Sam Harris On Trump........

[abaris]

You should point that out instead of just responding to me in a similar manner if you're so much better than me.

Why should I put more effort into my replies than you do into yours? Everyone replying in the same manner as you is getting sarcasm. Deal with it. You're not the only one getting flak.

[Excited Penguin]

You should point that out instead of just responding to me in a similar manner if you're so much better than me.

Why should I put more effort into my replies than you do into yours?

Let's just drop it. I'm sorry about how I talked, I really am.

You put it best. He's not your kind of intellectual. I like him and what he does though.

Ok, I'll deal with it. I just don't want this to get out of hand. I said I was sorry twice now. I agreed with you. What more is there?

[Faith No More]

I think comparing Trump to Hitler is ignoring what made Hitler truly dangerous. Sure, they both have used fear-mongering, pandered to the uneducated and used bigotry to fuel a fiercely nationalistic message. But Hitler was clever, calculating and had great foresight for his goals. He surrounded himself with intelligent people that knew how to use propaganda to manipulate the masses like Goebbels, and he had a highly structured machine of a political party. Trump is a blowhard that spews out every thought his brain comes up with no matter how valid or truthful it is and is constantly having to walk back whatever came out of his talkey-hole the previous day. His whole campaign staff is a sloppy mess that can barely garner donations. And on top of that, Trump surrounds himself with the likes of Paul Mannafort and borderline Down Syndrome sufferer Katrina Pierson.

Trump may lazily channel some of the same ideas that Hitler proposed, but beyond that, there is no comparison

[Thumpalumpacus]

That's quite the extrapolation you have going on there. Assume much?

Never mind, that was a dumb question.

Thing is, I don't necessarily think it's true. I'm just arguing a point. If I'm wrong, he can say why and we'll have a conversation. But whatever, I know you think I'm scum of the earth no matter what I do.

You're wrong about that, too.

If you want to know what I think of you, asking me probably will give you the best answer.

[Jesster]

I think comparing Trump to Hitler is ignoring what made Hitler truly dangerous.  Sure, they both have used fear-mongering, pandered to the uneducated and used bigotry to fuel a fiercely nationalistic message.  But Hitler was clever, calculating and had great foresight for his goals.  He surrounded himself with intelligent people that knew how to use propaganda to manipulate the masses like Goebbels, and he had a highly structured machine of a political party.  Trump is a blowhard that spews out every thought his brain comes up with no matter how valid or truthful it is and is constantly having to walk back whatever came out of his talkey-hole the previous day. His whole campaign staff is a sloppy mess that can barely garner donations.  And on top of that, Trump surrounds himself with the likes of Paul Mannafort and borderline Down Syndrome sufferer Katrina Pierson.

Trump may lazily channel some of the same ideas that Hitler proposed, but beyond that, there is no comparison

True. There are similarities on the surface, but I don't think Trump is smart enough to pull off a Hitler. Even though Hitler was a terrible person, he was one of the most talented speakers in recent history. Trump just babbles.

[Brian37]

I think comparing Trump to Hitler is ignoring what made Hitler truly dangerous.  Sure, they both have used fear-mongering, pandered to the uneducated and used bigotry to fuel a fiercely nationalistic message.  But Hitler was clever, calculating and had great foresight for his goals.  He surrounded himself with intelligent people that knew how to use propaganda to manipulate the masses like Goebbels, and he had a highly structured machine of a political party.  Trump is a blowhard that spews out every thought his brain comes up with no matter how valid or truthful it is and is constantly having to walk back whatever came out of his talkey-hole the previous day. His whole campaign staff is a sloppy mess that can barely garner donations.  And on top of that, Trump surrounds himself with the likes of Paul Mannafort and borderline Down Syndrome sufferer Katrina Pierson.

Trump may lazily channel some of the same ideas that Hitler proposed, but beyond that, there is no comparison

Huh? "Truly dangerous".........

Ok, when you have not just dems going "What the fuck" but 50 GOP former agents saying "What the fuck?" And you even have A Shark Tank host saying "What the fuck". 

Trump may lazily channel some of the same ideas that Hitler proposed, but beyond that, there is no comparison

That is not the point. You first off admitted he did "channel" and I agree he did. The problem is Trump isn't some no name who doesn't influence people. He isn't the mentally ill guy on the street corner everyone walks by who screams they are Napoleon. 

If you agree he is "channeling" and I do too, the same ideas, how the fuck does that make him harmless? It isn't that Trump even wants to be a despot, I simply think he spent his life being told "a loser is a loser" and anything less made a looser unworthy. He mimics the same cheap "tough guy" act because it works, just like it did for Hitler.

[abaris]

The part about jealousy is a logical conclusion after you think about what he said, which is that basically it's not that he disagrees with Harris, but that he's pointing out obvious stuff.

Obvious as in everyone having two brain cells to rub together coming to the same conclusion. Every school kid with a basic level of education could do the same. Harris is just your usual snake oil vendor pointing out what everyone knew before if they have a basic level of education. He just sells it as being sensational.

Also, you obviously missed the part on torture and endorsing wars. Which is by far the more important issue. If it only was about running his mouth on no shit Sherlok issues, I would just stiffle a yawn and turn away.

[Brian37]

The part about jealousy is a logical conclusion after you think about what he said, which is that basically it's not that he disagrees with Harris, but that he's pointing out obvious stuff.

Obvious as in everyone having two brain cells to rub together coming to the same conclusion. Every school kid with a basic level of education could do the same. Harris is just your usual snake oil vendor pointing out what everyone knew before if they have a basic level of education. He just sells it as being sensational.

Also, you obviously missed the part on torture and endorsing wars. Which is by far the more important issue. If it only was about running his mouth on no shit Sherlok issues, I would just stiffle a yawn and turn away.

Abris please cut me some slack here. 

Sam is hardly a snake oil salesman. Trump is, Pat Roberson is sure. Now you assume that everyone already knows that is flat out crap. I can tell you and not just with Sam, but with Hitchens and Dawkins and Stenger, that before reading all those works, I didn't know shit. 

I also don't agree with his Buddhism fetish. But Harris did provide me a voice with "The End Of Faith". And his book "Letter To A Christian Nation" also gave me a voice.

It's funny, but when you say, or imply what Sam does is common knowledge, that does not make sense to me. Hitchens dropped more names and history in  "Hitch 22" in the same manor and that annoyed the fuck out of me. Most people do not know what Harris knows or Hitchens or Dawkins. But all of them have contributed to opening the door to skepticism, including Harris.

Don't assume that what Harris does is "common knowledge". I think it merely amounts to personality. I will say this, in the age of google, it is less of an excuse to avoid or ignore any position.

[Excited Penguin]

Harris was pretty much the one that began the whole new atheist movement, by the way. A lot of people seem to not know/aknowledge that amazing fact.

[Excited Penguin]

There is a lot of bad info about him out there. Like that he's somehow a mysoginist or a racist. Stuff like that. All of it not true. I know it for a fact. I listened to both sides. One must be an idiot to do the same thing and reach any other conclusion. His positions are well thought out and he's very rational. You'd be hard pressed to prove anything he says wrong or invalid. But a lot of people think otherwise out of stupidity.