Re:Former President Trump is projected to win the presidency
by aguaviva on Thursday November 07, 2024 @11:20AM
(#42078008)
Hmm -- if someone threw that comment at my direction, I'd just assume they were a complete idiot, and not worth a further second of my time. I certainly wouldn't take it as a cue that I need to "man up", or that I should vote for whatever party they were shilling for.
But hey, that's just me.
Re:Former President Trump is projected to win the presidency
by Dalewyn on Thursday November 07, 2024 @07:56PM
(#42082992)
The difference is whether the criticism is warranted. Puerto Rico is undeniably not in a good spot and the joke was taking a shot at that.
If someone makes a baseless joke then they aren't worth the time of day, I agree with that.
To expand on the hypothetical question: Japan has a literal garbage island (it's an artificial island used as a landfill). We call it Dream Island (Yume no Shima) because of the irony.
Further reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yumenoshima
Also interestingly, Puerto Rican and Latino votes for Trump actually increased[2] fueled primarily by economic and governance concerns. That joke ultimately didn't seem to have a negative impact, if any. Contrast Biden calling Americans garbage, which simply added more fuel to the furor behind Trump and Republicans.
As for the hypothetical question: If someone joked Japan is a floating island of garbage and there is actual basis for that criticism, I would take that as a cue to man up and make myself and my homeland great again so I can look at the joker in the eye with results.
[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Percent_population_below_...
[2]: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cze3yr77j9wo