I am 100% loving this unity message. I used it every chance I get here in deep garnet SC. Just randomly say, "wow, that's weird" and see who gets triggered in the grocery line or at the gym so I can blink innocently at them and say "I wasn't talking about you." (even if I was). Petty? Maybe. I just hope we can raise enough money to pay for all the lawyers it's going to take to make sure that every state's votes are certified properly and the whole thing doesn't get thrown to the Supreme Court.
true that. But what I'm reading about that very possibility (swing states not certifying on Drump's "orders") is kind of terrifying. Would love to know your thoughts on that in a 'Stack!
it's scary for sure...but fwiw, I think Trump has a lot fewer options for fighting the results since he's not in power. the biggest threat I think is just him winning outright.
One small point: for the most part, neither Harris nor other Democrats are calling MAGA followers “weird”. They are calling Trump-Vance personally, as well as their *ideas* “weird”.
There’s little to be gained by insulting their followers, but *lots* to be gained by laughing at their leaders and their lame ideas that “take us back” by decades, maybe even centuries.
It is funny that weird is just another word for deplorable, and all that has changed is the conservatives love being deplorable, but can’t stand being weird.
The underlying racist and fascist behavior is the same, is the same. It might have something to do with the rise of cringe as a memeable adjective.or maybe it is that primary contestants are so extreme that they actually are insane weirdos.
Whatever the cause, it is nice to feel like we can call out this behavior and not have them wear it as a badge of honor.
I'm very supportive of this new messaging, it's true, it's not the same as attacking them for things they attack others for (like gender, race, religious affiliation etc) but it provokes them into saying more vile, weird shit so it's going to continue to be fruitful.
I am concerned that the majority of Democratic voters that want a ceasefire are feeling pressure not to spoil the party. And I find that troubling.
If we could just agree to stop helping Israel commit war crimes I'd be so stoked about everything I might even be able to be optimistic for the first time since around 2009.
There are going to be protests re Gaza at the DNC for sure.
I don't think that people committed on the issue will stop protesting or criticizing the party. I think that for most D voters it's not really top of mind though (foreign policy is rarely a major issue in elections unless there are a lot of US casualties, which obviously isn't the case right now.)
you know...democracy. it's better than the other options, but there are still problems.
on the plus side, the fact that you can't necessarily get a lot of people engaged means that the admin probably has a good bit of leeway to change course, despite the claims of vocal zionists.
It's not democracy that's the problem. I realize that. The problem is the same thing it always is, it's hard to get people to pay attention to things that aren't immediately impacting their lives.
I agree with your overall sentiment, but I don’t think calling Trump “weird” is bullying. That word has too many negative connotations for me. Instead, it’s putting him on the back foot, and as the bully he is, that puts him in an unknown, uncomfortable, and vulnerable position.
In my house, we ask the question, “is it bad weird or good weird?” Trump and his minion party are BAD weird. Really really weird and bad. Yes it feels good to say it!
I’m of the opinion that any of the following will suffice for Trump, Vance and assorted sycophants: freak, weirdo, bizarre, sociopathic Really, the list could be much longer.
Still, it's a LOT like a gay person, or ally, using The Other "F" Word to describe patently unmanly (like Ron DeSantis and his Kinky Boots, or Lindsey Graham and his Viperous Suthrin' Belle affectations, or Mike Johnson radiating "pedophile Sunday School Teacher" vibes), allegedly straight White Right Wing Men. It feels like a boomerang that's going to come back on us after they all go to ultra-toxic extremes to "Prove Their Manhood"!
It worries me, and I say this as a guy who used a LOT of homophobic slurs against Right Wing Men until some LGBT friends and relatives said, "If you say you're not a homophobe, then why do you treat Republican Men Being Gay as the WORST thing they can be...?" I argued, as you do here, that it's because THEY think it's the worst thing, so rubbing it in drives them crazy! Those that didn't leave in disgust told me that while I may THINK that's what I'm saying, to them it sounds like I'm saying Being GAY is the Worst Thing a Person Can Be....
Admittedly, "weird" is not nearly as loaded a term as...British slang for a cigarette is. Still, it makes me wonder if Harris and the DNC aren't pushing "Normalcy" far too hard as the head of a highly diverse Party, many of whose members are proudly "weird".
part of why weird works is because it's *not* a homophobic slur. It's an insult that isn't really closely connected to any specific marginalized group.
I am 100% loving this unity message. I used it every chance I get here in deep garnet SC. Just randomly say, "wow, that's weird" and see who gets triggered in the grocery line or at the gym so I can blink innocently at them and say "I wasn't talking about you." (even if I was). Petty? Maybe. I just hope we can raise enough money to pay for all the lawyers it's going to take to make sure that every state's votes are certified properly and the whole thing doesn't get thrown to the Supreme Court.
Well, she has raised a lot of money!
true that. But what I'm reading about that very possibility (swing states not certifying on Drump's "orders") is kind of terrifying. Would love to know your thoughts on that in a 'Stack!
it's scary for sure...but fwiw, I think Trump has a lot fewer options for fighting the results since he's not in power. the biggest threat I think is just him winning outright.
“Also he’s orange for some reason.”
Great article, Noah!
One small point: for the most part, neither Harris nor other Democrats are calling MAGA followers “weird”. They are calling Trump-Vance personally, as well as their *ideas* “weird”.
There’s little to be gained by insulting their followers, but *lots* to be gained by laughing at their leaders and their lame ideas that “take us back” by decades, maybe even centuries.
It is funny that weird is just another word for deplorable, and all that has changed is the conservatives love being deplorable, but can’t stand being weird.
The underlying racist and fascist behavior is the same, is the same. It might have something to do with the rise of cringe as a memeable adjective.or maybe it is that primary contestants are so extreme that they actually are insane weirdos.
Whatever the cause, it is nice to feel like we can call out this behavior and not have them wear it as a badge of honor.
I suspect that deplorable, a four syllable word, comes across as a mature adult adjective.
Yawn.
While weird is clearly a word from childhood, used by children, which everybody immediately digests and perhaps even enjoys.
I'm very supportive of this new messaging, it's true, it's not the same as attacking them for things they attack others for (like gender, race, religious affiliation etc) but it provokes them into saying more vile, weird shit so it's going to continue to be fruitful.
I am concerned that the majority of Democratic voters that want a ceasefire are feeling pressure not to spoil the party. And I find that troubling.
If we could just agree to stop helping Israel commit war crimes I'd be so stoked about everything I might even be able to be optimistic for the first time since around 2009.
There are going to be protests re Gaza at the DNC for sure.
I don't think that people committed on the issue will stop protesting or criticizing the party. I think that for most D voters it's not really top of mind though (foreign policy is rarely a major issue in elections unless there are a lot of US casualties, which obviously isn't the case right now.)
That's depressing.
you know...democracy. it's better than the other options, but there are still problems.
on the plus side, the fact that you can't necessarily get a lot of people engaged means that the admin probably has a good bit of leeway to change course, despite the claims of vocal zionists.
It's not democracy that's the problem. I realize that. The problem is the same thing it always is, it's hard to get people to pay attention to things that aren't immediately impacting their lives.
I agree with your overall sentiment, but I don’t think calling Trump “weird” is bullying. That word has too many negative connotations for me. Instead, it’s putting him on the back foot, and as the bully he is, that puts him in an unknown, uncomfortable, and vulnerable position.
I will say, I love the thought of Trump feeling like a weak, WEAK man!
Still not sold on "weird", though.
In my house, we ask the question, “is it bad weird or good weird?” Trump and his minion party are BAD weird. Really really weird and bad. Yes it feels good to say it!
I’m of the opinion that any of the following will suffice for Trump, Vance and assorted sycophants: freak, weirdo, bizarre, sociopathic Really, the list could be much longer.
Your citation of the power of repetition is spot on.
Kids discover it early and use the broken record technique to get candy, to get McDonald’s, and many other things from their tired parents.
As adults, we use it in business advertising where repetition is the well-known key to marketing.
I don't agree—I consider myself "weird".
I consider Republicans repulsive and vile, spoiled and childish, but not weird.
...Maybe...?
I need to study on this some.
Could be like Kamala Harris—I went from "It's a disaster!" to "YES! Take that, you feces-flinging Orangutan!"
I just don't like sharing "weird" with people I despise. Drag Queens? Sure! Pride parade attendees? Great! Bernie Bros? Pull up a seat!
Republicans...? Just get the fuck right outta here with your bigot Fascist shit....
Still, it's a LOT like a gay person, or ally, using The Other "F" Word to describe patently unmanly (like Ron DeSantis and his Kinky Boots, or Lindsey Graham and his Viperous Suthrin' Belle affectations, or Mike Johnson radiating "pedophile Sunday School Teacher" vibes), allegedly straight White Right Wing Men. It feels like a boomerang that's going to come back on us after they all go to ultra-toxic extremes to "Prove Their Manhood"!
It worries me, and I say this as a guy who used a LOT of homophobic slurs against Right Wing Men until some LGBT friends and relatives said, "If you say you're not a homophobe, then why do you treat Republican Men Being Gay as the WORST thing they can be...?" I argued, as you do here, that it's because THEY think it's the worst thing, so rubbing it in drives them crazy! Those that didn't leave in disgust told me that while I may THINK that's what I'm saying, to them it sounds like I'm saying Being GAY is the Worst Thing a Person Can Be....
Admittedly, "weird" is not nearly as loaded a term as...British slang for a cigarette is. Still, it makes me wonder if Harris and the DNC aren't pushing "Normalcy" far too hard as the head of a highly diverse Party, many of whose members are proudly "weird".
part of why weird works is because it's *not* a homophobic slur. It's an insult that isn't really closely connected to any specific marginalized group.
Worth reading Julia Serano on this I think? https://juliaserano.medium.com/some-queer-thoughts-about-the-weird-discourse-86aa6eb55894