4 ms·

I think people lose sight of this. You don't make (or keep) that kind of money by being stupid. Ethics is a different story.

welcome_dragon 8y ago
Wtf guys? You can't have a reasonable discussion like this!
- anonytrary 8y ago
  Honestly, I'm a bit surprised that people on HN downvote literally anything that is neutral on Trump. "Orange man bad" is an epidemic that affects even the smart people.
  - bhhaskin 8y ago
    It's a pretty sad state of affairs. Makes it nearly impossible to have any sort of honest conversation about politics, and definitely has a chilling effect. I debated even making the comment because I knew it would draw down votes.
    - dmix 8y ago
      I think the entire point of viciously attacking anyone who shows any sign of being part of the "opponents" ideology is to chill that persons speech. They just don't realize that type of tactic not only fails to silence people but also (quietly) pushes tons of people who normally don't have a horse in the game to the other side. There are plenty of politically ambivalent people who don't want a world ruled by an ideology opposed to open debate/free thought and which actively seeks to destroy context/intention in language in the name of "progress".
      - drak0n1c 8y ago
        There is a comedy skit about what it's like trying to mention the grounded practicalities behind current events in the presence of those who find it outrageous to dig deeper than the headlines: "Stop Making Me Defend Donald Trump!" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eq0X4qDlR0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eq0X4qDlR0
krapp 8y ago
He might not be stupid, but he is willfully ignorant, and proudly so. While I would agree the media and public go a bit overboard in infantilizing him, his behavior and persona make it very difficult to give him the benefit of the doubt.
- bhhaskin 8y ago
  I think ignorance plays a part, but my money is on he just doesn't care. Infantilizing him might make it more relatable for the average person, but it's just click bait BS. We should call it like it is; He is a sociopath, and anything less is underestimating him. He has a brand and knows how to project it, and will do anything to get "ahead" and feed his ego. Collateral damage be damned.
  - goliatone 8y ago
    I think Trump might defy the mainstream definition of intelligence and in a twisted and narrow sense he might have something approaching cunning and a primitive feedback loop modulating his speech like the YouTube algorithm, optimizing for one goal sacrificing everything else

welcome_dragon 8y ago

Wtf guys? You can't have a reasonable discussion like this!

anonytrary 8y ago
Honestly, I'm a bit surprised that people on HN downvote literally anything that is neutral on Trump. "Orange man bad" is an epidemic that affects even the smart people.
- bhhaskin 8y ago
  It's a pretty sad state of affairs. Makes it nearly impossible to have any sort of honest conversation about politics, and definitely has a chilling effect. I debated even making the comment because I knew it would draw down votes.
  - dmix 8y ago
    I think the entire point of viciously attacking anyone who shows any sign of being part of the "opponents" ideology is to chill that persons speech. They just don't realize that type of tactic not only fails to silence people but also (quietly) pushes tons of people who normally don't have a horse in the game to the other side. There are plenty of politically ambivalent people who don't want a world ruled by an ideology opposed to open debate/free thought and which actively seeks to destroy context/intention in language in the name of "progress".
    - drak0n1c 8y ago
      There is a comedy skit about what it's like trying to mention the grounded practicalities behind current events in the presence of those who find it outrageous to dig deeper than the headlines: "Stop Making Me Defend Donald Trump!" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eq0X4qDlR0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eq0X4qDlR0

krapp 8y ago

He might not be stupid, but he is willfully ignorant, and proudly so. While I would agree the media and public go a bit overboard in infantilizing him, his behavior and persona make it very difficult to give him the benefit of the doubt.

bhhaskin 8y ago
I think ignorance plays a part, but my money is on he just doesn't care. Infantilizing him might make it more relatable for the average person, but it's just click bait BS. We should call it like it is; He is a sociopath, and anything less is underestimating him. He has a brand and knows how to project it, and will do anything to get "ahead" and feed his ego. Collateral damage be damned.
- goliatone 8y ago
  I think Trump might defy the mainstream definition of intelligence and in a twisted and narrow sense he might have something approaching cunning and a primitive feedback loop modulating his speech like the YouTube algorithm, optimizing for one goal sacrificing everything else