[guest post by Dana]

In this season of Trump, posting criticism about the president at a right-leaning site such as this one, have been with consternation and outright rejection – even before the merits of the argument are have been considered. And as it’s being rejected, the author of the criticism is frequently accused of having Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) . Commenters have been known to leave this site as a result of said perception. Criticisms might include President Trump’s decision making, tweets, policies, lies, legal debacles and any number of issues that are the result of his weak character, lack of understanding (and unwillingness to learn), lack of a functioning moral compass and his basic ignorance with regard to history and political philosophies. As a guest contributor, I believe disagreement is a great way to fine-tune what I believe, as well as consider whether my beliefs really hold water. And to be challenged by a persuasive argument is always welcome. Who doesn’t want to learn, or have the gray matter stimulated? However, what is frustrating is to see an opinion reflexively thrown into Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) waste bin because said opinion is diametrically opposed to a reader’s own view. Often it seems that there is a reflexive rejection if Trump was their first pick, thus taking the argument presented as a personal attack. (In my estimation, this usually excludes those who, with frustration, plugged their noses and voted what they decided was the lesser of two evils.) But as for the true believers, those who really bought into Trump’s claims that he would fight for them and drain the swamp, there seems to be a lot of the “personal” at stake (i.e. pride, ego). It also seems that they believe if they agree with criticism of the president, it’s not only a betrayal to the president himself, and thus unpatriotic, but that it is also seen as a betrayal to the GOP, and even America itself. Whatever the reasoning, it’s discouraging that discussion and sound debate have been replaced by angry hyperbole, emotionally driven attacks as critical challenges are reflexively tossed straight into the TDS waste bin.

So because of that, I wanted to write a post about an incident which truly demonstrates exactly what real Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) looks like. And there is a very sad, and very vast difference between it and a reasonable criticism of Trump being made.

It is being reported that a sociology professor at the College of Southern Nevada shot himself to protest Trump:

A longtime College of Southern Nevada sociology professor is facing felony gun charges in connection with an on-campus shooting on the second day of classes.

Mark J. Bird was charged last month with discharging a gun within a prohibited structure, carrying a concealed weapon without a permit and possessing a dangerous weapon on school property, court records show. He was found bleeding from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his arm about 8:15 a.m. on Aug. 28 outside a bathroom in the Charleston campus K building.

Inside the bathroom, campus police found a $100 bill taped to a mirror along with a note that said, “For the janitor,” according to Bird’s arrest report. On the floor of the restroom was a black-and-white, .22-caliber pistol and one spent shell casing.

The sociology professor was hired Aug. 26, 1993, and was an emeritus faculty member at the time of the shooting, college spokesman Richard Lake said. Bird was not scheduled to teach any courses during the fall 2018 semester.

While a student waited with Bird for the police to arrive, the professor made this mind-boggling claim:

Bird said he had shot himself in protest of President Donald Trump, police noted in their report. The report did not elaborate.

This, people, is real TDS. It’s not presenting a different point of view involving the president. It’s not challenging anyone’s perceptions and thought processes. It’s not debating the finer points of an argument, or even making the argument. Shooting oneself to protest President Trump is a very real and very disturbing demonstration of TDS. (But more than that, as I’m sure we would all agree, it’s evidence of a troubled individual.)

Because I’m just not game enough to look, I would not be surprised if someone, somewhere is saying, “See, this is what the mad fascist in the White House has driven people to do.” And that would be just as sad as people angrily and automatically lobbing accusations of TDS before they’ve even read through an argument or considered its merits.

P.S. I believe that Professor Bird is obviously unwell. I hope that he is getting the help that he needs. With that, the report states that as of yesterday, he was still employed by the college.

(Cross-posted at The Jury Talks Back.)

–Dana