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Culture War Roundup for the week of October 24, 2022

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You're twisting my words. Will you commit to not (pre-emptively or otherwise) calling posters "groomers" because they disagree with you about which materials are appropriate for which age groups?

You're twisting my words.

When you quoted the passage you objected to, why did you elide the qualifier, "by every definition offered in the thread thus far?"

Well, anyway, it was still an unforced error, and you should be able to see my apology to PM, such as it is, above.

I don't think that's a fair request.

If I call someone a groomer for showing porn to a 5 year old, technically I'm also doing it only because I disagree which materials are appropriate for which age groups.

No, you are using that term because you think the person has nefarious purposes. In fact, a pedophile probably agrees that the material is inappropriate, because what does "inappropriate" mean if not "likely to sexualize the child" or something to that effect, which is precisely the pedophile's goal.

Why do progressives insist on putting words in other peoples mouths? Would you also accept my interpretation of your intentions?

No, I'm using the term because I think the action is purposeful, and aims to change the worldview of vulnerable and impressionable people.

  1. I am not a progressive

  2. ?? So, you ARE using that term because you think the person has nefarious purposes.

  1. Well, it's all relative I guess.

  2. Nope, please quote the part that implies any malicious intent?

This part: "I think the action is purposeful, and aims to change the worldview of vulnerable and impressionable people." Surely you did not mean to imply that manipulating "vulnerable and impressionable people" is a good thing.

And, BTW, your original claim was: "If I call someone a groomer for showing porn to a 5 year old, technically I'm also doing it only because I disagree which materials are appropriate for which age groups."

So, either you are calling someone a groomer "only because [you] disagree which materials are appropriate for which age groups," or you are calling them groomers because you "think the action is purposeful, and aims to change the worldview of vulnerable and impressionable people"

Surely you did not mean to imply that manipulating "vulnerable and impressionable people" is a good thing

Are you using the word "manipulating" in the most technical meaning, as nothing more than a synonym for "change" or are you relying on the word's negative connotations to put words in my mouth again?

I don't think what they're doing is good, but I think they believe what they're doing is good, which is why your characterization of what I'm saying is wrong.

So, either you are calling someone a groomer "only because [you] disagree which materials are appropriate for which age groups," or you are calling them groomers because you "think the action is purposeful, and aims to change the worldview of vulnerable and impressionable people"

Sorry, I responded to you shortly after Gemma, where I referred to queer theorists, and when I got to your reply I was still thought they're they're the main topic.

If this was just about pedophiles, likewise I don't think they believe what they're doing is wrong, so your description of my beliefs is wrong.

I don’t understand how what they think is relevant. The question is whether you think they have the intent to do something bad, and you do. You just said so: "I don't think what they're doing is good."

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Pedophiles seem to believe the exact opposite, that children are "naturally" sexual, and that they're being kind by sneaking them materials behind the back of mean old oppressive society.

Critically, this attitude also seems common in porn-brained, sex-positive progressives who had access to hardcore pornography from age 10 themselves.

But again, they are agreeing with the meaning attached by society to the term, "inappropriate" -- ie, likely to sexualize children. They just see it as a positive.

Well, note below that I'm not trying to outlaw reasoned explanations of why a given act is abusive or likely to prepare someone to be abused. We can still discuss why porn is inappropriate for 5 year olds.

So why can't we discuss why queer theory might not be appropriate for elementary school?

We certainly can discuss this. Do you need to call other posters "groomers" if they disagree with you about which aspects of gender theory are and are not appropriate for elementary school, in order to have that conversation? I don't see why you would. Even if you think the description is accurate and you want to convey that, you could just as easily say something like "Teaching this will make children more vulnerable to sexual abuse" or "Teaching this is abusive in itself, because [explanation]," without needing to call people names to make your point.

I don't need to, and I don't think I ever did.

I kind of think the same rules should apply here, as to the word "racist". Calling someone a racist/groomer to their face should be discouraged on this forum, but the same way it's ok to talk about the problem of racism in the society, it should be ok to discuss the problem of grooming in schools and activism.

I think those are basically the rules I am calling for. Admittedly, I will still complain if you say "problem of grooming" and I think you are talking about something that isn't deliberately trying to make it easier to sexually abuse children, but I would not report such comments, I'd just argue back.