Rattled by a horde of MAGA trolls, here’s what I learned about today’s social media miasma.

Last Friday I made a post on Bluesky and X, concerning U.S. President Donald Trump’s description of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as “Governor.” It occurred to me that, numb as we are to Trump’s stream of blather, the importance of that remark was being overlooked. It was an overt declaration by the president of the United States that he does not recognize Canadian sovereignty. That’s scary.

So, my post: “For a US president to refer to the Prime Minister of Canada as ‘Governor’ isn’t just rude. It’s a hostile act.”

The post got little attention on Bluesky. On X, for whatever reason, it went berserk. Over the weekend it racked up close to 3,000 reposts, over 29,000 “likes” and more than 5,000 replies. Those replies came almost entirely from Trump-loving trolls, piling scorn and abuse on my concerns. “Yeah but it’s Canada so who gives a fuck?” said one.

Do the responses represent a genuine glimpse of U.S. opinion on Trump’s bully-boy act?

  • DicJacobus@lemmy.world
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    4 days ago

    Get off of twitter accept that its a lost cause. stop wasting your time arguing with people who think it’d be funny to kill you.

  • Devanismyname@lemmy.ca
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    4 days ago

    Say what you want about how many Americans disagree with Trump blah blah blah, when it comes down to it, Trump could invade us tomorrow and throw us into concentration camps and enough Americans would be behind it that he could get away with it. I don’t see how canada doesn’t become annexed by the us within the next few years. I doubt the Republicans will ever lose power of the government again, so this is pretty much our future. I’m thinking of moving but I doubt I can convince my wife to come with me. Plus our house is here. Not sure if I sell it before the us comes and steals everything.

    • funkless_eck@sh.itjust.works
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      4 days ago

      Canada also has an army, navy and airforce. And a border with Alaska. And a massive border that’s hard for both sides to defend.

      It would also likely pit the entire world against the USA, who could do massive damage with trade sanctions without even firing a single bullet

      • Devanismyname@lemmy.ca
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        4 days ago

        We have 1/10th your population and economy. We have a tiny military in comparison with outdated technology. It would be laughably easy for you to take us over. Yeah, maybe the rest of the world joins in, or maybe they just let it happen. You guys are the preeminent military force on earth. I could see it happening without any resistance from our allies. I bet that it woudl lead to the collapse of nato. In fact, I bet it ends the way that putin had hoped for Ukraine. Even an under ground resistance would be weak since you guys are right next door. The logistics of a full scale invasion would be simple for your guys. Honestly at this point i don’t think there is a lot preventing it from happening. Trump has made it clear he isn’t going to follow the law. He has also made it clear that he is willing to do extreme things. At this point I think it’s a matter of what is easiest for him. Collapse us economically so we join willingly or a military invasion. I think the reason he picked the first is because it’s easier.

        • funkless_eck@sh.itjust.works
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          4 days ago

          I’m not American btw.

          America did lose in Vietnam, and more recently in Niger, though. It’s not easy, especially in the modern day, to subsume a country.

    • Tiefling IRL@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      4 days ago

      Trump could invade us tomorrow and throw us into concentration camps and enough Americans would be behind it that he could get away with it.

      A rather large chunk of Americans would rather fight for Canada tbh. Also, most battlegrounds would be in blue states, which are the ones who least want that.

      • Devanismyname@lemmy.ca
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        4 days ago

        But would they? I’m sure they’d disagree but I don’t think they’re gonna rise up and try to fight against the military. We’d get steam rolled and the world would just sit and watch. Sure they’d be mad, but in the end, the us military is #1 without any actual competitors other than China who is fixated on Taiwan and at the same time hates us anyway.

  • millie@beehaw.org
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    4 days ago

    Wah! I refuse to leave the leopard cage and don’t understand why there are leopards in it!

    • Randomgal@lemmy.ca
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      4 days ago

      I know right, what did they expect would happen in the platform owned by a literal Nazi?

    • VitoRobles@lemmy.today
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      4 days ago

      I don’t know what YouTube comments are then because all I see under videos is “Who is watching this in 2024? ✋” Everywhere

      • tigeruppercut@lemmy.zip
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        4 days ago

        Yeah youtube comments aren’t the same as the ones of yore people generally think of. They used to be filled with slurs and racism and now they’re mainly just insipid with some very occasional ok discussion or info

  • Lightor@lemmy.world
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    4 days ago

    Anyone with any sense doesn’t use Twitter anymore. This is like throwing bait into a shark tank and being surprised by the reaction.

  • samus12345@lemm.ee
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    4 days ago

    Do the responses represent a genuine glimpse of U.S. opinion on Trump’s bully-boy act?

    No. Xitter is a far-right echo chamber, so such abuse is to be expected. I’m not sure why this person is even posting there.

  • Arkouda@lemmy.ca
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    4 days ago

    I wish I could get the time I wasted in this thread back. How is this so highly upvoted?

      • Arkouda@lemmy.ca
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        4 days ago

        I missed nothing. This is a left wing circle jerk piece about how toxic Twitter is and how over encumbered it is with far right Trump supporters, and I don’t need a companion essay to provide further context on that.

        “Do the responses represent a genuine glimpse of U.S. opinion on Trump’s bully-boy act?”

        Obviously fucking not. Saved everyone else a click.

        • breakfastmtn@lemmy.caOP
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          4 days ago

          Sure, you can stay married to your pointless, impotent rage or you could have your concerns addressed.

          That’s on you.

          • Arkouda@lemmy.ca
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            4 days ago

            Sure, you can stay married to your pointless, impotent rage or you could have your concerns addressed.

            That’s on you.

            I am not mad, nor do I have concerns to be addressed. I was expressing how utterly wasteful this article and thread is because posting anything not in agreement of the far right on a far right echo chamber will not be received well by the far right, and any attempt to say it is a general opinion of everyone in the US is asinine at best.

            Just because I think your circle jerk is stupid and pointless that does not mean I have “pointless impotent rage” or any concerns beyond the dumbfuckery presented to me.

            You can stay married to your obsession with sniffing your own farts and being pretentious or you can realize how unhelpful both activities truly are.

            That’s on you.

            • breakfastmtn@lemmy.caOP
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              4 days ago

              I was expressing how utterly wasteful this article and thread is

              You have been given the tools to correct your ill-formed opinion but have refused them. Instead you insist on endlessly spilling the beans on the you problem you have. This isn’t a therapy session. Physician heal thyself!

              • Arkouda@lemmy.ca
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                4 days ago

                You have been given the tools to correct your ill-formed opinion but have refused them. Instead you insist on endlessly spilling the beans on the you problem you have. This isn’t a therapy session. Physician heal thyself!

                I knew you would choose the prior. Enjoy the circle jerks and farts.

  • Nik282000@lemmy.ca
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    4 days ago

    Blogger uses a clickbait title, you’re never guess what happened next!

    What happened next is I don’t take the article seriously, titling it like the audience is a bunch of 14 year olds with impulse control issues is a great way to burn credibility.

  • Phoenixz@lemmy.ca
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    4 days ago

    Well yeah, but what do you expect.

    If it had been about a US state, the responses would have been exactly the same. Magas hate anything that doesn’t agree with them, so what chance could Canada stand on a hatehole like twatter?