President Elon Musk
He probably deserves his own thread at this point, discuss accordingly
I have aspergers and my brother is a functioning autistic and its fully ****ing offensive that you ******s are brushing this off as him being an aspie. Literally ****ing ******ed.
Ok that's a fair point not to bring up Musk's Asperger's in this context. Agreed, that's wrong. But at the same time, there is absolutely nothing to remotely indicate that Musk was trying in any way to replicate a nazi salute. There is nothing to "brush off". It ended up looking cringe and similar, but he clearly wasn't trying to do it.
lol at people who think Musk was in any way trying to do a nazi salute. Like it was super cringe, but we don't have to pretend aspergers is the same thing as being a nazi guys
My bigger concern isn't that Elon is a Nazi. He isn't. My bigger concern is that we are having this discussion because people in serious positions of power now think that is funny to emulate professional internet trolls. In other words, you say ambiguous offensive **** in order to get a rise out of people. Then, when people claim to be offended, you smirk and say one or all of the following: (i) "LOL liberal snowflakes can find hate speech on the back of the cereal box"; (ii) "only an LOL liberal snowflake could think I was serious"; or (iii) "LOL liberal snowflakes have no sense of humor."
If we go much further in this direction, Baked Alaska will be a viable presidential candidate by 2028.
My bigger concern isn't that Elon is a Nazi. He isn't. My bigger concern is that we are having this discussion because people in serious positions of power now think that is funny to emulate professional internet trolls. In other words, you say ambiguous offensive **** in order to get a rise out of people. Then, when people claim to be offended, you smirk and say one or all of the following: (i) "LOL liberal snowflakes can find hate speech on the back of the cereal box"; (ii) "only an LOL l
I certainly agree with this dynamic being toxic. But I don't think musk was doing this, like trying to do some gesture that was intended to troll. Basically this entire discussion is stupid imo.
It's also shameful that you guys get so upset over this nothingburger but not a peep about your party's complicity in genocide. You know real Nazi **** , not this imaginary nonsense.
the Dems whole thing is that it is ok to do Nazi things like slaughter innocents and round people up into concentration camps but you just gotta call it something different.
its always performative and aesthetic with them.
People forget that the US government rounded up American citizens and put them into concentration camps.
I certainly agree with this dynamic being toxic. But I don't think musk was doing this, like trying to do some gesture that was intended to troll.
You may well be correct. But the discussion is occurring because powerful people sometimes act like trolls now, regardless of whether Elon was doing so in this particular instance.
If Elon had made this gesture 30 years ago, no one would have said a word. And that isn't because people are way more sensitive now. It's because he immediately would have gotten the benefit of the doubt because it would have been inconceivable for it to have been anything other than an awkward gesture. That is no longer true.
Video evidence of what? That Elon Musk is a nazi?
The video doesn't provide any evidence whatsoever. If anything, it discredits your conspiracy theory that it was a nazi salute.
A nazi salute isn't a quick wave, the arm is held extended for a much longer period of time than just a wave.
If it was a nazi salute he would have also said "hail ____" to whatever nazi he's saluting to, but instead he said "my heart goes out to you!".
According to the Anti Defamation League, they looked at it and agreed with me that it wasn't a "nazi salute".
the Dems whole thing is that it is ok to do Nazi things like slaughter innocents and round people up into concentration camps but you just gotta call it something different.
its always performative and aesthetic with them.
I'm not sure why you think the dynamic I am describing has any party allegiance. Trump and Elon are particularly vivid examples of the trollification of the corridors of power in the United States. But they are far from the only ones. And you can find plenty of examples on the left wing of the U.S. political spectrum as well.
Unlike you I don't believe in these ludicrous false unproven claims and conspiracy theories about Elon being a nazi trying to take over the world.
I'm not talking about his gesture. I can't read his mind. He could have done it on purpose because he sympathizes with Nazis, or he could have done it on purpose because he was trolling, or it was incidental and he did it because he's a ******. All are plausible and you guys can have fun debating which it is.
What I'm talking about is you saying he has no power. He's worth half a TRILLION dollars and is buddy-buddy with the president who values money over people. Elon has a lot of power. You are a fool if you don't think he does.
Sometimes stylized eagles are just stylized eagles and not Nazi eagles. Sometimes lightning bolts are just lightning bolts and not SS signs. Sometimes, crosshair symbols are just crosshair symbols and not Celtic crosses. Sometimes, awkward, straight arm, palm-down gestures are just awkward gestures and not Roman salutes.
But when you start to view people who are sensitive about such imagery as political villains, and when you start to view trolling your political villains as some sort of art
this is a good summary
was elon supporting nazism, probably not
is he trolling, probably yes
is it a good thing the world's richest man can support a candidate and then have a huge role in the government and just do pseudo nazi salutes for the lols - no that's terrible
i can absolutely envision the "made a bet with thiel" idea that some are putting forward
but there's also a non-zero chance his autism plus whatever drugs he was on (look at his head bopping around in other vids while he's in the crowd) made him just unaware of how his actions would look at the moment - for example, as someone who didn't naturally make eye contact, a lot of women assumed i was just staring at their tits and i caught a lot of false accusations because they'd see my head was turned downward not up at them and they'd assume i was looking at boobage rather than the interesting carpet patterns
without catching "my eyes are up here" strays in my yut i would be way more outwardly autisitic today and could have appreciated countless tile and carpet patterns until i trained myself to look at faces like normies
I'm not sure why you think the dynamic I am describing has any party allegiance. Trump and Elon are particularly vivid examples of the trollification of the corridors of power in the United States. But they are far from the only ones. And you can find plenty of examples on the left wing of the U.S. political spectrum as well.
they might be trolling, probably are. but they are also fascist genocidal maniacs just like Biden and the Dems. theres always some truth to trolling and joking.
What I'm talking about is you saying he has no power. He's worth half a TRILLION dollars and is buddy-buddy with the president who values money over people. Elon has a lot of power. You are a fool if you don't think he does.
He has no power in government, nor does he have power over President Trump.
Trump doesn't care about money more than people, that's just another one of your baseless conspiracy theory claims.
If Trump values money more than people, why did he give up his lifestyle to become president when he took a hit of almost a billion dollars in doing so (and donate his presidential salary)?
He has no power in government, nor does he have power over President Trump.
Trump doesn't care about money more than people, that's just another one of your baseless conspiracy theory claims.
If Trump values money more than people, why did he give up his lifestyle to become president when he took a hit of almost a billion dollars in doing so (and donate his presidential salary)?
Yeah, he's a regular ole mother theresa, that guy.
Any tips on building a shrine?
Do you honestly believe that Trump becoming president was a bad financial development for him?
Not only financial, but almost every aspect of his life.
They tried to destroy him and throw him in jail for baseless "crimes", fake impeachments (the "Russia hoax") and he was almost assassinated more than once.
He didn't go through all this so all his rich friends can pay less in taxes.
Not only financial, but almost every aspect of his life.
They tried to destroy him and throw him in jail for baseless "crimes", fake impeachments (the "Russia hoax") and he was almost assassinated more than once.
He didn't go through all this so all his rich friends can pay less in taxes.
Have you ever thought about a career in stand-up?
Not only financial, but almost every aspect of his life.
They tried to destroy him and throw him in jail for baseless "crimes", fake impeachments (the "Russia hoax") and he was almost assassinated more than once.
He didn't go through all this so all his rich friends can pay less in taxes.
This is why no one in here can take you seriously. You're completely divorced from reality and the facts. You live in the right-wing alt universe where Trump is a benevolent God sent here by Jesus to right the wrongs of America and the world.
Trump is literally running pump and dump crypto schemes right now, and hocking crap products to Trump supporters. The guy even got busted for stealing from his own charity that was supposed to give money to kids with cancer. How many more signs do you need?
The real issue in America right now is, how do you get people who are in a cult, to understand they are in a cult? It's incumbent on the individual to have some kind of epiphany that they are being brainwashed, and want to actually see the obvious red flags swirling around them that they are being conned and used.
Top 10 signs you are in a cult:
1. Absolute Loyalty to a Leader or Ideology
The leader is seen as infallible and beyond criticism.
The group revolves around one charismatic individual.
2. Exclusivity
Claims of special status: The group claims to be the only source of truth, salvation, or enlightenment.
“Us vs. them” mentality: The group sees outsiders or former members as enemies or threats.
3. Control Over Personal Life
Invasive monitoring: The group tracks or dictates your personal relationships, finances, or behavior.
Isolation: Members are encouraged to distance themselves from friends, family, or external influences.
4. Exploitation
Financial manipulation: Members are pressured to make significant monetary contributions or surrender assets.
Excessive labor: Members may be required to work long hours or perform free labor for the group.
5. Fear and Guilt
Fear of punishment: Members are often scared to leave, fearing ostracism, divine retribution, or harm.
Shame-based control: The group uses guilt to enforce conformity and obedience.
6. Exclusive Teachings and Practices
Secretive rituals: The group has esoteric practices or teachings reserved for higher-ranking members.
Infallible doctrines: Beliefs are presented as absolute truth and cannot be debated or interpreted differently.
7. Suppression of Dissent
Discouragement of critical thinking: Independent questioning or skepticism is seen as betrayal or sin.
Punishment of dissent: Those who challenge the group are publicly shamed, silenced, or excommunicated.
8. Promises of Transformation
Unrealistic goals: The group offers grand promises like spiritual enlightenment, salvation, or utopia.
Slow progress: Members are often told they must work harder or sacrifice more to achieve these promises.
9. Love Bombing
Overwhelming attention: New members are given excessive praise, affection, and a sense of belonging to draw them in.
Conditional love: This support is withdrawn if members show doubt or fail to conform.
10. Difficulty Leaving
Threats or retaliation: Members face legal, emotional, or physical threats if they try to leave.
Shunning: Former members are often cut off completely from their community and loved ones.
On paper, yes; in practice, absolutely not.
Trump doesn't care about money more than people, that's just another one of your baseless conspiracy theory claims.
If Trump values money more than people, why did he give up his lifestyle to become president when he took a hit of almost a billion dollars in doing so (and donate his presidential salary)?
Dude, he just made over 7 billion over a weekend by scamming his supporters - though the meme coins could have been set up to conceal payoffs from foreign entities and his supporters just got caught in the fray.
Either way, Trump made several billion in 3 days and you're going off about a $400K salary. No doubt Barron probably moved some on Sunday, so he probably made closer to $10 billion.
Not only financial, but almost every aspect of his life.
They tried to destroy him and throw him in jail for baseless "crimes", fake impeachments (the "Russia hoax") and he was almost assassinated more than once.
He didn't go through all this so all his rich friends can pay less in taxes.
We can go over the Russia shiit if you want, but the bottom line is he said something very stupid ("Yes, I fired Comey over Russia probing") in a syndicated interview and an investigation was warranted. Just because you think politicians you favor shouldn't be investigated doesn't change the way the process works.
Just lmao if you think the uber wealthy want to buddy up to Trump so they can pay less taxes. Hint: saving on taxes is not how they became billionaires.
You may well be correct. But the discussion is occurring because powerful people sometimes act like trolls now, regardless of whether Elon was doing so in this particular instance.
If Elon had made this gesture 30 years ago, no one would have said a word. And that isn't because people are way more sensitive now. It's because he immediately would have gotten the benefit of the doubt because it would have been inconceivable for it to have been anything other than an awkward gesture. That is n
You had grown adults on the forums irate to this degree that Obama giggled from an unknown comment trump had made during a funeral. This isn't an issue of trolling, but it certainly will lead to it.
