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Comment by melling | Hacker News Reader

It appears that bullying does work. I mean "criticism". Trump is President for at least the next four years. This childish "us vs them" attitude is not healthy. Silicon Valley needs to have people advising Trump, regardless of their differences.

[Update]

I'll update here so I have one downvoted answer, not several.

1. Bullying doesn't necessarily involve violence. The future of his company was threatened. Here's an example of Trump being called a bully for threatening to remove funding from Berkeley:

https://www.buzzfeed.com/tasneemnashrulla/uc-berkeley-milo-p...

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> It appears that bullying does work

How is a boycott bullying? There is no violence here.

> childish "us vs them" attitude is not healthy

It's called nonviolent resistance and resisting normalization. It's very healthy: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2016/11/2...

> Trump is President for at least the next four years

Nope... impeachment... Lotsa work to do... No non-violent resistance that has mobilized more than 3.5% of the population has failed in the last 100-ish years. On Jan 21st 1-1.5% of the US population participated. https://rationalinsurgent.com/2013/11/04/my-talk-at-tedxboul...

Bullying does not imply violence.

Seems like it can imply violence, but you're right doesn't have to. I feel like calling a boycott bullying is still a strong misrepresentation.

> Nope... impeachment... Lotsa work to do... No non-violent resistance that has mobilized more than 3.5% of the population has failed in the last 100-ish years. On Jan 21st 1-1.5% of the US population participated.

While there certainly was a large anti-Trump sentiment at the Woman's March, there were a plethora of issues that brought all those people together. To imply that all who participated want a Trump impeachment is not accurate.

> To imply that all who participated want a Trump impeachment is not accurate

Really? Were you at one? I can't speak for everywhere, but the 100k folks I marched with in Denver seemed pretty gung-ho on the idea. Most common theme on signs I saw was something to the effect of: "This cat has claws" (tried to clean it up a bit ;) )

Also, currently 40% of registered voters support impeaching Trump: http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/317627-poll-4-in-...

Ultimately though that data is about what percentage you can mobilize and activate. Just answering a survey isn't enough.

> Really? Were you at one?

Yes, I was at the one in Oakland.

I'm surprised that was your impression then, but I certainly could be projecting my own biases.

This childish "us vs them" attitude is not healthy.

You know, sometimes in life, when dealing with certain forces of chaos and disruption, which can be safely categorized as entirely malignant, e.g. the Mafia, the Khmer Rouge, ISIS... or a certain mentally imbalanced fascist demagogue currently masquerading a the leader of the free world -- you just need take a clear stand, and call a spade a spade. Which you can call an "Us v. Them" attitude, if you like.

But calling people who recognize this fact "childish" isn't helpful at all.

> Trump is President for at least the next four years.

Incorrect. There are at least four ways, without violating the Constitution, Trump could stop being President before his term ends.

> This childish "us vs them" attitude is not healthy.

Not having an "us v. them" attitude is foolish (and possibly suicidal) when "them" are genuinely opposed to "us".

Are you them or us? I think I'm us, but I'm not sure.

"Who am us, anyway?"

> There are at least four ways, without violating the Constitution, Trump could stop being President before his term ends.

Impeachment, resignation, death... what's the fourth?

Some sort of medical incapacitation?

I think you're likely right.

25th Amendment impairment (though technically he'd still be President, just without the powers of the office.)

I vehemently disagree. the Advisory Council is simply a way for Trump to show how he's just like any other president and to legitimize himself, he will not hear anything those people have to say.

I wish Elon went the same way, Trump is planning to destroy everything he stands for.

So exercising discretion in who you do business with is bullying? What happened to free markets? What happened to accountability to consumers?

I'm sure there was a rigorous internal debate, giving up a seat at that table is a huge loss of influence.

Hard to advise someone infamous for not taking advice.

Why is opposition childish?

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