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Why are people on TSR so different in their views than other people (in general)?

I've even seen people supporting Trump... Really?

My guess is that people who go to the trouble of registering and posting on an internet discussion forum probably have stronger views than most hence the polemic approach. :dontknow:

Reply 2

Luke7456

Original post by a-98

I've even seen people supporting Trump... Really?

Yes really look if you. Elieve the main stream media propaganda which is acting for corrupt foreign interests and corrupt corporate interests then trump is literally the next hitler we will have concentration camps throughout America nuclear world war three he supports rape and is a rapist and is an active nazi oh and he flew to Russia just to pay prostitutes to piss on a mattress because Obama once slept on it.

I feel I seriously believed any of that I'd have serious misgivings about him the thing is I can think critically research elsewhere other then main stream headlines and spot ********. I don't believe any of it, hence how I can support him. You likely can only believe things in your echo chamber of media lies and thus think that is all their is to the debate. It's not because these people are supporting ridicolous idea so it's because your thinking to narrow to recognise your sources are not that reliable.

Reply 3

Tempest II

Original post by a-98

I've even seen people supporting Trump... Really?

Seeing as Trump is now the President of the USA it makes sense that people support him. He did win something called an election even if Clinton beat him by popular vote.

Reply 4

Drunk Punx

What makes you think that they're different? I honestly can't see much of a difference between the (individual) content posted on here and the content posted on Reddit.

This site has over a million registered members and, whilst most are long inactive, it's not exactly a stretch to assume that the opinions posted on here are representative of those held by the general public, especially considering that the userbase covers pretty much all of the political spectrum.

Reply 5

Wōden

Original post by a-98

I've even seen people supporting Trump... Really?

If you are suprised about that, it says a lot about you and the circles you must move in. Clearly you have been in an echo chamber for too long and believe everybody shares your views. Well sorry, a lot of us don't.

Reply 6

MrSuavetopia

Original post by Mathemagicien

We had a similar discussion about this some weeks ago. Here are some of the responses.

TSR's demographics

I don't buy the argument that the internet attracts right-wing types. It does however attract a certain demographic, which is right-wing on the issues most commonly discussed in News and Current Affairs.

TSR's demographics are largely white, middle class, young tech-savvy introverts, and these people tend to be left-wing on many issues (for example, drug legalisation or internet privacy), while also being right-wing on other issues (e.g. tolerance of Islam, BLM).

TSR has a lot of edgy teenagers realising that they're allowed to question things. Once you realize popular wisdom or your middle school teacher might have been wrong about one thing ("the Soviets were as bad as the Nazis" for the obvious example) you start thinking that maybe other things you've always heard were wrong too ("Socialism is as bad as Nazism. I am so cool and educated and everyone else is a moron." ).

People online express views which they wouldn't dare express in person - for example, support of UKIP, Britain First, or even Trump.

News and Current Affairs was, at one point, slightly more right-wing than other forums for some reason - perhaps after a major terrorist attack - and this attracted more right-wingers and pushed away left-wingers, so that the disparity increased.

Right-wingers feel safer voicing their opinions online

The internet attracts right-wingers

Leftists gave up

jape

Right-wingers are more vocal

As well summarised here, you do have a range. In fact, I think since Trump's inauguration, you've seen a shift in that anti-Trump sentiment here is much more vocal than prior.

Most people here certainly don't support Trump, and it would nice to see those who don't speaking out more and more for the sake of better quality discussion.

Reply 7

astutehirstute

Original post by a-98

I've even seen people supporting Trump... Really?

It is not hard for a Briton to support Trump, so long as you are able to see though all the media spin. The sort of slanted, post truth nonsense on the BBC.

Obama hated the UK pretty much, He said that we would be at the back of the queue for a trade deal when we left the EU, and he met Merkel well before the then PM Gordon Brown. Who got in just after the Leader of South Korea, I believe.

At that meeting Brown gave him a pen holder made by one of the finest craftsmen in the world, from the salvaged wood of a famous anti slavery ship. Obama gave him a CD of Singing in the Rain.

Trump, per contra, has met our PM at the end of his first week in office. Before any other world leader. He has promised we can have a trade deal as soon as we leave the EU. He doesn't plan to meet Merkei at all until the G20 meeting in July. So far aw we know anyway.

So talk me through why Obama was such a wonderful President for us and Trump a disaster?

Reply 8

Rakas21

It's probably worth saying that even when the left were dominant TSR always had the ability to surprise. I once ran a thread discussing limiting vouchers to welfare and even if we ignore the debate, the poll (with several hundred votes) showed a narrow win for the idea. The userbase is more representative of the country outside London than some would like it to be.

The only difference today is that the left are losing the debate. They've called people racist or transphobic or bigoted for too long and its pissed people off. Think about why the Scots went 45% to Leave, if you call people small and poor and incapable eventually there comes a time when they'll either lose self confidence and submit or break your nose for it, elections/referena give an opportunity for the later to take place.

Reply 9

astutehirstute

Original post by Rakas21

The only difference today is that the left are losing the debate.

That is the point.

TSR just reflects the wider world in which the left has nothing to say that isn't wrong.

That bizarre, sad protest march at being defeated, summed it up for me.

I half expected to read a placard by a transgender "person of colour" saying "Hands off my black pussy!"

You wouldn't be surprised would you? The left is just there to be despised or laughed at nowadays

:biggrin: