I probably shouldn't have added any comments.
The couple I was talking about aren't skeptics. I like a healthy skepticism. They are utterly convinced of sweeping conspiracies and their 'evidence' is nothing but smoke and shadows. I sometimes wonder if they did too many drugs back in the day. They sometimes post really dumb stuff on Facebook. Not trying to be insulting, but pointing out that they are at least consistent in their approach to stuff.
However, this is exactly what I now see happening to some people who oppose Trump. For most of my life they seemed reasonable, even if we disagreed. Now? When it concerns Trump, they are utterly convinced of sweeping conspiracies based on smoke and shadows. First it is about Trump advocating violence at his rallies. They say he should condemn violence. When he condemns violence, they provide a list of groups they say he should condemn (none of which was Alex Fields a member of). When he names those groups, they say he did it too slowly. And somehow all of this is clear evidence of Trump 'dog-whistling' to let everyone know he hates all mexicans, muslims, blacks, jews, and LGBTQIAPKC+.
And it isn't just them. I saw a video of a guy who sounds like a libertarian (i.e. in favor of individual rights) get shouted out and pushed around by protesters because he wanted to hear their point of view. It is as though questioning the smoke and shadows means you're a racist. Or the guy who got stabbed by a random stranger for having a certain haircut. That's how insane it is.
Because they see nefarious, ulterior motives everywhere, it is very very dangerous.
- Paul