One time long ago, a guy on the train (whether tweaking or mental issues, I don't know) sat down across from me, which was probably the most spacious spot in a fairly busy train. I didn't register any unusual behaviour, nor was I - white male teen, at the time - particularly concerned.

He suddenly leaned in and asked me what I'd do if he killed me. Die, obviously. He then followed up telling me he could punch me in the face. He did neither of these things, eventually got off the train, and I never saw him again. The incident obviously left an impression, but I wouldn't say I am or was traumatised by it.

I think this exemplifies that difficult grey zone. I don't think it was motivated by hate, given I'm a fairly "safe" demographic. I also didn't take him for the type of bully that does it for the power fantasy, or the type of macho needing to establish superiority.

Was it a threat or just a rather unhinged musing on social restraints? Was there actual intent to hurt me, kept in check by some lucky circumstances, or was it just a brief outburst of intrusive thoughts? I did feel threatened and intimidated, but is what I felt enough to judge his actions?

Regardless of the legal question, he probably needed help - medical or social - rather than punishment. I'm not qualified to assess that, but that question has bounced around my head ever since. What led to this outburst? What could be done to prevent that? What could be done to help him?

It's not strictly relevant to the legal question - his actions are his own to account for, though his mental state may be a mitigating factor - but I figured I'd add it as context because I think it's worth considering.

Might be a joke?

He was a piece of shit. In his final moments, he was comforted by his kin.

Right, Trump's fragile ego voted him into office 🤨

There are a lot of contributing factors. Obama making fun of him might have seen him run for office, but without all the enablers along the way carrying him on he would have collapsed a few steps in, fucked off to go eat a gourmet Happy Meal and told himself (and anyone in earshot) how brave and strong he is for running in the first place.

Ridicule may have lit the fuse, but the powder was there long before.

Get me riled up and I can be quite fiendish

The state’s lawsuit claims that the Fish and Wildlife Service's listing requirements are "nearly impossible for the public to understand"

As in, the requirements for things to be put on the lists of endangered species? Yeah, no shit, those requirements are probably made by experts for experts. The "public" doesn't have the subject matter expertise to determine every topic, so there's a point where we have to trust these experts.

and give vague guidelines on what developers and landowners can do with their own land in the critical habitat.

I'm guessing the guidelines are pretty clear if you're not struggling to look for loopholes.

It's just common sense!

Yeah, that was actually my point, but it was phrased poorly: Trump talks about sending the military against citizens. If he gets his way, we'll stand sideby side - in front of the firing squads.

Recursion is its own reward

Look, my point is that he'll probably be even worse this time around if he gets the chance. I'm painting a (hopefully exaggerated) image in an attempt to convince people that the left should unite on the big issues and push for a point where actually progressive parties are more than a spoiler in a fucked up system.

The more workers you attract, the higher your standards for hiring can be. That goes for any job, including jobs of passion. If you need to fill three positions and get three applicants willing to do them for shit pay... odds are your applicants are shit too, or they'd be going for better paid positions.

If you offer more, people with better qualifications will be interested more. You get more applicants and can be picky who you want.

As a bonus: better paid employees have more incentive to stay and do a good job to ensure they keep their position.

You missed my point. If Trump manages to pull off what he literally and explicitly endorses, we'll land in the same grave together and be united that way. He has praised Hitler. You know, the guy who used a fire to suspend civil rights and persecute political opponents.

Support progressive politics in local elections, but right now, damage control is the strategic option.

Put differently, is "protect civil rights" not an issue on your ballot?

I tried reason and optimism. Maybe morbid cynicism is more effective.

An introduction to which topic?

Yes! It’s pretty nice!

I've been giggling for three minutes now. Thanks for making my morning a little sweeter <3

Ah yes, let's skip the social part and get right to the obligatory consumption.

I don't really care for Halloween, but I don't actively hate it either. I like seeing kids and parents in cute costumes walking around. To me, the whole point has always been one of social activity, of walking around the neighbourhood and showing off your cool costume and such. You know, the whole "reinforcing horizontal social ties" deal we've done since forever.

I think my point was made poorly: I don't think they'll work together. He has gone fully mask off now, I worry he might pull a Reichstagsbrand 2 and start eliminating his opponents. And no matter how fractured we may be, no matter how we see our differences, at the end of they day we're all leftists and to him, that'll be enough to lump us all together as enemies.

I worry that the only way the leftists will unite is by being thrown into the same mass graves.

I didn't mean "unite" in the sense of "we'll work together" so much as "if he manages to pull off his idol's stunt and execute his opponents, we'll all die together"

Eh, he didn't quite have the same "desperate christofascist enabler" vibe back then

Edit: I think my point was too subtle. What I meant was that it seems like lefties will bicker and infight rather than focusing on the bigger enemy first, until that enemy manages to seize power and it's too late. We'll be "united" in that we'll be executed together.

Sometimes, I wonder if a Trump victory would be the only way to get the various leftist factions to stop arguing and stand together, side by side, united in the fact that fascists don't care what flavour of ideological opposition they're executing.

Who gives a shit about whether the Trolley Problem is settled - it's about your answer: Which option do you endorse?