this post was submitted on 29 Jan 2026
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Leopards Ate My Face
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no.
If they're actually fighting back, yeah. People growing is always a cause for celebration.
At this point, given the all the sexual misconduct cases, Epstein, the felonies and jan 6, I have problem imagining people didn't know exactly what they were getting into when then voted for the pedonald. I highly doubt this is more a "growing" case then a "the wind is turning, let's switch team so I don't have to face consequence" case. Pretty sure a lot of Nazis had a sudden change of heart when they realized they wouldn't win the war. Sorry, but you won't get my trust just because you said you've change, not at this point.
this 100%. I have spent probably like 5 hours drafting a paragraph in my original comment only to realize that Im just sick and tired of it all. My friends are affected by these policies. I have had some negative experience with these maga followers ( had a boss 5 years ago who was maga, same with their kid) and recently, I had a roommate "flip" over the last year and pretended that they never supported it (even though I still have some nasty texts from them).
I used to really try to meet people in the middle and legit a month ago still believed that second chances (the more the better) should be a thing but honestly... it's getting to the point where a lot of it feels fake. Even if it's genuine, the damage has already been done and is still going. When MTG started distancing herself from MAGA, I genuinely supported it. Even at this moment I think she is sincere but it is just too late.
Have you guys even tried to have a conversation with these people? Not a debate but a genuine attempt in making a connection? Sometimes the connection does get made and good conversations happen.. but other times it just goes straight into some form of hatred with a smile on their face.
In the end, if you think that someone does genuinely regret their decision and/or vote, then good for them but the damage is already done and somethings cannot be recovered. People do learn from mistakes but the mistakes are costing all of us. Deep down I still want to help people out but I can't pretend that the people who wanted to hurt my friends and community will magically stop just because they said a specific sequence of words.
I don't disagree with most of this. But I would also rather be "tricked" by a grifter than be cynical of people really changing. Trust will have to be earned back, and I don't think I'll ever want them to (for instance) teach my kids, but if they're just seeing where the wind is blowing, isn't it a win that the winds have shifted?
Yeah, I have. It's tough, I agree.
Agreed. That's why actual trust is going to take a while. But I'd be glad to see any amount of change that would let me start that process.
Trust? No. That's earned over time.
Support during the change, though? Look, these people were part of a cult. It doesn't matter what you and I know, the fact is that they were told for over a decade now that the man is practically a deity; for them to even entertain reality is a huge sign of growth, and if we're going to get our country back, the options are to either deprogram or imprison an appreciable percentage of seventy million people. I'd really rather work with than against them, if it can be done.
Everyone who's ever been actively in the administration needs to be tried in court, of course. But the people who were duped are victims, too.
Are there going to be grifters in the crowd of those who say they're repentant? Certainly, but it's a huge win in and of itself that the winds are changing, and as long as they keep playing by the rules I don't think I honestly care what their deepest motivations are. I'd rather be tricked than think the worst about people who are honestly trying their best; cynicism has never worked for me.
There's also just a large swathe of people that will follow the most viable power they can see, and who are sometimes duped by powers that aren't viable. The tables actually have to turn, and then they follow.
True. Though, as a side note, if the tables are turning, that's a pretty substantial win in and of itself. But I'd rather be tricked than think the worst about people who are honestly trying their best.
Absolutely a pretty substantial win if so. ..and it is indeed very important not to turn people away wh genuinely reaching out. Do your best not to get tricked, but don't take a cynical stance. When investing in people, we can afford some losses.
An unreasonable reply if ever I saw one.
:/ mb. I spent a few hours (basically all night x.x I still haven't slept) typing a bunch of stuff then like gave up and went to try to sleep. A part of me still wants to connect and build those bridges but imo I feel that we already gave out a lot of second chances ( third, fourth, fifth, etc). Some of those stories or emotions of regret might be real but having to constantly rebuild those bridges almost feels like we are talking to a wall.
You get only what you give back. If hatred is in your nature once you've been exposed to it, just go and do it. It's all you'll be getting anyways.