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Interesting. He also says in that interview he doesn't really have the inclination to be president. That's what I wonder about now, if he really wants this.

MichaelApproved 10y ago
He said "if it got so bad, I would never want to rule it out totally". He's been saying this for decades. I guess he finally thought it's bad enough for him to step in. I feel like I need to keep adding a disclaimer that I'm not a Trump supporter because my comments make it seem like I agree with him. I'm simply stating his views because I keep seeing people project their own feelings onto him even though he has been clear about many parts of his platform. Sure, he's had to walk back many statements or clarify that he was "being sarcastic" but there are many parts of his platform where he is crystal clear, yet people don't think he'd actually pursue those policies.
- Yetanfou 10y ago
  ...I feel like I need to keep adding a disclaimer that I'm not a Trump supporter... Please don't, it does not add anything to the discourse. It does not matter whether you support him or not when pointing out facts (or fallacies, for that matter). Having to add disclaimers all the time is a damper on any discussion and as such should be avoided. Those who lack the wisdom to separate their personal opinion on people who support a certain policy or person from the merits of what those people say need to take a gander at the following rant: President Trump: How & Why... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLG9g7BcjKs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLG9g7BcjKs
  - jessaustin 10y ago
    In one sense you're right, but without such disclaimers we might be subjected to long threads of asinine assumptions and uncharitable translations.
  - linkregister 10y ago
    Maybe you have the intense discipline and perfection to fail to make the mistake, but I doubt most of us on HN are devoting that much attention to our biases to completely avoid it. Most humans struggle to do this. I think it's useful to add a hedge or disclaimer. I see this come up frequently on HN, usually not as well-worded as your response. Typically it's just "ad hominem" with the link to the logical fallacy on wikipedia. But the source of a fact or argument is valuable information. Since humans have finite time and attention, it's useful to know why someone is making an argument. Wouldn't you want to know if a drug study was sponsored by its manufacturer before believing it?
    - Yetanfou 10y ago
      Wouldn't you want to know if a drug study was sponsored by its manufacturer before believing it? That is not the same thing. I assume someone is not sponsored by a manufacturer unless such a sponsorship is explicitly stated. I also expect someone who is in fact sponsored by a manufacturer to state this explicitly as that would be relevant in the interpretation of that person's claims which, in the context of drug studies, can be judged objectively. In the context of a political or societal discussion it is much harder to be objective as those fields are largely subjective - there generally is no absolute truth. Seen in that light it is hardly relevant whether a person supports this or that party, policy or politician when discussing claims about their merits as other participants in the discussion can make up their own minds on the subject regardless of what the claimant thinks about them. I'd go on step further and claim that the discussion would actually improve when such disclaimers are left out as it would reduce the influence of group think and open up the possibility to discuss matters which fall outside of the comfort zone without needing to excuse oneself for even mentioning the subject. This would only work in a place where the discourse is generally polite and thoughtful, HN being an example of such.
      - mercer 10y ago
        > This would only work in a place where the discourse is generally polite and thoughtful, HN being an example of such. Sadly, I'd say the fact that every other commenter seems to go out of their way to point out that they're not a Trump supporter, and the fact that I feel the need to do so myself, is evidence enough that HN is not polite and thoughtful enough when it comes to this issue. And honestly I wouldn't expect that from HN, even though I do feel this is still a place where there is relatively more politeness and thoughtfulness.
- deleted 10y ago
  [deleted]

MichaelApproved 10y ago

He said "if it got so bad, I would never want to rule it out totally". He's been saying this for decades. I guess he finally thought it's bad enough for him to step in. I feel like I need to keep adding a disclaimer that I'm not a Trump supporter because my comments make it seem like I agree with him. I'm simply stating his views because I keep seeing people project their own feelings onto him even though he has been clear about many parts of his platform. Sure, he's had to walk back many statements or clarify that he was "being sarcastic" but there are many parts of his platform where he is crystal clear, yet people don't think he'd actually pursue those policies.

Yetanfou 10y ago
...I feel like I need to keep adding a disclaimer that I'm not a Trump supporter... Please don't, it does not add anything to the discourse. It does not matter whether you support him or not when pointing out facts (or fallacies, for that matter). Having to add disclaimers all the time is a damper on any discussion and as such should be avoided. Those who lack the wisdom to separate their personal opinion on people who support a certain policy or person from the merits of what those people say need to take a gander at the following rant: President Trump: How & Why... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLG9g7BcjKs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLG9g7BcjKs
- jessaustin 10y ago
  In one sense you're right, but without such disclaimers we might be subjected to long threads of asinine assumptions and uncharitable translations.
- linkregister 10y ago
  Maybe you have the intense discipline and perfection to fail to make the mistake, but I doubt most of us on HN are devoting that much attention to our biases to completely avoid it. Most humans struggle to do this. I think it's useful to add a hedge or disclaimer. I see this come up frequently on HN, usually not as well-worded as your response. Typically it's just "ad hominem" with the link to the logical fallacy on wikipedia. But the source of a fact or argument is valuable information. Since humans have finite time and attention, it's useful to know why someone is making an argument. Wouldn't you want to know if a drug study was sponsored by its manufacturer before believing it?
  - Yetanfou 10y ago
    Wouldn't you want to know if a drug study was sponsored by its manufacturer before believing it? That is not the same thing. I assume someone is not sponsored by a manufacturer unless such a sponsorship is explicitly stated. I also expect someone who is in fact sponsored by a manufacturer to state this explicitly as that would be relevant in the interpretation of that person's claims which, in the context of drug studies, can be judged objectively. In the context of a political or societal discussion it is much harder to be objective as those fields are largely subjective - there generally is no absolute truth. Seen in that light it is hardly relevant whether a person supports this or that party, policy or politician when discussing claims about their merits as other participants in the discussion can make up their own minds on the subject regardless of what the claimant thinks about them. I'd go on step further and claim that the discussion would actually improve when such disclaimers are left out as it would reduce the influence of group think and open up the possibility to discuss matters which fall outside of the comfort zone without needing to excuse oneself for even mentioning the subject. This would only work in a place where the discourse is generally polite and thoughtful, HN being an example of such.
    - mercer 10y ago
      > This would only work in a place where the discourse is generally polite and thoughtful, HN being an example of such. Sadly, I'd say the fact that every other commenter seems to go out of their way to point out that they're not a Trump supporter, and the fact that I feel the need to do so myself, is evidence enough that HN is not polite and thoughtful enough when it comes to this issue. And honestly I wouldn't expect that from HN, even though I do feel this is still a place where there is relatively more politeness and thoughtfulness.
deleted 10y ago
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