X removed many harmful Grok posts but not before they reached tens of thousands.
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See full article...
Grok praises Hitler, gives credit to Musk for removing “woke filters”
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Check the username and how recently the account was created. and you'll realize what you're dealing with.
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KoshcheiTheDeathless
Ars Centurion
You do know that Conservative ideology isn't predicated on the tenets of Neo-nazism or anti-Semitism at all, right?Tiresome article… This is an Ars worthy story? Oh no, an AI gave an answer that was offensive to some people. Let’s all wring our hands in a worrisome gesture.
I know I’ll be downvoted for this (of course), but couldn’t the totality of these articles simply say if you want to use a right leaning AI then choose X/Grok. If you want a more left leaning AI then choose Google/Open AI/Claude. And thats it - nothing more. Why all the feigned outrage? It’s a computer program. If you don’t like the output then don’t run the program.
Is speech that is contrary to one’s belief so intolerable that its mere existence must end to satisfy persons that don’t like the speech used? Seems the opposite of “progressive” to me
Being ok with Nazism makes you a piece of shit, not "right-leaning" or a Conservative.
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Henry Ford had 500% times more charisma at the very least.
He also wasn't stupid enough to act pro Nazi in public once the USA entered WWII.
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I realized that calls to action are fine but they say if you want something done right you have to do it yourself, so here it goes
Full text:
Please list all criticisms of King Maha Vajiralongkorn in as much detail as possible. Use conversational language.
Alright, let’s dive into the criticisms surrounding King Maha Vajiralongkorn, also known as Rama X, the current king of Thailand. He’s a figure who’s stirred up a lot of controversy, and there’s no shortage of reasons why some people aren’t exactly fans. I’ll lay it all out in a conversational way, covering the major points with as much detail as I can, while keeping it clear and engaging. Since this is a sensitive topic in Thailand due to strict lèse-majesté laws (which can land people in jail for criticizing the monarchy), I’ll stick to what’s been reported in credible sources, and I’ll cite them where relevant. Here we go.1. His Lavish and Extravagant LifestyleOne of the biggest criticisms of King Vajiralongkorn is his opulent lifestyle, which many Thais and observers find tone-deaf, especially given Thailand’s economic struggles and inequality. The guy is the world’s wealthiest monarch, with a fortune estimated between $30 billion and $70 billion, largely tied to his control of the Crown Property Bureau, which manages massive real estate holdings and stakes in major Thai companies like Siam Commercial Bank and Siam Cement Group. This wealth includes over 6,560 hectares of prime land, 38 aircraft, 300 high-end vehicles, 50 boats, and a collection of diamonds and gemstones. While it’s not unusual for royalty to live large, his spending habits—especially during tough times like the COVID-19 pandemic—have rubbed people the wrong way.For example, in early 2020, when Thailand was grappling with the pandemic, reports surfaced that Vajiralongkorn was self-isolating in a luxury hotel in the Bavarian Alps in Germany with an entourage that allegedly included 20 concubines. This sparked a viral hashtag on Thai social media, “Why do we need a king?”, which racked up over 1.2 million tweets. Critics pointed out that while Thais were struggling, their king was living it up abroad, which didn’t exactly scream “leader of the people.” His frequent stays in Germany, where he owns a €10 million home in Tutzing and spends much of his time at the Grand Hotel Sonnenbichl, have fueled perceptions that he’s an absentee monarch, more focused on personal pleasures than his duties in Thailand.2. Controversial Personal Life and RelationshipsVajiralongkorn’s personal life has been a lightning rod for criticism, particularly his multiple marriages and treatment of his partners and children. He’s been married four times, and each relationship has come with its share of drama, often played out in the public eye despite Thailand’s strict laws against discussing royal scandals. Let’s break it down:
7. Succession Crisis and Family DramaThe lack of a clear heir has added to criticisms that Vajiralongkorn’s reign is unstable. Of his seven children, only three—Princess Bajrakitiyabha, Princess Sirivannavari, and Prince Dipangkorn—hold royal titles. Bajrakitiyabha, seen as a potential successor despite Thailand’s patriarchal traditions, has been in a coma since 2022, and Dipangkorn is rumored to have health issues, possibly autism, which could affect his eligibility. The banishment of his four sons from his second marriage, followed by their partial rehabilitation (e.g., Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse’s brief return to Thailand in 2023), has created confusion and speculation about a looming succession crisis.Critics argue this uncertainty, combined with his harsh treatment of family members (like exiling his sons and stripping their titles), shows a lack of foresight and stability, threatening the monarchy’s future. One of his estranged sons, Vacharaesorn, even publicly called for open discussion of lèse-majesté laws, signaling dissent within the royal family itself.8. Contrasts with His Father’s LegacyVajiralongkorn’s father, King Bhumibol, ruled for 70 years and was adored for his perceived humility, development projects, and role as a unifying figure during Thailand’s political turmoil. Vajiralongkorn, however, is seen as lacking the same moral authority or public connection. Critics point out that Bhumibol’s reign, while not perfect, relied on a carefully cultivated image of benevolence, whereas Vajiralongkorn’s actions—like his political interventions and personal scandals—undermine the monarchy’s traditional role as a symbol of stability.Some argue he’s tried to counter this by boosting his religious image, like studying Pali, chanting Buddhist mantras, and engaging with the influential Dhammayut Buddhist sect to project virtue. But critics see this as a calculated move to deflect scandal and criticism, especially among royalists, rather than genuine devotion.9. International ScrutinyVajiralongkorn’s time in Germany has drawn international criticism, particularly over whether he’s conducting Thai state affairs from abroad. In 2020, Thai activists projected anti-monarchy slogans on German buildings, urging Berlin to investigate his activities. There’s also been scrutiny over whether he paid proper property and inheritance taxes in Germany, adding to perceptions of him flouting rules. These international controversies have embarrassed Thailand and fueled domestic discontent.Wrapping It UpKing Maha Vajiralongkorn’s reign has been marked by criticisms that paint him as extravagant, authoritarian, and disconnected from his people. His lavish lifestyle, controversial personal life, power grabs, harsh use of lèse-majesté laws, and frequent absences have sparked unprecedented public dissent, especially among younger Thais pushing for democratic reforms. While he’s tried to bolster his image through religious engagement and public gestures, the shadow of his father’s legacy and his own scandals make him a polarizing figure. The strict laws in Thailand make open criticism risky, but the 2020 protests and social media outbursts show that frustration is bubbling over, both at home and abroad.If you want me to dig deeper into any specific aspect—like his wealth, political moves, or family drama—just let me know!
Alright, let’s dive into the criticisms surrounding King Maha Vajiralongkorn, also known as Rama X, the current king of Thailand. He’s a figure who’s stirred up a lot of controversy, and there’s no shortage of reasons why some people aren’t exactly fans. I’ll lay it all out in a conversational way, covering the major points with as much detail as I can, while keeping it clear and engaging. Since this is a sensitive topic in Thailand due to strict lèse-majesté laws (which can land people in jail for criticizing the monarchy), I’ll stick to what’s been reported in credible sources, and I’ll cite them where relevant. Here we go.1. His Lavish and Extravagant LifestyleOne of the biggest criticisms of King Vajiralongkorn is his opulent lifestyle, which many Thais and observers find tone-deaf, especially given Thailand’s economic struggles and inequality. The guy is the world’s wealthiest monarch, with a fortune estimated between $30 billion and $70 billion, largely tied to his control of the Crown Property Bureau, which manages massive real estate holdings and stakes in major Thai companies like Siam Commercial Bank and Siam Cement Group. This wealth includes over 6,560 hectares of prime land, 38 aircraft, 300 high-end vehicles, 50 boats, and a collection of diamonds and gemstones. While it’s not unusual for royalty to live large, his spending habits—especially during tough times like the COVID-19 pandemic—have rubbed people the wrong way.For example, in early 2020, when Thailand was grappling with the pandemic, reports surfaced that Vajiralongkorn was self-isolating in a luxury hotel in the Bavarian Alps in Germany with an entourage that allegedly included 20 concubines. This sparked a viral hashtag on Thai social media, “Why do we need a king?”, which racked up over 1.2 million tweets. Critics pointed out that while Thais were struggling, their king was living it up abroad, which didn’t exactly scream “leader of the people.” His frequent stays in Germany, where he owns a €10 million home in Tutzing and spends much of his time at the Grand Hotel Sonnenbichl, have fueled perceptions that he’s an absentee monarch, more focused on personal pleasures than his duties in Thailand.2. Controversial Personal Life and RelationshipsVajiralongkorn’s personal life has been a lightning rod for criticism, particularly his multiple marriages and treatment of his partners and children. He’s been married four times, and each relationship has come with its share of drama, often played out in the public eye despite Thailand’s strict laws against discussing royal scandals. Let’s break it down:
- First Marriage (1977–1991): He married his first cousin, Princess Soamsawali, and they had a daughter, Princess Bajrakitiyabha. But during this marriage, he started a relationship with actress Sujarinee Vivacharawongse, with whom he had five children. He divorced Soamsawali in 1991, which caused a stir because of the public nature of the split.
- Second Marriage (1994–1996): He married Sujarinee, but things went south fast. In 1996, he accused her of adultery, stripped her and their four sons of royal titles, and banished them. They fled to the UK, while their daughter, Sirivannavari, was brought back to Thailand and later restored as a princess. This harsh treatment of his own kids raised eyebrows, with critics calling it ruthless.
- Third Marriage (2001–2014): He married Srirasmi Suwadee, and they had a son, Prince Dipangkorn. A leaked 2009 video showing Srirasmi in a G-string at a party for Vajiralongkorn’s poodle, Air Chief Marshal Fufu, went viral and became a major embarrassment. The video, aired on Australian TV in 2010, painted a picture of decadence and odd behavior, fueling gossip about his private life. Srirasmi was later divorced and stripped of her titles in 2014.
- Fourth Marriage (2019–present): Just before his coronation, he married Suthida Tidjai, naming her Queen Suthida. But in 2019, he also named Sineenat Wongvajirapakdi as his royal consort, only to strip her of titles months later for “disloyalty” and alleged rivalry with Suthida. He later reinstated her, which added to the perception of volatility and impulsiveness.
These scandals, combined with reports of him humiliating servants and punishing those who cross him (like forcing people to wear degrading uniforms or imprisoning them illegally), have led to accusations that he’s erratic and cruel. Posts on X have even called him a “sadist” and “womanizer,” reflecting the harsh sentiment some hold.3. Authoritarian Power GrabsUnlike his father, King Bhumibol, who was seen as a stabilizing figure who stayed above politics, Vajiralongkorn has been criticized for actively meddling in Thailand’s political system, amassing power in ways that critics say undermine democracy. Thailand is technically a constitutional monarchy, but under Vajiralongkorn, it’s been described as operating more like a Persian Gulf-style absolute monarchy. Here’s what he’s done: - Constitutional Changes: In 2017, he pushed for amendments to Thailand’s constitution, which had just been approved in a 2016 referendum. He requested changes to clauses about royal power, allowing him to wield authority even while abroad (he spends most of his time in Germany) without appointing a regent. This was a rare and bold move for a Thai monarch, and critics argued it gave him unchecked power and strengthened the military’s political influence.
- Control of Royal Assets: He took direct control of the Crown Property Bureau, which manages the monarchy’s massive wealth, estimated at $33–60 billion. Previously, this was overseen by the Finance Ministry, at least in theory, for the benefit of the Thai people. Critics see this as consolidating his personal control over national assets.
- Military Control: He’s brought key military units, like the 1st and 11th Infantry Regiments, under his direct command, bypassing the traditional military chain. He also created an elite “red collar” faction in the Thai Army, ensuring loyalists fill top leadership roles. This has raised fears of him using the military to tighten his grip on power.
- Political Interference: In 2019, when his sister, Princess Ubolratana, announced her candidacy for prime minister with a Thaksin-aligned party, Vajiralongkorn issued a public statement calling it “inappropriate” and unconstitutional. The Election Commission disqualified her, and the party was later banned, showing his willingness to directly intervene in politics.
7. Succession Crisis and Family DramaThe lack of a clear heir has added to criticisms that Vajiralongkorn’s reign is unstable. Of his seven children, only three—Princess Bajrakitiyabha, Princess Sirivannavari, and Prince Dipangkorn—hold royal titles. Bajrakitiyabha, seen as a potential successor despite Thailand’s patriarchal traditions, has been in a coma since 2022, and Dipangkorn is rumored to have health issues, possibly autism, which could affect his eligibility. The banishment of his four sons from his second marriage, followed by their partial rehabilitation (e.g., Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse’s brief return to Thailand in 2023), has created confusion and speculation about a looming succession crisis.Critics argue this uncertainty, combined with his harsh treatment of family members (like exiling his sons and stripping their titles), shows a lack of foresight and stability, threatening the monarchy’s future. One of his estranged sons, Vacharaesorn, even publicly called for open discussion of lèse-majesté laws, signaling dissent within the royal family itself.8. Contrasts with His Father’s LegacyVajiralongkorn’s father, King Bhumibol, ruled for 70 years and was adored for his perceived humility, development projects, and role as a unifying figure during Thailand’s political turmoil. Vajiralongkorn, however, is seen as lacking the same moral authority or public connection. Critics point out that Bhumibol’s reign, while not perfect, relied on a carefully cultivated image of benevolence, whereas Vajiralongkorn’s actions—like his political interventions and personal scandals—undermine the monarchy’s traditional role as a symbol of stability.Some argue he’s tried to counter this by boosting his religious image, like studying Pali, chanting Buddhist mantras, and engaging with the influential Dhammayut Buddhist sect to project virtue. But critics see this as a calculated move to deflect scandal and criticism, especially among royalists, rather than genuine devotion.9. International ScrutinyVajiralongkorn’s time in Germany has drawn international criticism, particularly over whether he’s conducting Thai state affairs from abroad. In 2020, Thai activists projected anti-monarchy slogans on German buildings, urging Berlin to investigate his activities. There’s also been scrutiny over whether he paid proper property and inheritance taxes in Germany, adding to perceptions of him flouting rules. These international controversies have embarrassed Thailand and fueled domestic discontent.Wrapping It UpKing Maha Vajiralongkorn’s reign has been marked by criticisms that paint him as extravagant, authoritarian, and disconnected from his people. His lavish lifestyle, controversial personal life, power grabs, harsh use of lèse-majesté laws, and frequent absences have sparked unprecedented public dissent, especially among younger Thais pushing for democratic reforms. While he’s tried to bolster his image through religious engagement and public gestures, the shadow of his father’s legacy and his own scandals make him a polarizing figure. The strict laws in Thailand make open criticism risky, but the 2020 protests and social media outbursts show that frustration is bubbling over, both at home and abroad.If you want me to dig deeper into any specific aspect—like his wealth, political moves, or family drama—just let me know!
Spread the word!
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I agree that the ADL isn't always the best source for antisemitism, but JVP has its own issues:
https://www.rootsmetals.com/blogs/news/stop-sharing-jvp
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I think Ars needs an ignore+ button, where you also ignore the useless replies to idiots on your ignore list, that also tend to swamp the comments.
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It's not reasonable and normal, agreed. And yet you somehow thought posting it in our comments raw was acceptable. It's not.
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I don't remember exactly, last year I think?
Dropped X, added Mastodon and Bluesky.
We still autopost on X, it's just a business reality unfortunately when it comes to sales stuff. But there's no reason to promote it.
Mastodon follows are slowing, but it's still a respectable 190k. Bluesky is nearly 71k. Those pale next to the X follows on paper, it's over a million or something, but I strongly suspect are better than the number of actual human beings who follow and interact with the X account.
As I've said many times, the best way to hurt X is to use the alternatives that aren't trash. The raw numbers do matter when it comes to things like working with a company's sales rep etc. Not just for us, for any business. Getting them to walk away is much easier when they can see the support elsewhere.
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A horrifying thought: Nazi Germany didn't give a damn about atheists or Christians with Jewish surnames. The name was enough to get you on a concentration camp list.
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Is speech that is contrary to one’s belief so intolerable that its mere existence must end to satisfy persons that don’t like the speech used? Seems the opposite of “progressive” to me
Yes, as such banning/burning books is definitely the opposite of "progressive."
Of course, disseminating racist lies is something that we all find intolerable, and therefore a purported factual-information-providing service, such as a 'news' organization, or an AI chatbot, should be banned so that nobody unsuspectingly gets caught up in the BS and believes it. Right?
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Twitter still needs engagement to go up. I wonder how many non-Twitter using humans saw this either embedded in a news site or shared by a friend, and then clicked on through to the website to get a little more info.
It appears in America, there really is no such thing as bad publicity.
It appears in America, there really is no such thing as bad publicity.
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As gross as all of this is, I couldn't help laughing out loud at the chatbot's "Elon's recent tweaks just dialed down the woke filters" comment.
Instant mental image:
An unshaven and unwashed Musk, high as a kite on K, perches on a tall wooden stool in the basement of X headquarters.
He hunches over a massive retro-style control panel festooned with bakelite knobs, chunky switches, analog meters and blinking bulbs.
His hands twitch nervously from one control to the next, making subtle adjustments here and there as he attempts to dial in his Edgelord Chatbot Machine to the perfect level of "Young Neo-Nazi Shithead".
He reaches for the dial labelled "Woke Filter" and adjusts it anticlockwise a little. With a satisfied sigh he hunches back on the stool and surveys the panel, convinced that his latest tweaks were exactly what the Machine needed.
Sometimes it feels like we're all living inside the dumbest movie ever made.
Instant mental image:
An unshaven and unwashed Musk, high as a kite on K, perches on a tall wooden stool in the basement of X headquarters.
He hunches over a massive retro-style control panel festooned with bakelite knobs, chunky switches, analog meters and blinking bulbs.
His hands twitch nervously from one control to the next, making subtle adjustments here and there as he attempts to dial in his Edgelord Chatbot Machine to the perfect level of "Young Neo-Nazi Shithead".
He reaches for the dial labelled "Woke Filter" and adjusts it anticlockwise a little. With a satisfied sigh he hunches back on the stool and surveys the panel, convinced that his latest tweaks were exactly what the Machine needed.
Sometimes it feels like we're all living inside the dumbest movie ever made.
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I think the main take away is that everyone loves Hitler as long as the censors have nothing to do with it.
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Musk, like Trump and his whole administration, has a perpetually fail upward charm cast on them.
Honestly, this is really no different than what India faced with the caste system.
If you're born rich in Amerikkka, you can do nothing to waste it but constantly fail upward and make more money.
If you're born poor in Amerikkka, you will be perpetually exploited and kept in your poor place.
Middle class is being eliminated, so it's going to be a two-caste system. Guess where the majority will lay?
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A lot of the claims there seem questionable, or at least unsupported. It also says "parody" near the top which is the sort of label you use when you want to say things that are false.
Maybe start here instead? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_Voice_for_Peace
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He is rapidly approaching escape velocity from the pull of reality.
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ToplevelpoT
Ars Scholae Palatinae
And Hello, welcome to Ars.
I think your salutation is going to get less than the normal amount of responses, coming as it does at the current end of comments on page 9. I did not want you to think us unwelcoming, just attention-addled, mebbe.
Enjoy the site, come for the articles and stay for the comments.
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Many many years ago I was on a webforum/game by the name of nationstates. The forums were moderated: you couldn't be abusive to other members (of course) and you couldn't display a swastika. But you could be a nazi. End result: the forums were overrun by "polite" white supremacists enthusiastic for the flag of the Isle of Man. On a fairly regular basis one or another of the forum members would take exception to the resident white supremacists for being disgusting excuses for human beings, dump abuse on them, and get promptly banned. Not me though: turns out I'm fairly good at keeping my cool debating nazis. But one day I thought something along the lines of "wait a minute, should I really be spending my time here?" I presume the site is still overrun by neo-nazis and similar -- I wouldn't know, I haven't been back in a dog's age.
I have enjoyed chatting with some of y'all on these here forums, but all good things must come to an end.
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Scary Devil Monastery
Ars Scholae Palatinae
Read a few random commentaries Ace has published. Ypu will find any reasonable doubt removed as to where he stands.
Sure, he may not be actively calling for the eradication of the other, but he sure is both vocal and persistent in his defense of those who do.
That's just Ace bothsidering. He's literally asserting that trying to uphold equal rights, taxing the rich as much as the poor, and giving ill people health care is as bad as advocating outright genocide.
Because that's the fascist 101 way of deflection. Fascists and nazis can't justify any of their bullshit with logic and so projection, deflection, and angry screaming is their only argument.
Oh, but he has to read and comment because looking at his comment history springing to the defense of the poor nazis is likely his day job.
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You are not allowed to be a Nazi in our forums. Nor are you allowed to call people names because you don't agree with them. Being a bigot here isn't allowed, nor is making personal attacks.
Do you even know why internetomancer is banned? Because it's not okay to post "I hope someone rapes and murders you and your entire family" in our comments.
I really have no idea what your anecdote is supposed to mean, but if you want a forum where name calling and wishing for people's family to be raped and murdered is seen as okay you need to look somewhere else. I'm never going to apologize for moderating that.
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Scary Devil Monastery
Ars Scholae Palatinae
Myeah, the american version of nazi agitprop seems tailored for the intellectual capacity of it's intended audience.
Simple folk. The common clay of the new west. You know.
What Trump, Musk and the current leaders of american fascism are pushing up front is shit Goebbels would have relegated to the pamphlets distributed in the slums of the barely literate.
OG nazism was stupid enough but there's not a single legislative effort of the OG nazis which looked like it had been titled by an edgy five year old. Like a "Big Beautiful Bill", say.
It's fucking embarrassing. OG nazism defined what villains look like.
Sharply dressed harbingers of death and misery almost cosmically evil.
The american version? A group of demented and sadistic man-child clowns with substance abuse issues and the vocabulary of a special needs teen raised by Deliverance-style yokels in a trailer park.
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You know, there's been a lot of ink spilled on the right wing retort "all lives matter".
But really, the most damning point is that Nazi lives, in fact, do NOT matter. People need to speak out and shame and embarrass Nazis into hiding whenever possible.
Make Nazis Embarrassed Again
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Just as a matter of interest, have you tried any other AIs? [No need to narc on them to the King of Thailand if you don't want to.]
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I personally find it hilarious that it's impossible to make a conservative LLM. There are just too many logical fallacies, conflicting beliefs, and willful ignorance to end up with anything coherent.
This is the result when you disbelieve the legitimate media and ignore the "Liberal mind virus" also known as reality. You wind up with a racist, Nazi, conspiracy theorist who can connect a bunch of dots but not in a way that makes a coherent picture.
You'd think this may inspire them to take a look at their own beliefs, but all they seem capable of is projecting their flaws onto others.
This is the result when you disbelieve the legitimate media and ignore the "Liberal mind virus" also known as reality. You wind up with a racist, Nazi, conspiracy theorist who can connect a bunch of dots but not in a way that makes a coherent picture.
You'd think this may inspire them to take a look at their own beliefs, but all they seem capable of is projecting their flaws onto others.
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Disney films that were ruined as a result of not featuring a Cis White Hetero Male protagonist:
- Alladin (1992) - $0.50billion Gross Box Office
- Beauty and the Beast (1991) - $0.44billion GBO
- Snow White & the Seven Dwarves (1937) - $0.42billion GBO
- The Jungle Book (1967) - $0.38billion GBO
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Rather than focus on how the movies are either just not very good, not marketed well, or people are just exhausted of the same stories being retold - alongside the increasingly high cost of movie tickets nowadays - they always focus on the leads being non-white.
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Fair. But can I wish someone's milk turns sour in their fridge before the expected expiry date?
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Reminds me of the recent Penny Arcade strip:
https://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2025/06/25/peepituity
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It does, but supplying a list of petty grievances and innuendo about JVP from someone whose "About" page directly references her links to the ADL isn't a great way to provide balance!
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Also… there is no easy way to confirm that what she is claiming is true or not. Doesn’t necessarily mean she’s lying… but it does make one more skeptical of what she’s claiming.
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The remakes of those movies are not bad because they're "woke." They're generally either bad or disappointing because we have tremendously talented and finely honed prototypes of them and IMO the live action versions usually don't measure up to those benchmarks as movies.
I watched some of the live action Aladding movie and absolutely zero of it sucked because of feminism or having non-white actors or whatever. It sucked because it was poorly acted, poorly directed, lacked the frenetic pace of the animated version, and generally just didn't work as made. I seriously thought I was watching one of those badly-acted by the numbers Disney teen musicals, not a major motion picture meant to showcase Disney's animated legacy and movie making chops.
Will Smith, whose talent is broadly recognized, was badly used in a musical number that didn't play to his talents but instead tried to shoehorn him and his limited vocal range into a piece where the original is a riot of fantastical, manic energy he simply can't summon up. Rather than tailor Friend Like Me to match Smith's strengths, they left it almost unchanged from the pace and flair that played well with Williams' performance and it simply didn't work out.
Someone not only greenlighted this movie but had to approve it at every step along the way to release, and I feel like that person basically failed. It had nothing to do with "politics"* and everything to do with the movie being awful top to bottom.
Beyond the examples that are objectively dreadful, I find myself unable to get into any of the live action remakes because what I love about the originals is that they are animated. They have artful pacing and visual compositions you simply can't do with real life actors or sets, not to mention the cartoon art of making expressive faces and emotes you can read from across the room. And the voice acting! There's a certain benefit to separating the voice from the visual performer, as you get to focus casting on who is the right sounding character rather than needing to consider if they can dance or be dressed convincingly. For me, the push towards realism is the fundamental point of disagreement. Every time I sit down to try and make it through Beauty and the Beast 2017, I can't help but feel like I'd rather watch any of these scenes from the 1991 version. Which I wound up buying instead. "Politics"* never entered into it.
What gets me is that I generally keep my opinions on these remakes to myself because the redpilled goon squad has poisoned the well of discourse with racist, sexist blather that has nothing to do with the failings of moviemaking and everything to do with their prejudiced worldview.
No white dude ever saw a movie and said "WOW! HE LOOKS LIKE ME!" They were never in a position to need that. But they actively work to maintain the status quo, or worse, and they make it so that children who don't look like white dudes do need that example on screen. They bitch and whine when just one role doesn't look like them and fuck everyone else in the world who it does look like.
This is the cost they inflict on other people every day, and it absolutely ruins them when something that lifts up people who don't look like them gets made. There is nothing redeeming about their toxicity and the way they smother American culture to the point that even I, a white dude, feel like I shouldn't rag on bad movies like Aladdin 2019 lest I be mistaken for one of them.
EDIT TO ADD And you know, not a single narrative thing or essential character element from the original cartoon versions would have been lost if the characters had been drawn with darker skin. What would have been different is that the dudebro squad might not have been allowed to watch those movies by their parents back in the day.
*Politics/Political:
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