[gpspake]

Who are the nebulous "elites" and are you suggesting that Musk and Trump don't belong in that number? It seems like the argument is that the sheep got one over on the _maybe_ wolves by... rallying behind a couple of _definitely_ wolves who threw on some crummy sheep costumes?

[chankstein38]

Don't you love when people do that? lol "Trump and Musk aren't like the elites!" like oh I didn't realize your normal, everyday, average Joe could just leverage their assets and spend $44bn to buy a platform just to ~destroy it~ sorry, make it better by making sure no one posts there.

[woooooo]

I think when people say this, they're using "elite" to signal a mentality rather a wealth level.

Consider a wealthy, business-owning tradesman and a broke ivy league post-doc. Who sounds more "elite" in their mannerisms?

"Professional/managerial class conformist" might be more precise but it's pretty clunky.

[JohnFen]

> they're using "elite" to signal a mentality

Given the nonsensical things I've seen declared "elite" and "nonelite", I'm certain that "elite" is just used as a synonym for "whoever I currently hate".

[woooooo]

There's that too, plus the fact that using the word "elite" is itself something that mostly the elite do.

[staunton]

In my experience that's false.

[chankstein38]

And you don't think that the guy with the golden toilet who owns several estates and the guy who bought a social media platform because he was mad they weren't allowing the golden toilet guy on the platform are textbook elites, even by your definition?

They really do have people brainwashed to think they're on their side...

[lmm]

Trump genuinely isn't. Sure he has money in the bank, maybe, but he can't get invited to the cool parties. None of the newspapers support him. The man eats his steaks well done for crying out loud! I'm not saying this makes him better, much less that it means his presidency achieved something, but he was absolutely a different kind of person from who we usually see in power.