I think that reality is much more heterogenous. Say some edgy or unpopular things 10 years ago, and they can still be shared with your boss and blasted across your employer's social media channels. The social consensus and average result doesn't preclude damage in some cases.

> Being authentic is the ticket to public office now

No, its not.

The preferred image may be more combative, aggressive, and anti-social than in the recent past, but as always adherence to it is more important than actual authenticity.

> I’m kind of glad that the value of blackmail futures has plummeted to zero

It hasn’t, though the value function for current negative information is different, so things that were once valuable for blackmail or otherwise harmful to public image are less so (and things that were not are moreso.)

> I always thought millenials would be the culprit because millennials have so much online, but nope, it was just old fashioned baby boomers that have spearheaded that double down on their indiscretions and are the role models for the country’s top offices

The only boomer I can think of that you might be talking about denies them constantly (even if there is past documentation of his acknowledging them in a general sense) and is supported by favor-currying media magnates who either actively promote propaganda favoring his messaging on that or, at a minimum, actively spike critical coverage.

And even within his movement and with the support of his cult of personality and the same favorable media, others in his orbit have often been less successful in having their indiscretions given a pass (see, e.g., Matt Gaetz’s nomination for Attorney-General of the United States.)

"criminal activity?"

"no sir."

"for god's sake Baldrick, you're running for parliament. I'll put fraud and sexual deviancy."

Only for this cycle. The pendulum will swing back to cancelling and pitchforks after this era of cult of personality.

what evidence do you have that this is true. at this point, a new theory of physics will be trotted out that shows a pendulum does not have to swing back. it will become trending on all the socials so that people believe. it therefore becomes the de facto truth, and the cult remains

I don't really get that impression, in my experience people just realize cancelling is a two-way street and stop it

I’ve been told “I’m making someone uncomfortable” and I said “they’re making me uncomfortable”, and follow that up with “why are you privileging their discomfort over mine” and when they or the mob say something gendered or sexist as the explanation, then I get to cancel all of them or get a nice fat paycheck

I thought canceling never stopped. It was just politically motivated.

(Ironically, Dems eat their own for that stuff, so maybe "politically motivated" doesn't quite capture it... compare e.g. Al Franken and Katie Hill vs Roy Moore or Matt Gaetz)

Democrats cancel and Republicans mostly double down. I don’t think there is anything Trump can do at this point to horrify or even just dissuade his base, for example.

> "I don’t think there is anything Trump can do at this point to horrify or even just dissuade his base, for example."

Pretty sure it's pretty close to true at this point that he actually could get away with literal cold-blooded murder in public at this point and his cult would fold themselves in half backwards tryin' to justify it somehow. [0]

[0]: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/donald-trump-fifth-avenue-...

I mean, he supports the Gaza situation.

Real Americans are pretty spit on the topic of Gaza. 36% of Americans favor the U.S. providing military aid to Israel. 34% oppose military aid, and the rest are neutral.

https://www.pewresearch.org/2024/03/21/views-of-the-u-s-role...

I didn't say Trump was the only one who supported cold-blooded murder.

Yes and no. He has a clear mandate to fix price increases and inflation. If he doesn't he will lose the newcomers that held their nose voting for him. If he screws up big time he will be frozen in 26 and ride out his presidency having accomplished nothing. His core base that you are talking about was always a declining minority.

That’s true. It’s even worse, though, since he promised a bunch of stuff that he can’t deliver or if he delivers (high tariffs, mass deportation), inflation will probably boom. Get the popcorn because the first month after 1/20 will be interesting (and maybe stock up on some electronics that are probably going to get really expensive).

> Being authentic is the ticket to public office now

Yeah, if you can fake that, you've got it made.