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 -
Posting a second reply since this is urgent, there were air strikes attempted at night on Rajasthan, not on Jaipur, but in Rajasthan, and bomb threats have been called in Jaipur. Indian drones did damage parts of Rawalpindi, another major city. It hit an empty cricket stadium as a warning.
Furthermore, debris from missiles was found in Amritsar. They also targeted Changigarh and Jammu, two important state capitals with millions of residents. This might become a war after this. The villages near Amritsar are being emptied. I fear they may target my city next, not saying this in a trivial way. I hope we remain safe.
Holy shit, they attacked jaislamer, Jammu and also Kahsmir, this is war, I hope nukes dont get brought out. Pakistan has attacked their fourth civilian target. Mullah motherfuckers want an all out war. They tried bombing Jaisalmer, tanks are at the border. Fuck these people.
The Pakistani defense minister was also spouting off about how a “limited nuclear exchange” couldn’t be ruled out.
That motherfucker needs to be a camp, anyone who mentions nukes is an enemy to humanity. If this gets me banned, fuck it.
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
From the safety of the cushiest country on Earth, the prospect of war in the Kashmir is a mildly interesting diversion at most.
But there you are, a fellow mottizen, right alongside it.
Good luck.
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link