this post was submitted on 16 Aug 2024
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electoralism

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Why has "weird" had such an incredible punch to it, but "Deplorables" flopped hard and made things worse? There are several theories, probably all contributing lol, but I just think its interesting. (hexbear.net)
submitted 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) by autismdragon@hexbear.net to c/electoralism@hexbear.net
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Theories

  1. Its literally just because Hillary Clinton sucks so hard and people didnt want to hear that shit from her
  2. Deplorables is too much of a vocabulary word, weird is a word everyone knows. So deplorable just comes off more elitist, from a woman who is already seen that way. To quote a friend I asked "I think deplorable has a negative connotation that speaks to core personhood, in a way that comes off as both mean spirited and elitist"
  3. The GOP hadnt gotten unhinged enough yet, so America wasnt ready for a campaign that is dismissive of them and still expected bipartisan respect and shit, but are now because the "weird" shit is so out there all the time
  4. "Weird" is simply a more effective word to describe the situation at hand
  5. Deplorables would have worked fine with the young people who can vote now but couldnt in 2008.
  6. Kamala and especially Walz are better representations of "not weird" than Hillary was a representation of "not deplorable".
  7. "Weird" hits them harder, insults them worse, and thus makes them spiral more in a way deplorable didnt
  8. Deplorable would have worked fine if it wasnt just a one off comment but a sustained campaign message (this one im thinking probably not)
  9. The Vance effect, he's just that weird.
  10. People who are tired of Democrats being respectful like weird a lot
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[–] UlyssesT@hexbear.net 27 points 2 months ago

Its literally just because Hillary Clinton sucks so hard and people didnt want to hear that shit from her

This one has a lot of weight behind it. She's just that unbearable except to the most brunchy of brunch liberals.

Deplorables is too much of a vocabulary word, weird is a word everyone knows. So deplorable just comes off more elitist, from a woman who is already seen that way. To quote a friend I asked "I think deplorable has a negative connotation that speaks to core personhood, in a way that comes off as both mean spirited and elitist"

Speaking as a former educator, I think this one also has significant weight. Using "big words" among the cool/bully crowd is like a beacon for bullying for the rest of that school year. It fucking sucks, but there wasn't too much I can do about it, except sometimes using the "big word" myself multiple times after I know what it is sometimes diluted the distinction and directed some of the groaning towards me instead of the bullied kid (I'd rather take groans than have some kid get tormented for standing out too much).

Kamala and especially Walz are better representations of "not weird" than Hillary was a representation of "not deplorable".

This one's powerful. I subscribe to this one. As vile as Harris/Walz can be, they're certainly less creepy than the old hillgasm billdawg trump-anguish didnt-kill-himself bunch.

People who are tired of Democrats being respectful like weird a lot

I'm not a Democrat and I still feel this one, even if I'm worried about "weird" people getting marginalized and bullied for being "weird" in ways that have nothing to do with Christofascist police states or billionaire vampire bloodboy coup attempts.