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Culture War Roundup for the week of December 5, 2022

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If the shoe fits...

Listen, if I were advocating for Republicans to rise up violently, Rethuglican wouldn't be a bad fit. If I were advocating that Trump was still a genius, and this was all part of his 43d chess, Magtard wouldn't be a bad fit. And if you commute 90 minutes to work, alone, in your car, with a mask on, branch covidian fits.

Am I on some fucking short list of people you feel compelled fucking annoy whenever they use slightly creative language? Do you know what the no-no words are ahead of time, or do you just see myself enjoying writing too much and decide to be a killjoy?

I didn't call a user here a branch covidian, I didn't make sweeping generalization. I described a specific set of behaviors and beliefs, and used an appropriate descriptor for it. If you don't drive 90 minutes to work alone wearing a mask, be not offended, be not inflamed.

Am I on some fucking short list of people you feel compelled fucking annoy whenever they use slightly creative language? Do you know what the no-no words are ahead of time, or do you just see myself enjoying writing too much and decide to be a killjoy?

Dude, if I had a dogecoin for every problem child who whines "Why are you picking on me?" every time they get modded.

You are far from a newbie, I know who you were back on old reddit, so you've seen me mod ever so many people besides yourself in very similar contexts, and I am not the only one who's modded you for this kind of thing. Take the rap and chill.

While I share your views here, I'd also ask that we don't call people names, since that's liable to contribute to driving off those who might actually argue against our views, which in turn is the entire purpose of the Motte. Few people will join for productive disagreement when they see their side being insulted from the get-go.

Well we have to call them something. I would like to call them something they would self identify with. But the problem is they think of themelves as good people and not part of a group.

I'm not the creative type, so how about something descriptive? "Maskers" for simplicity? "Hardcore maskwearers"? "The forever-masked"? IMO it should be possible to find a moniker that's accurate without being outright offensive - and religios or cultish connotations will offend that particular group, I imagine.

That is never how I've perceived it to work. These people abuse the euphemism treadmill as a tactic to never be named, and pretend they don't even exists. When whatever you call them becomes "offensive", because their behavior is reprehensible, they will insist you not call them that, or anything else for that matter.

I see no point in budging at the start.

There must be some catchy variation on "the group which must not be named"

I get where you’re coming from, but pejorative names go against the spirit of this forum. We’re here for smart, civil discussion, and your posts fit the smart part. I get that you’re in a fucked up spot for fucked up reasons, but try to respect the rules that keep us from degenerating into endless, unproductive rants.