He looks very surprised at having his photograph taken. Must have been the paparazzi.

-1 Overrated.

Like hell I'm going to wear some visual code that identifies me as a decent human being. We already have something like that: it's called actions. You know the bigots by the things they say and do, not because they all have a secret handshake.

You can give me an actual downmod if you want, I can take it.

That said, I disagree. A simple gesture of "you are not alone" can mean a lot to a person who is feeling threatened, especially when they don't necessarily know who they can trust. Bigots look like normal people too.

I don't have the opportunity to take action every day, but I can let people know where I stand, and that if they need help I will give it.

Nah, I'm disagreeing with the idea, but I don't think you'd be wrong for doing so.

As far as messages of "you are not alone", I'll take a literal "you are not alone" over the political equivalent of a yellow ribbon.

Well, suit yourself. I appreciate the effort make a nuanced judgement.

The problem comes when wearing the pin is all that a person does. Because they're sending a 'you're not alone' message, but when shit gets real the person who really needs not to be might find themselves alone anyway.

Sure. Which is why I've thought pretty hard about whether or not I'm really willing to put myself on the line if I have to. I can't speak for others but I'm willing back up the statement when necessary. On the occasions I've mentioned this since I made this post, I've made or clear that the pin is supposed to be a signal of willingness to take action, not just a symbol of solidarity.

I’ve found myself looking at people, wondering how they voted, even though I know looks can be deceiving. And I’ve seen people looking at me, like they might be wondering how I voted, and with my appearance, they might guess either way. I’d hate for people to assume I voted for Trump, but I don’t particularly want people harassing me right now for being a Clinton supporter either. I’m in a Clinton county in a Trump state.

If I wanted to wear my politics on my sleeve, I think I’d wear an Obama shirt.

Frankly I think this kind of suspicion and wariness is exactly what we don't need right now. I'd really just as soon not know how people voted. What's done is done, and the blaming, accusations, and vindictiveness is just part of how we got here.
We're pretty much all screwed, including the Trump voters.

btw, had a visit yesterday from the one acquaintance who I know was an unabashed Trump supporter. He was gracious and sympathetic, and really I felt just a tiny bit better afterward.

No, I agree, it's not helpful to dwell on the past, and it's never good to try to sum up someone by their appearance, but I think there is some value in showing solidarity.

Definitely agree about everyone being screwed.

What's worrisome are those who don't feel screwed. Take, for example, the League of the South.

This reminds me of the backlash Matt Maloney received regarding his post to his employees. He wrote that

I and everyone else here at Grubhub will fight for your dignity and your right to make a better life for yourself and your family here in the United States. If you do not agree with this statement then please reply to this email with your resignation because you have no place here.

This was taken as an anti-Trump message. Isn't it possible to be pro-Trump and fight for dignity, right to make a better life? Isn't it possible to be pro-Trump and want to "support, and offer safety to one another"? If these ideas are antithetical, then you have, indeed, aligned yourself with a monster.

I've met the Obama supporter who owns a gun. I want to meet the Trump supporter who wears a safety pin.

HOW someone voted is much less important than WHY they voted that way. The idea that just because someone voted for Trump they are a dangerous, racist bigot is almost as asinine as saying that someone who voted for Clinton isn't. For fuck sake, we need to give humans at least some credit for being a little more complex than that!

The age of social media has misled people into thinking that all of your beliefs can be boiled down to 140 characters. I find it hard to believe that, even on forums such as this, people are able to fully explain all the intricacies of their convictions. Anyone who thinks they can tell what is in someone's heart by looking at them, or by seeing a fucking safety pin on their shirt is not only naive, but an idiot!

If you got the impression that I think I can see into hearts/minds, that is incorrect.

Because someone voted for Trump does not mean are a ‘dangerous, racist bigot’, but there are other conclusions that can be drawn. The motivation is a factor, but not necessarily of overwhelming value.

My statement wasn't necessarily aimed entirely at you, but more an overall frustration with seeing conversations along those lines everywhere I turn.

That being said, I don't think it's fair to draw conclusions about a person based solely on who they voted for. I know people of all walks of life that voted for either candidate based on a wide variety of reasons. That one decision shouldn't define them as a person.

No, it does not define you as a person. It doesn’t mean you share all the same philosophies and values, but it does mean you have to accept responsibility for your choice. Like handing car keys to a drunk, you share responsibility for the outcome. This person is clearly not stable and should not be driving the country. You’re going to have to live with that.

Numbers is IncPenners. No doubt about it.

You might be right, but this is kind of weak.

No, he's not.

Steele is Saint_Marck. No doubt about it.

And I would've gotten away with it too! If it wasn't for you lousy perverts!

Rikes!

It all makes sense! Clearly his attentiveness to maintaining and improving the site has all been a clever ruse to throw us off the trail. Diabolical really.

I hadn't heard about this. Guess that's why I don't have any friends.

That's not why you don't have any friends.

But on the plus side, lots of xenophobes have been inviting me to go and beat up foreigners together.

Republicans stockpile weapons and ammo when they lose an election.

Democrats wear a safety pin?

Republicans are murderous and paranoid?

Okay, I'll make it a straight pin. That's how hardcore I am.

A hollow gesture, but if it makes people feel better, why not.

Extreme solidarity.

Almost as effective as changing your profile pic to black.

Have you never said "Good Morning" to someone?