Red
Well-Known Member
The first problem is that his base perceives it as a joke (or a non-serious or -binding comment).
The second problem is the inability to reach these people through established institutions or even communication platforms, in general. You know... reach them, and then reason through our problems together. In a very real sense, they appear hardened into their position. Shaming certainly hasn’t seemed like an effective tool in changing minds.
Regarding the first problem, it was not delivered as a joke at all. But, no way his base will ever interpret it as a reason to criticize him.
Regarding the second problem, I think establishing himself as a victim is virtually foolproof as a way to prevent anyone from reaching his base, reasoning with his base. Any and every criticism of him can be immediately interpreted as him being victimized once again. Once he cemented that construct, his base never has to examine any of the criticisms. They all become examples of his enemies attacking him, examples of fake news, nothing presented ever has to be examined for its actual content, or judged for its veracity. By becoming the victim, he eliminates any need his followers might otherwise have to actually....think. They no longer have to use their own minds to think. His victimhood has created an impenetrable barrier that the truth simply can not penetrate. It’s diabolical. And at that stage, it’s a cult.