I don't care one way or another about the Elizabeth Warren DNA kerfuffle; it's silliness bred of Trump's lunacy, not a serious political matter.
But—*but*—the blowback on Warren is useful as a reminder that facts, science, and really truth of any kind is now anathema to the GOP.
But—*but*—the blowback on Warren is useful as a reminder that facts, science, and really truth of any kind is now anathema to the GOP.
2/ If you're online trying to convince a Trumpist of *anything*—I mean *anything*—stop right now.
The Trumpists' reaction to Warren's DNA test—a cacophony of fact-free insanity about race and DNA and even just *the bare facts of what happened*—tells you you're wasting your time.
The Trumpists' reaction to Warren's DNA test—a cacophony of fact-free insanity about race and DNA and even just *the bare facts of what happened*—tells you you're wasting your time.
3/ I don't see the point in baiting Trumpists, or insulting them, or calling attention to their madness on a daily basis. These people are fundamentally unserious about truth, discourse, and anything resembling a community of ideas. So:
1) Ignore them—completely.
2) Vote—always.
1) Ignore them—completely.
2) Vote—always.
4/ I don't always live up to that standard, but I'm *trying*. I'm *trying* to ignore as beneath dialogic significance those who say "most people" have Native American ancestry, or who can't read basic studies to understand Warren's DNA test, or who say Trump never made a bet, &c.
5/ Trump wants to call Warren "Pocahontas" because he's a racist, wants to appeal to racists, and his cult-like following so ignores *everything bad he does* that they think that, had she lied—she didn't—*this* (this!) would be worse than anything Trump has done.
*Process that*.
*Process that*.
6/ So I think Warren was right to get the truth out—as truth matters. But the idea that *anyone* would think Trump hearing the truth would change *anything* about his behavior suggests America needs some lessons in how abusers operate. They *do not change*. They *do not improve*.
7/ Warren should've said, "I'm doing this for *me*. I'm doing this for my *mom*. I'm doing this because I'm a professor and I think truth *matters*."
But to do it for Trump or for his cult is to demonstrate a fundamental misunderstanding of what's happening in America right now.
But to do it for Trump or for his cult is to demonstrate a fundamental misunderstanding of what's happening in America right now.
8/ I don't call Trump's core supporters—his hard base (20% of voters)—"cultists" to start an insult war, make myself feel good, prove my bona fides as a Trump critic, or whatever. I say it because I agree with @rezaaslan that Trump's base exhibits *all* the signs of being a cult.
9/ We must not lose sight of normalcy. Normal people know when a man has made a bet; normal people know how to read hard data about someone's ancestry; normal people call a lie a lie and know calling women "horseface" is out of bounds. Cultists literally *don't* know any of this.
10/ Every American on social media needs to learn to *recognize* cultists.
When you do—and when you find you're interacting with one—don't get angry, don't insult them, don't call them a "bot," don't swear or engage in *any way*. Just walk away slowly.
Cultists are beyond hope.
When you do—and when you find you're interacting with one—don't get angry, don't insult them, don't call them a "bot," don't swear or engage in *any way*. Just walk away slowly.
Cultists are beyond hope.
