Anyone been wrong about a significant political issue and admitted it here?

[PlanetJosh]

I've been wrong. I thought after Obama got elected we had truly passed a hurdle in this country.

Instead the GQP showed that they are even more horrific and terrible people than I ever imagined.

I now recognize my naive self then not recognizing the actual enemies of decency and goodness.

Now I truly recognize the enemies of morality. They are the entire GQP

Will any videos of you partying with staunch GOP people last weekend at a bar or wherever surface in the future?

 

[Perknose]

Will any videos of you partying with staunch GOP people last weekend at a bar or wherever surface in the future?

Free Kool Aid is a real draw.

 

[ch33zw1z]

I sure have. My views have changed quite a bit as I grew up and realized life isn’t so cut and dry like my evangelical upbringing presented.

 

[Captante]

I really did think we (Democrats) were going to get slaughtered in the '22 midterms despite Roe.

Thank goodness I was (mostly) mistaken!

 

[hal2kilo]

I admit that I was wrong about the transexual situation. My take was, they don't affect me, I really don't understand it. Even to the point where I was pissed at the ACLU because they seem obsessed with the whole LBGQT aspect of rights vice voting rights and other issues.
This site has educated me about their plight. I did not realize that there's a subset of humans that are alarmed at their behavior to the point of wanting them dead. It's not a live and let live situation.

 

[zinfamous]

i maybe have once or twice, but if you were to compare my posting style and positions from like 10 years ago, with my posts and positions today...you'd notice they are dramatically different.

biggest one i can think of is guns - i was very much pro guns and against any additional regulation. now, i think they need to be heavily, heabily curtailed, or even the 2nd amendment scrapped altogether.

Mine have changed, too. I used to be very much anti-gun, melt them all because humans have no real use for them and they only ever bring death and war and misery.

But now, I think it's fantasy that they can ever be eliminated like this, and so while they only exist to bring death and war and misery (this is the only reason they exist), the only feasible solution is that only conservatives should have their guns taken from them, because they are both the most violent, most homicidal population on the planet, and completely irresponsible and not to be trusted with such deadly murder tools.

 

[brandonbull]

I hope the OP was really asking a rhetorical question. I was wrong about that at a certain point I felt confident that the "left" leaning people would wake up to the corruption by the Democrats and the disregard for the Constitution, facts, logic, science, and reality which would lead people to start rejecting the impending totalitarian way of life. My bad on that because it's a double down fest on daily life being a skit from a comedy show. This lefty echo chamber is too far in the Progresshevik Church to ever admit mistakes or change course no matter the evidence or facts.

 

[ch33zw1z]

I hope the OP was really asking a rhetorical question. I was wrong about that at a certain point I felt confident that the "left" leaning people would wake up to the corruption by the Democrats and the disregard for the Constitution, facts, logic, science, and reality which would lead people to start rejecting the impending totalitarian way of life. My bad on that because it's a double down fest on daily life being a skit from a comedy show. This lefty echo chamber is too far in the Progresshevik Church to ever admit mistakes or change course no matter the evidence or facts.

30k lies in 4 years - “the left hates facts “

lol

https://imgur.com/hL1sN8x

 

[Saylick]

I've been wrong about some political assumptions before, but never admitted it before.

I was 100% wrong about Trump not being able to win the Presidency, outright surprised at how gullible/racist/bigoted a large portion of the American populace is, and wrong about my assumptions regarding how foreigners perceive American politics.

I had a flight the morning after the 2016 election to start a 2 week long vacation and was stunned when they called it for Trump. For the next two weeks while abroad, I interacted with many people of various nationalities and it was impossible not to talk about the election results upon mentioning that I was an American. The question I always asked was, "If you were in my shoes, who would you have voted for and why?" and I looked forward to hearing from people who said they would have voted for Trump. Most people who fell under that camp were those who exuded traits that you might describe as toxic masculinity, but that wasn't always the case. On one night, I was out having dinner and I sat next to a father and son who were spending lavishly on food and drinks. The son was roughly my age and dressed in what appeared to be a ton of designer clothing while the father was much older and in a more modest outfit. They invited me over to their table and after introducing myself, I asked them the same question. They said they'd vote for Trump because he is a businessman and would not lead the USA into unnecessary wars, especially those in the Middle East. I soon found out that the father and son were from Qatar, which likely meant they were rich as fuck, thus explaining everything I noticed thus far. I learned that night that many people don't really give a fuck about how bad a politician can be as long as it doesn't negatively affect them. The same can be true of conservatives in this country, I guess, if only because they would gladly have Trump shit in their mouths if it meant liberals had to smell it.

 

[Indus]

I've had quite the metamorphosis.

When got my first Wall Street internship followed by a job.. was told to always vote Republican for low taxes so I'd be able to keep a nice bonus.. yeah right!

Was very anti-gun rights.. but now I'm more understanding of wanting to protect your family and your home.

Still don't agree with mentally unwell whackos who want to commit mass shootings getting access to guns though.

Was very much anti government healthcare till my family needed it.

And the most embarrassing of all was I was very much not that high on LGBT equality.

Now lgbt equality is like my #1 issue.

Overall I'm a strange balance of priorities..

S. Democracy
A. LGBT equality
B. Healthcare & Social Security
C. Low crime
D. Strong national defense
E. Climate change

F. gun rights (actually looking into buying a gun now to protect family from Trumpanzees)

 

[Indus]

I hope the OP was really asking a rhetorical question. I was wrong about that at a certain point I felt confident that the "left" leaning people would wake up to the corruption by the Democrats and the disregard for the Constitution, facts, logic, science, and reality which would lead people to start rejecting the impending totalitarian way of life. My bad on that because it's a double down fest on daily life being a skit from a comedy show. This lefty echo chamber is too far in the Progresshevik Church to ever admit mistakes or change course no matter the evidence or facts.

No thanks.. much rather be a progresshevik!

 

[cytg111]

I was wrong about Musk being a certified asshole and right wing troll.

 

[Muse]

I will admit it right here and now. Summer of 2016 I sat on a couch at our Martha's Vineyard rental with my visiting cousin's daughter's 13 YO son (he and his mom lived at Oxford, England) with my tablet browsing the internet. We laughed and laughed at the antics of Donald Trump and his efforts to get elected president. After November 2016, I could never laugh like that at him. My feelings turned to disgust. I developed an emotional and intellectual allergy to him, metaphorically speaking.

 

[Roger Wilco]

I thought most Russians would have said “fuck this” by now.

 

[Muse]

I was wrong about Russia not invading the Ukraine, and admitted it.
I didn't think Putin was stupid enough to invade a country of 30+ million that's been preparing for war since 2014 with only 150K troops, but I was wrong.

The build-up of Russian military on Ukraine's border for months was declared just exercises by Russia but I knew they were investing in an invasion. They are just not prosperous enough to be able to afford those preparations unless they intend to use them militarily. US intelligence warned that an invasion was coming, the question was when. The Olympics were coming, it was obvious that Putin would hold off until after that and the invasion started in less than a week.

 

[Muse]

I thought most Russians would have said “fuck this” by now.

They are not that smart, they are very stubborn people. Putin is all in on imperialistic expansion when it comes to territories formerly under Russian banner. He will not give up. It's his undoing.

 

[Muse]

I never actually liked Ike all that much.

I was too young to have ideas about Ike, but I knew that my father voted for him. I am pretty sure my mother didn't, she was solidly Democrat. After Ike, I have no idea what my father's political loyalties/ideas were. Those kinds of things were never discussed in our house. I suppose my father was not much of a progressive politically, although he was no bigot. Progressives should be vocal about their beliefs, I figure. He did fight for the allies in Burma, which should explain his liking Ike, who I figure was the last Republican president who was even remotely likeable. I had to scratch my head when Jimmie Carter didn't get a 2nd term.

 

[Muse]

I did say that the senate would be 52-48 in favor of Ds after the '22 midterm. Not sure that's a huge "miss".

It was the first midterms where the party in the White House gained a seat in the Senate since 1934. FDR had the New Deal going on.

 

[Muse]

When Trump did win in 16, a surprise for sure, I said "how much damage can he do in only 4 years"... I underestimated his ability to fuck up an anvil with a rubber hammer big time.

Just his winning the 2016 election was a huge kick in the kidneys for America. Damage done, period.

After he won I predicted he would have 3 huge errors during his administration. I lost count, but I think his handling of the pandemic was the 3rd. Previous to that was his trying to bribe Zelenskyy and his impeachment. Of course, his incitement to insurrection, his squirreling away of top secret documents after getting kicked out of the White House and his never ending denial of the 2020 election results are right up there.

 

[Pohemi]

I was wrong about that at a certain point I felt confident that the "left" leaning people would wake up to the corruption by the Democrats and the disregard for the Constitution, facts, logic, science, and reality which would lead people to start rejecting the impending totalitarian way of life. My bad on that because it's a double down fest on daily life being a skit from a comedy show. This lefty echo chamber is too far in the Progresshevik Church to ever admit mistakes or change course no matter the evidence or facts.

Oh the irony (and projection and lack of self-awareness)

As far as the OP- I firmly believed there was no possible way that Trump would win in 2016. I don't think I posted that thought here though.

 

[Muse]

I've been wrong about things but typically its due to the information available at the time and that changing. And I've admitted I used to be much more flippant and edgelordy 13 year old boy spouting awful shit (that even at the time I didn't actually believe/support although I also never had to confront that so its entirely possible I could've ended up being a dipshit that partook in others actually being that way, thankfully I was spared and matured) far later in age than I should and that I'd go back and kick my own ass if I could. And some was simple ignorance, but I've posted about that stuff as have others, and I think that is more in the spirit of the OP.

Which specifically with regards to politics, I didn't say much in general so I didn't typically have the opportunity to be wrong, and the limited times I did it was to tell raging right wing dumbfucks like...rudeguy(?) to stop being complete morons, which was the right thing, because they were. Also I didn't post in this subforum because, and this is still true, I fucking hate politics (not government, but the dumbass idiotic bullshit "politics" that we know it as, which is talking head media people and politicians trying to be celebrities, spouting blather 24/7). The problem is, I was a typical modern American that had duped myself into believing that made me some apolitical arbiter of objectivity, and that "both sides were equally extreme and neither was right" when in fact it just blinded me to how fucking insane right wing politics has been, basically for the entirety of American history (with a few key instances of it being particularly insane).

That's not to say there weren't plenty of legit issues with Democrats, but they've also recognized that stuff and changed. Not always and not nearly as much as they need to. But I also understand there's a majority of "centrist/moderate" in the US, but those are the old willfully ignorant people like I was, but sadly they have such outsized say in things and are prone to buying in to the simple and easy lies of right wingers so even right of center "liberals" have to try and appease them to keep them from enabling the worst of the Republican policies. So there's give and take. I work on the specifics at the personal level, whilst being pragmatic when it comes to Democrats having to play this extra bullshit layer of politics. Which women and minority groups are well experienced at because its the bullshit they've had to put up with their entire lives.

One thing that didn't change and won't change is me being an asshole about politics or social issues (even specific social situations), because that's actually turned out to be much more fruitful in getting people to consider their viewpoints. I tried honey, it didn't work, so I'm just gonna straight up piss in your face. That doesn't mean I'm absolutely right by any means, but I do it to try and knock people out of the stupor they get stuck in. Especially with a lot of the shitty racist/sexist/bigoted crap I still see people on here post in the most asinine ways. And that probably goes triple for groups that are unfairly discriminated against, because if I as an average but still ridiculously privileged straight white dude can take some of the heat for them and also get to spit a bit of the fire I know they wish they could back at these assholes, then I'm there. Call me pejoratives, get mad that I'm "too woke", etc, it'll still leave a lasting impression that will make you think about it later. And I've had multiple people tell me that ultimately is what led them to actually actively think about things and ended up leading them to learn and grow and change.

Also I have nothing but disdain for people that have had ample opportunity to see the error of their ways and choose not to change but want people to treat them "nice". Nah, you don't get to be an asshole, pushing horrible policies, but then expect people to treat you like actual decent people. I have zero qualms about being an asshole about that. That's not to say I don't think people are irredeemable but they have to actually change.

A specific instance where I was wrong just came to mind. I kept trashing a certain poster for their shitty opinions in one of the COVID threads, but I'd gotten them confused with a different user, but I only half apologized because awful opinions by the person I was incorrectly trashing made me realize they weren't the same person, but they were still an asshole with shitty opinions so I was only sorry for getting them confused, not for trashing either one for their shitty opinions.

You're still not as acerbic as zinfamous. When he has a mind to excoriate a poster he turns his inner bulldog loose. But based on your description here, you're doin' OK.

 

[Muse]

Oh the irony (and projection and lack of self-awareness)

As far as the OP- I firmly believed there was no possible way that Trump would win in 2016. I don't think I posted that thought here though.

I wasn't so sure after I saw Michael Moore's documentary. I figured Trump would lose but I wasn't sure, I just hoped with all my might.

 

[Muse]

I really did think we (Democrats) were going to get slaughtered in the '22 midterms despite Roe.

Thank goodness I was (mostly) mistaken!

The women, the young, the blacks... not so stupid.

 

[Pohemi]

I wasn't so sure after I saw Michael Moore's documentary. I figured Trump would lose but I wasn't sure, I just hoped with all my might.

Yeah I had watched that as well...I just convinced myself at the time that Moore was wrong, and so much of the US couldn't be that stupid. He was correct, and I was not.

 

[Muse]

I was also wrong thinking that Roe vs Wade would be respected. But when it came to light that it might be overturned by the SCOTUS I was not surprised. I would have been except that I'd read a piece in the New York Times more than a year before that was about a Louisiana woman. She had been dealing with abortion issues for many years, had much personal experience with women who had died horrible deaths after back alley and coat hanger abortions. They said in the article that the woman was uncanny in her understanding and the correctness of her prognostications. She was always right! She had predicted that Roe would be overturned. I was OMG! From that day forward I thought to myself, who am I to say it won't happen if this woman who is never wrong says it will happen? It's only because of that that I wasn't surprised by this.