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Culture War Roundup for the week of July 14, 2025

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As the other commentor pointed out even the nearby tragedy doesn't have any kind of particular flavor. The bully that committed suicide is something I already mentioned.

The other nearby tragedies don't have a flavor other than "random".

A classmate killed on her way to SATs by a truck driver running a red light.

An older swim team friend dying in a car accident.

A swim team coach dying of a sudden heart attack on deck at a swim meet.

A student a few years older burned himself alive outside the school due to bullying.

A friend in his mid thirties dying of a sudden heart attack.

A cousin losing their boyfriend to cancer.

Tragedy has been around, but it's not very violent. And it's definitely not anyone's fault.

I have heard of the civilizational fraying, but I haven't really personally seen it. I don't even disbelieve you or anything. It's just accepting some of your conclusions or policy advice would run heavily counter to my own personal experiences. I don't even have a good way of resolving this dissonance. 5 years ago pre COVID I might have suggested trusting expert opinion and statistics on the topic. Now I'm pretty doubtful on the usefulness of that approach.