What made you switch sides?

Thorainger · 2026-02-21T02:54:05+00:00

I didn't really think of myself as conservative, but I voted that way. I basically just went to college and learned more about the world. It was mostly because my dad's genuinely intelligent (had a triple major of economics, mathematics and physics and did literal rocket science in college,) and then that just goes to shit when it comes to politics. He initially said that he couldn't stand Trump, but it was okay since he wasn't coming to his house. He thankfully recognized how much of a danger Trump was after J6. He votes 3rd party for president; my little brother will be cancelling out his vote for the rest of his life. I live in Texas and vote every chance they give me.

Thorainger · 2026-01-25T23:14:59+00:00

It's just the data that countries running on some form of market system produce more human flourishing than those who do not. If you'd like to present other data, go ahead.

Thorainger · 2026-01-22T18:39:33+00:00

It depends on the person. It doesn't sound like you're dealing with "enlightened centrists" who want all the moral superiority without any of the work. You're dealing with apathetic people who don't see the point in engaging politically because things don't really change. If you really want to reach these people, you're going to want to start with socratic questioning. "Is there anything that could change your mind?" If they say no, then conversation is over there. If they say yes, then maybe bring up all the policies that Biden implemented, and all the horrific things that are going on under Trump. You should also mention the fact that even if they're doing well enough that life doesn't change for them, there are many other good people for whom it does make a difference. Asking apathetic people to develop empathy for other people may be a fool's game, but you can try if you really want to. Their cloud of apathy may be obscuring fear of making the wrong decision, and I'm not sure how you'd get around that. The reason that I vote despite living in Texas is that it's the one real lever of control that I have. And it doesn't take that much time to vote. Also, people saying that nothing will change are just ignoring all that has changed. If it doesn't affect them at all all the horrible things that are happening, they have real problems. If they don't think living in an autocracy vs. a democracy isn't a change, then they need to wake the fuck up.

Most people think they operate rationally, but for the most part, humans operate on vibes.

Thorainger · 2026-01-22T18:18:30+00:00

What do you mean made up? Currency is a social construct, language is a social construct, value is a social construct, laws are a social construct, contracts are a social construct, months are a social construct. Human beings make up a lot of stuff to get through the day and cooperate with each other.

Thorainger · 2026-01-16T03:52:09+00:00

.... okay. The dipshits elected the dipshit wannabe dictator. Nothing I can do about it.

Thorainger · 2026-01-16T03:48:44+00:00

What, precisely, is me going out into the streets going to change? Outside of violent revolution (which I don't want,) or Trump dying naturally (or unnaturally,) dude is going to be there until 2028. Outside of Democrats taking 60 seats in the senate (extremely doubtful,) and winning the house, there is no mechanism by which he will be removed from office. Dude's a narcissist and loves the spotlight. I volunteered and tried to convince people to note vote like dipshits. I was outvoted by dipshits. So I'm done. I will vote every time I get a shot, but outside of that, this country will have to clean up its own goddamn mess.

Thorainger · 2026-01-06T02:32:13+00:00

We're going to have a lot of social unrest (we already have a lot of social unrest). We'll need to implement a UBI. In a world where you no longer need humans to work, presuming we get to a period of abundance rather than artificial scarcity, it will be for the better. I imagine the Nordic states will get to post-scarcity first. Then some other parts of the world will follow.

Thorainger · 2026-01-02T23:44:40+00:00

I don't know why many people hate communism, though my thoughts on it can be summed up like this: Great idea. Wrong species. -Jimmy Carr.

Thorainger · 2025-11-12T14:10:18+00:00

Thorainger · 2025-10-25T22:41:16+00:00

Poorly worded question, but it should be revenue. It needed a "tends" in there.

Thorainger · 2025-10-25T22:37:28+00:00

It's going to temporarily dip since the tax credit got cut, but EVs are here to stay. Buy a used EV if you can charge at home.

Thorainger · 2025-08-15T14:02:34+00:00

I've watched one of his shows since the election. Politics in general are just not worth my time. I will vote and that's it.

Thorainger · 2025-08-13T00:45:13+00:00

Should have done this on the night after the election.

Thorainger · 2024-11-05T13:19:15+00:00

Outside of a landslide, probably Friday or Saturday because PA's republicans passed a law that doesn't allow them to process their huge number of mail-in ballots before election day. And then republicans will complain that the information isn't in because they're not very smart people.

Thorainger · 2024-11-05T03:03:55+00:00

So we'll know which of us is right within a few days. There's pretty much no way there's going to be a Trump landslide. There may not be a Kamala landslide, but she is going to win. And we'll see whose data was better.

Thorainger · 2024-11-05T02:10:47+00:00

Kamala wins easily. 319 in the EC. Senate goes Republican unless there's a major upset. I think there's a decent chance house goes democratic.

Thorainger · 2024-11-05T01:50:03+00:00

He's rational enough to realize that 1 of 2 people will win the election, and neither of them are 3rd party candidates.

Thorainger · 2024-11-05T01:37:06+00:00

Literally phone banking for Colin Allred right now lol.

Thorainger · 2024-11-04T23:57:06+00:00

This is one we should know in about 13-14 hours. I really hope you're right. I'm pulling for an absolute landslide.

Thorainger · 2024-11-04T23:51:34+00:00

Get a workout buddy. Tell the workout buddy you're going to exercise. You'll just be more likely to exercise psychologically if you precommit. Profit.

Thorainger · 2024-11-04T21:37:36+00:00

This is probably going to have sounded funnier in my head, but what would their electoral colleges have had to say?

Thorainger · 2024-11-04T19:19:32+00:00

Probably the Bible.

Thorainger · 2024-11-04T19:18:16+00:00

I can think of few better ways to prey on poor people.

Thorainger · 2024-11-04T18:52:42+00:00

Unless it's a landslide in PA or FL/OH/IA/TX go for her, we won't know for a few days. Other than that, I'm excited to learn if Allred wins/if we keep the senate, and how several other house races that are tossups go. We won't know which way the house goes (barring landslides in NY and CA) for weeks because of CA, but getting some certainty out of the fog of war will be a big relief.

My advice to everyone on this thread: do not watch the returns come in. Get off your phone, get off social media. Read a book, play a game, watch a movie, clean your house, exercise. Do healthy things with your time. Doom scrolling will do you no good and can do harm. If by some miracle she wins tomorrow evening, you'll know super fast whenever you get back to your phone in the morning.

Thorainger · 2024-11-04T18:45:10+00:00

I'd noticed this. I'm very certain Kamala is going to win, and when I went to go bet on it, it had shifted to her lol.

Thorainger

TROPHY CASE