That unpleasantness Tuesday evening

[ng_moonmoth]

The televised event with both of the major party candidates in this year's presidential election sharing a stage with a moderator whose role in the event was supposed to be to focus the candidates' attention on issues of importance to the country and give them both an opportunity to present their views on those issues collapsed into a frenzy of interruption and name-calling most of us matured beyond in grade school, or even earlier. I found it difficult to be in the same house, let alone the same room, as the event played itself out. (One line I heard today: "Calling it a dumpster fire is an insult to dumpsters and fires, both of which have done good for our society.")

I found the event repulsive, I am still twitchy, and I am trying to find some relief over in ysabetwordsmith 's Cuddle Party. I recognize that acknowledging the source of my discomfort there may inspire commentary on the event that has no place in a post dedicated to comfort, so I have linked here to serve as an outlet for such.

The two candidates have markedly different views on many things. Nothing I witnessed indicates that either of their positions have changed recently. I do not wish to have any discussion here extolling or denigrating a candidate's position, especially if such discussion deteriorates into name-calling. I would much rather see discussion of who they are as people, and what last night's unpleasantness revealed there. I believe that the character of the person who holds an office such as the US presidency matters greatly, and that understanding the character of the candidates might help those whose choice might be so affected.

I was carefully putting down some thoughts about things that stood out to me in the limited time I was able to stand watching when the news about the sitting president's COVID-19 infection was made public. Regardless of what I or anyone else might think about him, I wish for good fortune in his time of illness, and hope that the experience will bring him new perspective as to the serious nature of the disease and its effect on the world. This does not strike me as the place or time for me to share any further observations.

At such time as both candidates are able to resume their campaigns for the presidency, I will have more to say.

Comments

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> collapsed into a frenzy of interruption and name-calling most of us matured beyond in grade school, or even earlier. <<

*shrug* It's meant to be that way. Calling it a debate is a misnomer, because politicians never follow the rules, and other people don't care.

It is obvious that people want it that way, because there are many tools for managing a debate properly, which nobody uses because they prefer a fracas. In high school debates, if you go over your time, you get docked time from your next turn. On television, simply cut off the speaker's mike and video feed at the end of their allotted time, and move on to the next speaker.

Also, it's not fair to shut out candidates from debates, but most debates are limited, so voters don't get to see all their options.

It's not a real debate, it's a floorshow. I have no interest. It's like watching someone use chess pieces as blocks. 0_o

Anyone who wants to know a candidate's stances should 1) examine their prior voting record and 2) read their platform and plans if they have furnished any.

Re: Thoughts

[sulien]

Exactly! Thank you, what you said.

Re: Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

Only when we strip away the false claims can we get at the truth of what is wrong with this process. The debates are designed as provocation and entertainment, so they increase division; instead of revealing candidates' ideas and leadership quality so as to serve the democratic process.

Cockroaches don't like too much light.

Re: Thoughts

[ex_flameandsong751]

I agree with this 100%, and it's exactly why I didn't watch the debate.

Re: Thoughts

[ng_moonmoth]

>> Calling it a debate is a misnomer <<

Totally agree, which is why I have been careful not to use that term anywhere I talk or write about it.

>> In high school debates, if you go over your time, you get docked time from your next turn. <<

And that's only the beginning. The paper out here talked with some high school English teachers and debate coaches, none of whom had anything favorable to say about either candidate's performance. One of the debate coaches pointed out that such behavior in a high school debate tournament would have led to both candidates being warned, the sitting president ejected from the event (as in escorted from the building and told not to return), and his coach reprimanded.

>> I have no interest. <<

The only interest I had was in how ugly it would get. Like most things about the current administration, I predicted far too conservatively. Even after allowing for that bias.

>> It's like watching someone use chess pieces as blocks. 0_o <<

I'd be more inclined to say that it's like watching someone stand out on the National Mall, pretending the chess pieces are hand grenades, and lobbing them at everything in sight. Except these are actual presidential candidates, which makes them actual hand grenades that are being lobbed at our country's foundations.

>> It's not a real debate, it's a floorshow. // The debates are designed as provocation and entertainment <<

Amen to that. I guess it's because the candidates and their parties believe their message will go unheard if nobody is watching, anticipate that is what would happen if they actually managed to intelligently discuss issues of substance, and accordingly go for the ratings. And, as you point out, our elections suffer as a result. Forget sound bites, we're down to sound crumbs right now, and have a whole internet to strew those crumbs all around the country with.

Reminds me of how plastic breaks down into microparticles, which don't rot, spread everywhere, and damage everything they come into contact with.