This weekly roundup thread is intended for all culture war posts. 'Culture war' is vaguely defined, but it basically means controversial issues that fall along set tribal lines. Arguments over culture war issues generate a lot of heat and little light, and few deeply entrenched people ever change their minds. This thread is for voicing opinions and analyzing the state of the discussion while trying to optimize for light over heat.
Optimistically, we think that engaging with people you disagree with is worth your time, and so is being nice! Pessimistically, there are many dynamics that can lead discussions on Culture War topics to become unproductive. There's a human tendency to divide along tribal lines, praising your ingroup and vilifying your outgroup - and if you think you find it easy to criticize your ingroup, then it may be that your outgroup is not who you think it is. Extremists with opposing positions can feed off each other, highlighting each other's worst points to justify their own angry rhetoric, which becomes in turn a new example of bad behavior for the other side to highlight.
We would like to avoid these negative dynamics. Accordingly, we ask that you do not use this thread for waging the Culture War. Examples of waging the Culture War:
-
Shaming.
-
Attempting to 'build consensus' or enforce ideological conformity.
-
Making sweeping generalizations to vilify a group you dislike.
-
Recruiting for a cause.
-
Posting links that could be summarized as 'Boo outgroup!' Basically, if your content is 'Can you believe what Those People did this week?' then you should either refrain from posting, or do some very patient work to contextualize and/or steel-man the relevant viewpoint.
In general, you should argue to understand, not to win. This thread is not territory to be claimed by one group or another; indeed, the aim is to have many different viewpoints represented here. Thus, we also ask that you follow some guidelines:
-
Speak plainly. Avoid sarcasm and mockery. When disagreeing with someone, state your objections explicitly.
-
Be as precise and charitable as you can. Don't paraphrase unflatteringly.
-
Don't imply that someone said something they did not say, even if you think it follows from what they said.
-
Write like everyone is reading and you want them to be included in the discussion.
On an ad hoc basis, the mods will try to compile a list of the best posts/comments from the previous week, posted in Quality Contribution threads and archived at /r/TheThread. You may nominate a comment for this list by clicking on 'report' at the bottom of the post and typing 'Actually a quality contribution' as the report reason.

Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
Notes -
I'd love to be able to share some. As it is, I'm on a fixed income well below $2,000/mo, I have six sons, 4 DILs, 4 grandkids, and friends who are all in line before you. Sorry, but I think it'll be a long wait...
Woiuld you mind sending me your computer monitor, or your refrigerator? I really doubt that your family members called dibs on them first and are in line before me.
More options
Context Copy link
Why is there a line, and why did your hypothetical not mention the necessity of line-waiting previously? Why can't requests simply be made and granted in the order they were received? I doubt any of the people you listed actually have asked you for 10k USD, so shouldn't I get what I asked for now? I want it, you not giving it to me is theft by your own argument via Proudhon. Are you a thief? Nor is the fixed income really a substantive obstacle, I'm sure you own 10k worth of possessions that you could sell or hand over, and I'll even waive any amount above what you do currently possess if I'm mistaken.
Alternatively, I also am willing to "share" my resources with you, provided I also get to arbitrarily create a "line", place you at the back of it, and ensure that you never reach the front and hence that the sharing never actually happens.
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link