on reality. People like to feel like they know things, and they enjoy feeling like they are pulling back the curtain to expose the real truth. Protestors are all secretly paid. Rosa Park’s boyfriend had a car. Idaho Mom discovers cure for Measles.
Gossip rags have been around for decades. But the Sun and Enquirer were considered silly, obviously ridiculous entertainment. Only the fringiest of fringe minds looked to these sources for actual news. It was entertainment, just far stupider and lacking any thoughtful humor or satire compared to Mad Magazine or National Lampoon, which were often actually saying poignant, insightful things.
But here we are, quickly losing our grip on truth, facts and reality, as the social media platforms occupy a greater and greater importance in people’s minds. It’s probably why Democrats lost many of the younger voters we expected to come out for Harris. Young people should be horrified and disgusted by Trump and all he represents. But anyone who spends time around today’s teenagers can confirm that things are changing. Kids are afraid to talk to people on the phone. They are conditioned to deal in texts and PMs. Those are safer, less immediate or unpredictable. Many struggle with work ethic. And young people are often highly influenced by social media, and they struggle to differentiate between true and false information, or to even appreciate any reason to. There are few consequences on social media for sharing misinformation. In fact, there is reward in the moment for sharing a shocking revelation, true or false.
Unless we first recognize the crisis misinformation poses online, then agree to implement rigorous safeguards and penalties, it will only cause more people to be totally unmoored from reality. Republicans want misinformation to spread, as it’s another unregulated trillion dollar industry, and misinformation put Trump in the White House twice, despite overwhelming evidence that he was unfit, and even worse, that his candidacy was contrary to the vast majority of voter interests. Convincing uninformed voters to vote against their interests is a staple of republican politics.
There are probably very few of the commenters on here who get more email from Democrats all over the country. For example, apparently each subsequent mayor of Seattle gets my name on a mailing list because I gave my email about five mayors ago and left Seattle before any of the rest took office. Half the Massachusetts Congressional delegation has my email because I gave it to Elizabeth Warren. Andy Levin is a distant connection so lots of Michigan politicians have my email.
I've never once been offered a nickel by George Soros. And we have a mutual friend.
Oh. You absolutely do not need those shoes in your life. I hope you were kidding. I am sure your non-gold toes are just fine! If for some reason they aren't, I publicly offer to get you a pedicure.
And also, I got taken advantage of! I protested at Tesla on Saturday and got ZIP! Other than people honking and waving.
“It was inevitable that at least a few Soros operatives would be in the audience,” Musk said, as if he were not the one actually trying to buy an election. “Give my regards to George!”
`
So, is bribing people totally cool and totally legal, or isn't it?
These troglodytes couldn't even SPELL "consistent".
In all seriousness, what are Elon Musk's accomplishments? What has he done that was of any real intrinsic value? Same goes for Donlad Trump and the majority of cabinet members.
If you remember HS biology, you learned about something called symbiosis which defined the relationship between or among living organisms. There are three primary categories
1) Mutualism: All involved benefit from the relaionship
2) Commesnalism: One benefits the other is unaffected.
3) Parasitism: One benefits, the other is harmed
If we view the relationship between the current asdministration and the general population from the standpoint of symbiosis, It"s glaringly apparent into which categfory it falls
I could use some advice. A friend of mine suggested that Elon Musk has no ulterior motive for what he's doing. I said, he's after more money and more power. My friend scoffed and said he has enough money and power for a lifetime.
What could I say to this person which might be persuasive? I am not great at debating.
Why not these?
https://tomandlorenzo.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Schiaparelli-Trompe-Loeil-Toe-Shoes-Style-Fashion-Accessories-Tom-Lorenzo-Site-10.jpg
Kara Swisher says Elmo dresses like a Lesbian she dated in the '80's.
Robyn, the only time those shoes should ever be worn is in a community theater production of Goldfinger, and even *then*.....
I would encourage Robyn to step away from those shoes. They look like something a Trump supporter might wear.
Robyn - those shoes - that's deflection-level material right there. What have you done...🤔
If Soros is handing out all this money, why am I still so poor? Maybe he realizes nobody has to pay me to say “Fuck Trump!”
The gal of this guy to suggest someone else is paying protesters /as he is literally buying votes/ is pretty...wow
Edit: OH and at least we know now what he is doing with all that money doge is stealing from everyone
The Joe Rogans of the world, who are paid to simply regurgitate rumors, conspiracies and misinformation, will continue to erode the American public’s hold on reality. People like to feel like they know things, and they enjoy feeling like they are pulling back the curtain to expose the real truth. Protestors are all secretly paid. Rosa Park’s boyfriend had a car. Idaho Mom discovers cure for Measles.
Gossip rags have been around for decades. But the Sun and Enquirer were considered silly, obviously ridiculous entertainment. Only the fringiest of fringe minds looked to these sources for actual news. It was entertainment, just far stupider and lacking any thoughtful humor or satire compared to Mad Magazine or National Lampoon, which were often actually saying poignant, insightful things.
But here we are, quickly losing our grip on truth, facts and reality, as the social media platforms occupy a greater and greater importance in people’s minds. It’s probably why Democrats lost many of the younger voters we expected to come out for Harris. Young people should be horrified and disgusted by Trump and all he represents. But anyone who spends time around today’s teenagers can confirm that things are changing. Kids are afraid to talk to people on the phone. They are conditioned to deal in texts and PMs. Those are safer, less immediate or unpredictable. Many struggle with work ethic. And young people are often highly influenced by social media, and they struggle to differentiate between true and false information, or to even appreciate any reason to. There are few consequences on social media for sharing misinformation. In fact, there is reward in the moment for sharing a shocking revelation, true or false.
Unless we first recognize the crisis misinformation poses online, then agree to implement rigorous safeguards and penalties, it will only cause more people to be totally unmoored from reality. Republicans want misinformation to spread, as it’s another unregulated trillion dollar industry, and misinformation put Trump in the White House twice, despite overwhelming evidence that he was unfit, and even worse, that his candidacy was contrary to the vast majority of voter interests. Convincing uninformed voters to vote against their interests is a staple of republican politics.
There are probably very few of the commenters on here who get more email from Democrats all over the country. For example, apparently each subsequent mayor of Seattle gets my name on a mailing list because I gave my email about five mayors ago and left Seattle before any of the rest took office. Half the Massachusetts Congressional delegation has my email because I gave it to Elizabeth Warren. Andy Levin is a distant connection so lots of Michigan politicians have my email.
I've never once been offered a nickel by George Soros. And we have a mutual friend.
Oh. You absolutely do not need those shoes in your life. I hope you were kidding. I am sure your non-gold toes are just fine! If for some reason they aren't, I publicly offer to get you a pedicure.
And also, I got taken advantage of! I protested at Tesla on Saturday and got ZIP! Other than people honking and waving.
“It was inevitable that at least a few Soros operatives would be in the audience,” Musk said, as if he were not the one actually trying to buy an election. “Give my regards to George!”
`
So, is bribing people totally cool and totally legal, or isn't it?
These troglodytes couldn't even SPELL "consistent".
Written in 1946. Sounds ominously prescient.
The Castle Edwin Muir
All through that summer at ease we lay,
And daily from the turret wall
We watched the mowers in the hay
And the enemy half a mile away.
They seemed no threat to us at all.
For what, we thought, had we to fear
With our arms and provender, load on load,
Our towering battlements, tier on tier,
And friendly allies drawing near
On every leafy summer road.
Our gates were strong, our walls were thick,
So smooth and high, no man could win
A foothold there, no clever trick
Could take us in, have us dead or quick.
Only a bird could have got in.
What could they offer us for bait?
Our captain was brave and we were true...
There was a little private gate,
A little wicked wicket gate.
The wizened warder let them through.
Oh then our maze of tunnelled stone
Grew thin and treacherous as air.
The cause was lost without a groan,
The famous citadel overthrown,
And all its secret galleries bare.
How can this shameful tale be told?
I will maintain until my death
We could do nothing, being sold;
Our only enemy was gold,
And we had no arms to fight it with.
Well if Joe Rogan sez it's true then it must be absolute bullshit.
"Schmiel, schlemiel - what's the fucking difference!?" The protesters missed their opportunity.
In all seriousness, what are Elon Musk's accomplishments? What has he done that was of any real intrinsic value? Same goes for Donlad Trump and the majority of cabinet members.
If you remember HS biology, you learned about something called symbiosis which defined the relationship between or among living organisms. There are three primary categories
1) Mutualism: All involved benefit from the relaionship
2) Commesnalism: One benefits the other is unaffected.
3) Parasitism: One benefits, the other is harmed
If we view the relationship between the current asdministration and the general population from the standpoint of symbiosis, It"s glaringly apparent into which categfory it falls
I mean obviously you deserve the big bucks from Soros for having prior experience in the field.