Anyone watching the big game tonight?

[Ordacleaphobia]

why do you suggest having it in the first place?

ah there we go. I'm not doing that. I'm just saying I understand why they'd want one.
TBH I don't have any suggestions for these people, which is part of why it's so easy to empathize with them.

Having a gun makes people feel safe, or makes them feel powerful disguised as safety?

Probably a combination of both, I'd reckon. Can't say, can't speak from experience. But I'd wager probably a little bit of both because they sort of go hand-in-hand. Tough to feel 'safe' against a perceived threat if you feel powerless, and if you feel powerful, surely you'd feel safe.

 

[Drew]

I do understand what you're getting at, and I do understand why people are doing these things; but I can't sign off on them.
The thing that I take issue with is pivoting to blaming the victims in this for not wanting to be victims. These people didn't do anything wrong and I think it's ridiculous to sneer at them for having the gall to want to be properly equipped to defend themselves in case some lunatic decides to try and take things too far and I think it's totally reasonable for them to be scared.

Eh, I think that gets back to the bigger question of gun ownership and gun control, of needing a gun to "proterct yourself" but statistically that makes you far more likely to die as a result of gun voilence, etc. This whole "guns as protection" thing is a slippery slope. There's a lot of other ways to protect yourself other than buying a gun, and I think focusing on that one way ins't a great idea; slapping "I bought this before Elon went crazy" bumper stickers all over the front, sides, and rear of your Tesla will work just as well for everyone who doesn't own a Cybertruck, since by the time those came out we all knew.

Re: equating motivations, I think "the public" isn't really a thing, here. There are either Tesla drivers who are opposed to Trump and Musk but still own their Teslas (in which case, break out those stickers), Tesla drivers who support what Trump and Musk are doing (in which case, they're the problem), or a vanishingly small number of people with no strong feelings, in which case what the fuck are they waiting for? And when we're talking about people trashing Teslas at a dealership, well, Tesla is direct-to-customer and not a middleman, so that's hitting the company even more directly.

At this point, if you're driving a car made by someone engaged in an authoritarian takeover of the United States Government, it's on you to distance yourself. I'm not advocating for lighting Teslas on fire, here, but I'm saying you can't exactly clutch your pearls and act shocked that people are flipping you off in traffic and setting fire to Tesla dealerships.

 

[Randy]

Ordacleaphobia be like "its just the Hindu symbol of well-being guys!"

 

[Ordacleaphobia]

Eh, I think that gets back to the bigger question of gun ownership and gun control, of needing a gun to "proterct yourself" but statistically that makes you far more likely to die as a result of gun voilence, etc. This whole "guns as protection" thing is a slippery slope. There's a lot of other ways to protect yourself other than buying a gun, and I think focusing on that one way ins't a great idea; slapping "I bought this before Elon went crazy" bumper stickers all over the front, sides, and rear of your Tesla will work just as well for everyone who doesn't own a Cybertruck, since by the time those came out we all knew.

Re: equating motivations, I think "the public" isn't really a thing, here. There are either Tesla drivers who are opposed to Trump and Musk but still own their Teslas (in which case, break out those stickers), Tesla drivers who support what Trump and Musk are doing (in which case, they're the problem), or a vanishingly small number of people with no strong feelings, in which case what the fuck are they waiting for? And when we're talking about people trashing Teslas at a dealership, well, Tesla is direct-to-customer and not a middleman, so that's hitting the company even more directly.

At this point, if you're driving a car made by someone engaged in an authoritarian takeover of the United States Government, it's on you to distance yourself. I'm not advocating for lighting Teslas on fire, here, but I'm saying you can't exactly clutch your pearls and act shocked that people are flipping you off in traffic and setting fire to Tesla dealerships.

Fair enough; and I'm not saying that's the best solution either, just that it's an understandable reaction from people that clearly feel threatened.

Pro, anti, or indifferent, the public is the public. I don't think an Elon supporter who's car gets keyed is going to suddenly turn on a dime. I think if anything, this is just going to galvanize stronger support. Also worth noting some of the places being hit are service centers, and are thus filled with cars that are already sold and privately owned. Again, I get the attackers' rationale, I just don't think it's ultimately going to do anybody any good.

Ordacleaphobia be like "its just the Hindu symbol of well-being guys!"

Bro this is wild coming from a mod.

 

[spawnofthesith]

I know it's happening to an extent, but anecdotally I see a least a dozen+ teslas on the road a day and I've yet to come across one that's been vandalized


In an effort to be less anecdotal did some research into what has actually occurred here in Colorado so far. There has been bouts of vandalism at 3 different dealerships in the state (particularly in Loveland), and some cables cut at a charging station outside a mall. As far as vandalism to individual vehicles, reported numbers are very low


I'm not condoning anything, but trying to characterize this stuff as "domestic terrorism" is a dangerous and ludicrous stretch that carries with it some serious implications and consequences

 

[ElysianGuitars]

It is, its unique to the US.

If the gun doesnt do you any good why do you suggest having it in the first place?

Having a gun makes people feel safe, or makes them feel powerful disguised as safety?

I know gun owners here - they arent for safety concerns.

I bought my HK45C just before the 2020 election for.... Reasons.

 

[HeHasTheJazzHands]

Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com)

Carney: "The old relationship we had with the United States based on deepening integration of our economies and tight security and military cooperation is over."

bsky.app

cool cool

 

[Drew]

I know it's happening to an extent, but anecdotally I see a least a dozen+ teslas on the road a day and I've yet to come across one that's been vandalized

This is a good point - I've seen a LOT more than that every day I commute in to office, and unless you count some of the truly awful vinyl wraps I've seen on Cybertrucks, I have yet to see one that's been defaced or otherwise damaged.

Yeah, there have been a few dealerships vandalized, but I think this is a lot of sensationalism being piled on top of some legitimate - but otherwise nonviolent - ill will.

 

[Drew]

Bondi Suggests Signal Chat Episode Is Unlikely to Be Criminally Investigated

The attorney general said the focus should be on the success of the U.S. military strike in Yemen, not on military information being shared in advance in a group text among top officials.

www.nytimes.com

Bondi's playing a dangerous game here, I think. My read is the Trump administration has misread the seriousness of this issue and doesn't realize they're hemorrhaging support here. Last thing they can chance is for Congress feeling like they have to get involved.

 

[ElysianGuitars]

Bondi Suggests Signal Chat Episode Is Unlikely to Be Criminally Investigated

The attorney general said the focus should be on the success of the U.S. military strike in Yemen, not on military information being shared in advance in a group text among top officials.

www.nytimes.com

Bondi's playing a dangerous game here, I think. My read is the Trump administration has misread the seriousness of this issue and doesn't realize they're hemorrhaging support here. Last thing they can chance is for Congress feeling like they have to get involved.

The entire administration is doing nothing but playing a dangerous game, like they're daring the country to rise up.

 

[budda]

I bought my HK45C just before the 2020 election for.... Reasons.

Reminds me of Bill Hader (SNL?) “I’m learning Thai to.. visit Thailand…”

 

[nightflameauto]

The whole "get a gun to feel safer" thing strikes me as:
"Shit's fucking scary out there man. The only way I can think of to react is to make it much, much scarier."

I grew up around guns on the farm. Used 'em for sport and for necessary predator patrol. Never once felt there's any call at all to carry one in a city. If the city is scary enough I'd feel it was necessary, I'd GTFO of that city.

At this point, if you're driving a car made by someone engaged in an authoritarian takeover of the United States Government, it's on you to distance yourself. I'm not advocating for lighting Teslas on fire, here, but I'm saying you can't exactly clutch your pearls and act shocked that people are flipping you off in traffic and setting fire to Tesla dealerships.

I don't advocate attacking these vehicles at all, but I wouldn't be crying if I found out the douchewad with the giant Trump flags blowing over the top of his Cybertruk here locally found his flags burned to a crisp one morning.

Bondi Suggests Signal Chat Episode Is Unlikely to Be Criminally Investigated

The attorney general said the focus should be on the success of the U.S. military strike in Yemen, not on military information being shared in advance in a group text among top officials.

www.nytimes.com

Bondi's playing a dangerous game here, I think. My read is the Trump administration has misread the seriousness of this issue and doesn't realize they're hemorrhaging support here. Last thing they can chance is for Congress feeling like they have to get involved.

I think the Trump administration believes that if they just direct the narrative elsewhere, the entire nation will follow and the story will blow away in the attention span of a gnat public's view. If our media folds on it, forget it. Congress won't act against the administration without a massive public outcry, and shit's breaking so fast it'll be easy for this one to disappear in a poof with enough other egregious actions floating around it.

In all honesty, I'm shocked the media outlets have let it bubble this far into the public consciousness. Maybe we'll luck out and ratings will push them to keep hammering them.

 

[Ralyks]

Judge orders Trump administration to preserve Signal chat on Yemen strikes — ABC News

The messages had been set to delete in violation of record-keeping requirements.

apple.news

Hah!
Not that it will mean much since there's apparently no consequences for ignoring a judges orders anymore.

 

[wheresthefbomb]

A cybertruck crossed my path yesterday, 'twere an ill omen.

 

[crushingpetal]

A cybertruck crossed my path yesterday, 'twere an ill omen.

Play a Tesla LP backwards and the curse will be lifted.

 

[Randy]

Stefanik withdrawing her UN Ambassador nomination because the Republican majority is so thin and the race for her replacement (my district) was starting to get too tight.

To some extent, the first official sign they're worried their support is eroding. I think I said it in this thread but if not, I believe pretty strongly they'll lose the House BEFORE the midterms.

 

[narad]

I'm not condoning anything, but trying to characterize this stuff as "domestic terrorism" is a dangerous and ludicrous stretch that carries with it some serious implications and consequences

It's in response to political actions, and is intended to cause fear in people who drive or would otherwise purchase a Tesla. I'm pretty sure that's terrorism in the most literal sense and therefore not a stretch at all.

 

[Randy]

It's in response to political actions, and is intended to cause fear in people who drive or would otherwise purchase a Tesla. I'm pretty sure that's terrorism in the most literal sense and therefore not a stretch at all.

I think the issue is that the firebombing is going on in tandem with totally legal, but well organized non-violent protests. And the language of the the USAG and Trump's surrogates seem to keep conflating the two with one another, which turns into threats against protests or any anti-Musk speech. That's the slippery slope part.

 

[spawnofthesith]

It's in response to political actions, and is intended to cause fear in people who drive or would otherwise purchase a Tesla. I'm pretty sure that's terrorism in the most literal sense and therefore not a stretch at all.

Yes and no, as I’m understanding it. People spray painting graffiti etc. are getting lumped in with Molotov cocktails folks


Additionally, as far as “letter of the law” goes most legal definitions of terrorism as far as individually states go (at least least those that I’ve actually looked into so far) specify a clause of “murder, assassination, or kidnapping” are necessary to be defined as terrorism. Which to my knowledge has not occurred in any instance

 

[spawnofthesith]

Furthermore, Musk/tesla are not elected officials nor government entities, which kind of excludes true “politics” getting to enter the chat. despite the fact he’s running the government currently