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ApplesauceIrishCream


				

				

				

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joined 2022 September 06 20:15:39 UTC
				

				

				

				

				

				

					
				

				

				
				
				

				
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ApplesauceIrishCream


								

								

								
								
								

								
							
					
 
				


				

				
				
				

				

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				Culture War Roundup for the week of October 17, 2022
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					
Is this the gender difference thread?


Edit:  Oh, wait, my mistake.


				

				

						

							

								
							

						


						
					

				
			


			

	


			
			
				

			
		

	






		

			
			
				Culture War Roundup for the week of October 17, 2022
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					
Republicans are rather unlikely to win very many city council seats in large cities, no matter what method you use.  For state legislatures, though, the advantage of cities for Republicans is that they come pre-packed--it's trivial to draw compact districts where Democrats have a huge margin, which writes off those districts, but by concentrating opposition voters, allows for more success elsewhere.  And yes, a mostly suburban/rural district with a small slice of city is generally a winnable district for Republicans, and an example of cracking.


				

				

						

							

								
							

						


						
					

				
			


			

	


			
			
				

			
		

	






		

			
			
				Culture War Roundup for the week of October 17, 2022
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					
There are many possible readings of the hypothetical, which probably all occur across the population in question, in varying proportions.  Deterrence signaling is inherently lossy; it works at the margins.  If 5% of the target audience believes the framing I suggested, then deterrence theorists say, "Yay, we got 5% that we wouldn't have had otherwise" not "Damn, we didn't get 100%."  Critiquing a deterrence strategy by saying it didn't send a signal to "all" the truck hijackers is an attack that doesn't land--that's not how deterrence ever works.


In this case, I think your reading is less likely to be apt, because the observed prosecutor behavior is in the wrong direction--the status quo was zero prosecutions of either shoplifting or truck hijacking.  If you're going to support a "prosecutors are lazy" rationale, you need to fill in what's motivating any new prosecutions at all.  If they weren't doing anything in the first place, who is providing the incentive to "make it look like they're trying"?  Laziness by itself explains the status quo, but predicts that it will continue.


				

				

						

							

								
							

						


						
					

				
			


			

	


			
			
				

			
		

	






		

			
			
				Culture War Roundup for the week of October 17, 2022
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					
Yes, in the following scenario: there have been no prosecutions of either shoplifting or truck hijacking for a while.  The prosecution of several cases of shoplifting regardless of the merits of the individual shoplifting cases may have a deterrent effect on truck hijacking, because it signals that prosecutions of truck hijackings may follow.


How big a deterrent effect?  Very uncertain; deterrent effects are hard to measure in any case.  But the deterrence mechanism is present, and operates on the margins in any case.


				

				

						

							

								
							

						


						
					

				
			


			

	


			
			
				

			
		

	






		

			
			
				Culture War Roundup for the week of October 17, 2022
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					
I find it difficult to take the Lovecraftian take on reproduction seriously when you compare modern, first-world procedures and outcomes to the universal norms just a few hundred years ago.  Hundreds of generations of women went through far worse.


				

				

						

							

								
							

						


						
					

				
			


			

	


			
			
				

			
		

	






		

			
			
				Culture War Roundup for the week of October 10, 2022
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					
Primarily in the American South, yes.  Though it is much more widely available now than it used to be; I believe you can get sweet tea at McDonalds considerably outside the South today.


				

				

						

							

								
							

						


						
					

				
			


			

	


			
			
				

			
		

	






		

			
			
				Culture War Roundup for the week of October 10, 2022
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					


How is a christian supposed to have a discussion with an atheist? One defines "God" to mean "The all-whole, loving being who created us and saves us from depravity." The other objects: "what? I don't agree with that".




If the conversation is about "what is the nature of God?" then yes, there is no conversation to be had.


In this context, we are discussing the nuances of "identity."  Breaking in on that conversation with the claim that "the central point of debate doesn't exist" is undermining conversation, not contributing.


				

				

						

							

								
							

						


						
					

				
			


			

	


			
			
				

			
		

	






		

			
			
				Culture War Roundup for the week of October 10, 2022
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					


So I don't think this really means anything.




In order to have any sort of productive conversation, it's important to have agreed-upon definitions of key terms.  That was the point of what I wrote.  You've stated repeatedly that you "don't think [various terms] really mean anything at all."  In that case, we can't have a productive conversation.


				

				

						

							

								
							

						


						
					

				
			


			

	


			
			
				

			
		

	






		

			
			
				Culture War Roundup for the week of October 10, 2022
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					


I don't see how one can "identify" as an adjective; one identifies, in the sense that we have been discussing it, as a member of a group.




This is incorrect.  I specifically stated a definition of true identity that includes both qualities and associations.  In fact, the whole sex/gender discussion that sparked this is about both, since that concerns membership in a group that is defined by a quality.




Given that, the idea that one can tell someone "your identity is wrong" (as opposed to, "I refuse to recognize your identity") seems quite suspect.




Is Rachel Dolezal black?  If I assume charity, that she was being honest about her own perspective (as opposed to lying in order to enable a grift), her self-conception includes "I am black" (quality) and "I am part of 'the black community'" (group/association).  And yet, I can say with confidence that her first belief is wrong, and to the extent that the second belief depends on the first, it is also wrong.


				

				

						

							

								
							

						


						
					

				
			


			

	


			
			
				

			
		

	






		

			
			
				Culture War Roundup for the week of October 10, 2022
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					


Honestly, identity doesn't mean anything at all.




And yet, it seems to be a point of considerable debate, which is why I was seeking to define some working definitions below.  If you don't believe the debate has value...please don't participate?


				

				

						

							

								
							

						


						
					

				
			


			

	


			
			
				

			
		

	






		

			
			
				Culture War Roundup for the week of October 10, 2022
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					
It seems obvious to me that you and Dean are operating with different definitions of leverage (potentially, among other things).




This may not be visible and may be outweighed by other factors but it's present nonetheless.




Dean is disputing that a contributor that is "outweighed by other factors" can meaningfully be called leverage.  To paraphrase:


    

  • 

    "I've got a tool to help me accomplish a task."
    

    • 

  • 

    "If you use the tool, can you accomplish the task?"
    

    • 

  • 

    "No."
    

    • 

  • 

    "Then how is the tool meaningfully useful in this context?"
    

    • 



In this case, despite the existence of the pipeline in a non-functional state, Germany was continuing to support Ukraine.  The aid of the tool (non-functioning pipeline) was not accomplishing the task (getting Germany to bail on Ukraine).  Might this have changed as winter sets in and Germany becomes more desperate for fuel?  Maybe!  Or maybe not, perhaps Germany decides that support-for-Ukraine remains their preferred position.


The point is, there's no evidence that turned-off-pipeline was going to be a winning move for Russia in terms of swaying German policy.  There is a logical argument to that end, which you've made, but logical arguments can be wrong all the time.


				

				

						

							

								
							

						


						
					

				
			


			

	


			
			
				

			
		

	






		

			
			
				Culture War Roundup for the week of October 10, 2022
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					


I think it's amusing that some of the kids say they weren't going there to TP but only to look at how bad the house had been "got", and another kid is like, "Man, it happened so fast we hadn't even opened our toilet paper yet!"




@Gdanning  Please do not injure yourself when you facepalm; I'm sure this brings back memories of the thousand-yard stare variety.


				

				

						

							

								
							

						


						
					

				
			


			

	


			
			
				

			
		

	






		

			
			
				Culture War Roundup for the week of October 3, 2022
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					


Boy that one aged like a little match girl.




I regret that I have but one upvote to give....


				

				

						

							

								
							

						


						
					

				
			


			

	


			
			
				

			
		

	






		

			
			
				Culture War Roundup for the week of October 10, 2022
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					
I believe your final question is the best one, and the answer is, "no, we cannot."


				

				

						

							

								
							

						


						
					

				
			


			

	


			
			
				

			
		

	






		

			
			
				Culture War Roundup for the week of October 3, 2022
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					
I thought it was public knowledge that Kanye is unmedicated bipolar?


				

				

						

							

								
							

						


						
					

				
			


			

	


			
			
				

			
		

	






		

			
			
				Culture War Roundup for the week of October 3, 2022
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					
I don't know if this is something you've seen, but the Tolkien Untangled guy is doing a sketch of how he'd put together five seasons of The Rings of Power, given roughly the parameters provided.  Good news/bad news--his version is well done but unlikely to get Bezos-bucks; I may have teared up a bit over how he wanted to cold-open S1E1.


How 'The Rings of Power' Should Have Been Written


				

				

						

							

								
							

						


						
					

				
			


			

	


			
			
				

			
		

	






		

			
			
				Culture War Roundup for the week of October 3, 2022
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					
Indeed.


(For those unfamiliar: Honor Harrington series by David Weber; first book is On Basilisk Station.  Often described as "Horatio Hornblower in space.")


				

				

						

							

								
							

						


						
					

				
			


			

	


			
			
				

			
		

	






		

			
			
				Culture War Roundup for the week of October 3, 2022
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					
I agree that this is one likely possibility, and mentioned it above as "randomly dies of non-window causes."


				

				

						

							

								
							

						


						
					

				
			


			

	


			
			
				

			
		

	






		

			
			
				Culture War Roundup for the week of October 3, 2022
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					
In case it wasn't clear, I'm not saying "Putin is removed in a coup" is the obvious outcome at a variable point in the future.  I do think it's one of several plausible outcomes, however.


If you take as given that Putin will lose power eventually, what do you think are the most likely ways in which that happens?


				

				

						

							

								
							

						


						
					

				
			


			

	


			
			
				

			
		

	






		

			
			
				Culture War Roundup for the week of September 26, 2022
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					
There is still the following conundrum--let's say there is a speaker who believes two things:


    

  1. 

    "The rootless cosmopolitan bankers are conspiring against white Christians" is a statement that is literally true, ignoring subtext.
    

    2. 

  2. 

    Individual Jews may be inside or outside the definition of "rootless cosmopolitan bankers" on a case-by-case basis; he doesn't care.
    

    3. 



This speaker simultaneously believes both 1) and 2), and would like to express that thought reasonably concisely.  How?


(As a side note, I was already aware of the anti-Semitic history of the "rootless cosmopolitan" phrase, but I also know of people that fit the facial definition.  @HlynkaCG mentioned "the Davos set;" I think some of them have referred to themselves as "citizens of the world.")


				

				

						

							

								
							

						


						
					

				
			


			

	


			
			
				

			
		

	






		

			
			
				Culture War Roundup for the week of September 26, 2022
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					
By default, in practical terms, a defense attorney who claims "this situation is different, please treat my client more leniently than the norm" has zero credibility.  Everyone else involved has been around the block enough times to know that this is almost always reading from the defense attorney script, and probably has no relevance to this particular situation.  It's not even lying, exactly, because the defense attorney has no expectation of being believed.


So when it's (arguably) true, the defense attorney has a problem.  In this case, Meshkout tried to signal sincerity by pushing past the script, asking for lenience past the point where "normally" a defense attorney would just take the L.  The judge noticed, and took the risk that it was a true signal, not just yet another defense attorney coming up with yet another shred of credibility to burn.




The legal system isn't supposed to consider the, I guess, 'honor' or reputation of the defense attorney when rendering judgment.




In direct terms, no, but that's not exactly the point.  Actors in the legal system have some level of discretion (like the judge, here), and they are supposed to use that discretion in the interests of justice.  This case is about communication--how can an actor with no credibility signal sincerity?  Usually, he can't.  In this case, Meshkout found a solution that might work in the future if it's not misused.


				

				

						

							

								
							

						


						
					

				
			


			

	


			
			
				

			
		

	






		

			
			
				Culture War Roundup for the week of September 26, 2022
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					
One bit of irony is that it's pretty common for conservative speakers in the US to use properly metaphorical dogwhistles, with the following significant caveats:


    

  1. 

    the statement isn't racist, sexist, or whatever -ist is popular; and
    

    2. 

  2. 

    the statement isn't actually picked up by liberals except sometimes as "what could he have meant by that weird statement?"
    

    3. 



It's usually a Biblical reference, used as shorthand to describe something.  Both speaker and audience have enough shared understanding that a casual reference suffices to communicate, while the liberal commentariat has no idea.  It may not even be intended as covert, just efficient, and yet the intended audience understands while the outside audience has no clue which is exactly the situation a dogwhistle claims to describe.


(Also, I am protected at the bottom of the stairs.  You cannot shove me!)


				

				

						

							

								
							

						


						
					

				
			


			

	


			
			
				

			
		

	






		

			
			
				Culture War Roundup for the week of September 19, 2022
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					
Yes, incapacitation no longer applies as a justification when the circumstances aren't met.  Imprisonment meets the incapacitation justification for the duration of the imprisonment, but not afterwards.  Capital punishment meets the incapacitation justification permanently, as can various forms of maiming in the cases of specific crimes.


If reality is a rich tapestry, philosophy often involves taking a microscopic look at one of the threads.  This is one of those cases.  If you're looking to make policy, you should definitely consider way more factors than whether a specific type of punishment meets a specific philosophical justification!


				

				

						

							

								
							

						


						
					

				
			


			

	


			
			
				

			
		

	






		

			
			
				Friday Fun Thread for May 24, 2024
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					
I was about to respond, "some people like to read a lot," and then I remembered I was on The Motte.  Surely this isn't news to anyone here!


				

				

						

							

								
							

						


						
					

				
			


			

	


			
			
				

			
		

	






		

			
			
				Culture War Roundup for the week of April 15, 2024
			
		

	

	

	

		
			

			

				

			

		

			


				

					
It might be, but not necessarily.  In my example, it's impossible to tell, because I didn't assign rationales to any of the positions, so the two-Justice opinion might be broader or narrower than the four-Justice opinion.  "Narrowest grounds" means in context 'the opinion that would control in the fewest potential future cases.'  Via your link, Memoires, the earlier case referenced in Marks, was an example of a two-Justice expansive opinion added to a three-Justice narrower opinion to form a five-Justice majority (plus Stewart writing for himself to make six), and Marks indicates through your quoted language that the narrower three-Justice opinion is controlling.


You're correct that my "but with no reasoning" was in error, though, and thanks for the correction.