this post was submitted on 21 Aug 2025
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Are they constantly imagining that they are talking to UNREASONABLE individuals?

I do not come from the US, but in somewhat lefty or centrist spaces I can't see this style.

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[–] ArgumentativeMonotheist@lemmy.world 31 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Whoever talks/writes the loudest is the one in the right, haven't you heard? πŸ˜…

[–] Naich@lemmings.world 18 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] vivalapivo@lemmy.today 17 points 2 months ago (1 children)

No no, it goes more like

You are WRONG

[–] Naich@lemmings.world 15 points 2 months ago (2 children)
[–] Valmond@lemmy.world 5 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] Naich@lemmings.world 9 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] pdxfed@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

No it ISN'T, it's just CONTRADICTION.

[–] vivalapivo@lemmy.today 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Don't your LIBERAL schools teach the important difference between contradiction and TAUTOLOGY?

[–] Crazyslinkz@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

This is a monty python reference to an argument sketch, if I recall correctly.

[–] pdxfed@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

No it isn't.

(Yes, you're correct)

[–] vivalapivo@lemmy.today 1 points 2 months ago

and so on and so on and so on

[–] katkit@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago

See, works WAY better!

[–] theneverfox@pawb.social 25 points 2 months ago

Because the words aren't to convey information, they're there to convey emotion

And semi-literate chuds need the key words to stand out or they won't remember the topic to be angry about

[–] mfed1122@discuss.tchncs.de 18 points 2 months ago (2 children)

I know it's popular to call conservatives dumb and while I don't like to beat dead horses, I really think the explanation for this is that they're dumb. The illiterate form of dumb, to be precise. The caps are a way of adding emphasis - which is something that can also be done by phrasing, word choice, sentence structure, and so on. But those techniques would require a beyond 4th grade level of writing and reading ability, so they do not succeed in the conservative communication marketplace.

I will add a disclaimer, my beloved Nietzsche also does all caps words sometimes, but I believe that since this is alongside his impressive eloquence, it is clearly not a sign of stupidity in that context. Likewise, it is not a sign of stupidity in many other contexts. That is to say:

Using that style of communication does not always make it a safer bet that someone is stupid, but being stupid does make it a safer bet that they use that style of communication.

[–] vivalapivo@lemmy.today 15 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

I know it's POPULAR to call conservatives DUMB and while I don't like to beat dead horses, I really think the explanation for this is that they're DUMB. The ILLITERATE form of dumb, to be precise. The caps are a way of adding EMPHASIS - which is something that can ALSO BE DONE by PHRASING, WORD CHOICE, SENTENCE STRUCTURE, and so on. But those techniques would require a beyond 4TH GRADE level of writing and reading ability, so they do not succeed in the conservative communication MARKETPLACE.

I will add a disclaimer, my beloved Nietzsche also does all caps words SOMETIMES, but I believe that since this is alongside his impressive ELOQUENCE, it is clearly not a sign of stupidity in that context. Likewise, it is not a sign of STUPIDITY in many other contexts. That is to say:

Using that style of communication does not ALWAYS make it a safer bet that someone is stupid, but being stupid does make it a safer bet that they use that style of COMMUNICATION.

[–] andrewta@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Why did you just copy and paste their comment and just add caps?

[–] vivalapivo@lemmy.today 12 points 2 months ago

Idk, it now sounds fun in my head. Maybe because I am DUMB, who knows

I think philosophers around that time often did this especially if they were using a word in a way it is not usually used.

[–] onlooker@lemmy.ml 15 points 2 months ago

They're just being considerate to people that are hard of hearing, so they yell in the comments so they are easier to listen to. I mean, obviously.

[–] jjjalljs@ttrpg.network 14 points 2 months ago

They want to emphasize certain words, but don't really have the confidence and writing skills to do so in other ways

[–] lukecooperatus@lemmy.ml 14 points 2 months ago

Partly it's because they are engaging with the world from a primarily emotionally framed context at all times, which results in a stream-of-consciousness style of speech and writing. Especially when they get really worked up about something and their self-control melts away more thoroughly.

It's also not just from traditional conservatives. I serve on the board of my housing community, so I see a ton of this kind of thing from the mostly liberal neighbors living near me in a primarily gay community in the USA. Conversations on our local community forum site, or maintenance requests submitted to us are frequently filled with angry ranting nonsense that is barely legible.

Sometimes someone will rant for a paragraph or two in ALL CAPS and insult everyone else living nearby, then their tone totally changes for the final paragraphs of the email. As if they became too angry to continue, stepped away for a bit, then came back later slightly calmer and continued writing with a more relaxed tone. Why they don't restart the email at that point, I have no idea, but that communication pattern is really quite fascinating and sometimes worrying.

[–] Zoldyck@lemmy.world 14 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Because their LEADER is also doing it. So it MUST be sexy and cool and HOT

[–] zakobjoa@lemmy.world 9 points 2 months ago

Because their LEADER is also doing it. So it MUST be "Sexy" and "Cool" and HOT.
Thank your for you attention in this matter.

FTFY

[–] HubertManne@piefed.social 13 points 2 months ago (1 children)

My brother and I where talking about some psychotic episodes of some family members and its amazing how much it sounds like qanon stuff.

[–] vivalapivo@lemmy.today 7 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Is qanon still a thing? I thought everyone has already realized that it was a hoax

[–] HubertManne@piefed.social 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

not sure but hoax as in crazy origin or hoax as in no one ever believed it because im 100% folks believed it all they all might have had mental problems.

[–] Doubleohdonut@lemmy.ca 8 points 2 months ago

It's like they're submerged in a world of text-based begging letters. Take a faith healing correspondence, a soupcon of charitable dontaions, and a dash of chain letters. For a modern twist, blend in signs from homeless people.

Whatever the motivation, when one person is desparate enough to try and persuade you to just give your money away, there's a tone. If you grow up in that world, I imagine there's a lot of reinforcement that seeps into daily conversation.

[–] Nemo@slrpnk.net 5 points 2 months ago

For just a moment I was like, "I don't do that!" but then I realized I sometimes do. It's way of adding emphasis in text that doesn't support markdown.

[–] Kennystillalive@feddit.org 4 points 2 months ago

Are they constantly imagining that they are talking to MENTALLY DERANGED individuals?

Not to be mean, but their message reaxhes this way more people.

[–] pineapplelover@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Thank goodness Truth social doesn't do # markdown or things would get insane

[–] kidney_stone@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago

Not entirely sure, I think it's just the way some influential people started talking and now everyone is replicating it. The origins in why people talk like this is probably partly rooted in a mix of virtually 'yelling' and old people writing in all caps because they can't see the small letters.

[–] communism@lemmy.ml 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Probably boomers who aren't used to more idiomatic ways of typing on casual social media?

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[–] davel@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Reporter: [REDACTED]
Reason: ableism

Please try to frame this otherwise than β€œmentally deranged” next time.

[–] vivalapivo@lemmy.today 5 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Hi there,

Didn't try to offend anyone. To my excuse, I can only say that I'm not fluent in English and didn't know that "mentally deranged" is an inappropriate collocation.

[–] davel@lemmy.ml 5 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Don’t worry too much about it. Most English speakers wouldn’t be offended, but rule #1 (β€œno bigotry”) for our Lemmy instance includes ableism, which includes sanism.

[–] vivalapivo@lemmy.today 4 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Ok, thanks for highlighting that. Will try to avoid bigotry

[–] araneae@beehaw.org 1 points 2 months ago

One can present a state of derangement independent of their normal mental health but which does endanger those around them while the state is ongoing. I hope you are not falling for garden variety concern trolling but even as a non-local user I wanna say I do appreciate your commenting (and that of the individual who filed the report) to prevent casual ableism.

[–] PerogiBoi@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 months ago

Because conservatives are extremists and this is how extremists type.