Thanks, for you comments, Schmo! I am more cynical than I used to be, though I grant you that perhaps you are right in saying I am not yet cynical enough. But, I know I have met people in my life who have shown me unexpected kindness, as well as people who have taken unfair advantage of me. Consequently, I still don't by default assume that every new person I meet is trying to screw me over.Some Schmo wrote: ↑Tue Oct 21, 2025 7:12 amMy main criticism of you, Gunnar, is that you still believe in the kindness of human beings, and believe in the best of everyone. That makes you slow to cynicism and assuming the worst. You're a good guy, and it's hard for you to imagine that others aren't as sensible and kind like you are.
I, on the other hand, expect the worst from American "conservatives" because I have experience with being an asshole (although I will never think I've been as much of an asshole as your average Trump voter). I don't mind admitting I've been there (I was a Mormon for a while, after all). I recognize the behavior.
MAGAtes have blown past any benefit of the doubt I may ever have had for them. The GOP is proud of their asshole brand, and we should believe them when they profess that they are assholes in deed and behavior. They revel in anti-Christ behavior while pushing for Christian Nationalism. I don't want to be an asshole anymore because I'd hate to think people thought I was Christian, the biggest assholes in the west.
ETA: I join you in expecting the worst from today's crop of American "conservatives." It is becoming more and more glaringly obvious that the majority of people who still call themselves "conservatives" are either hopelessly naïve, scared to death of Trump, or just as corrupt and avaricious as he is. Still, there are still a few remaining conservatives that I admire, even though not agreeing with them on everything.