I’d argue it’s an objectively true statement that, of all the people alive today, Putin has singlehandedly caused more death and suffering than anyone else. The gap between him and whoever is second is likely orders of magnitude. Yet, when I read discussions about him, Russia, or the war in Ukraine, I almost never see the kind of hateful, nasty, and mean comments directed at him that I regularly see aimed at Trump, Elon, or even ordinary Republican politicians. Why is that?

Bonus question: Why be so nasty about it in the first place? There’s nothing wrong with criticism, but I struggle to understand the need for such meanness. Even when I agree with the sentiment, reading comments like that feels toxic. It poisons my mind too. I don’t like being angry, and I avoid it for practical reasons as well. Anger clouds my judgment, and I think it does the same for others and thus should be avoided.

  • Björn Tantau@swg-empire.de
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    20 days ago

    Found on Lemmy.

    But also, Trump and Musk have a much larger following in the western world. And they spout so much idiotic shit that it’s hard to believe anyone would actually like them. So it’s more fun to dunk on them because your goal isn’t to insult them but their followers.

    Putin has always been an asshole dictator and everyone always knew him to be an asshole dictator. Hardly anybody likes him in the western world. And if people do like him it’s easier to understand because he doesn’t show the idiocy we’ve come to expect from Trump.

    • Freefall@lemmy.world
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      20 days ago

      Russia has been a world bad guy for as long as we have been alive and have spent some time now displaying their impotence to the world. USA joining the New Axis Powers as the last superpower makes trump far more dangerous.