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 -
In Christ there is no male nor female; excepting that, yes, women are obviously lower on the great chain of being, inasmuch as children are. This isn't wrong or bad. It becomes wrong and bad when we train them from birth to be upset about it.
It's literally Satanism. He teaches men that we should be as God and should resent the One who loves us and upon Whom we depend. Imagine teaching an eight year old that he should reject all guidance and authority from adults and make his own way and cultivate anger and disrespect for his parents. This is not good for the child.
Yeah, that's the fault of men who allowed women too much freedom across domains such that they ended up stuck in this woeful state.
Well that doesn't hold at all. Motherhood is one path for women, and the right one for most, I expect; but at some point the kids are bigger and there are numerous ways for women to contribute beyond just birthing and nursing. Society used to be rife with social organizations run by women and we were all better off for it. Having some kids only takes a few years and then women usually end up with plenty of options for doing other things. This whole complaint is just a boogeyman scare tactic designed to divorce us from each other at ruinous expense to all.
The other path for women is loosely defined as 'monasticism', i.e. foregoing family to devote their lives to greater service to all. Also an acceptable path, though as I say wrong for most.
Believe it or not, women are prone to being very happy about being women without enemy action convincing them otherwise. Each of us has our place in the Great Chain of Being; embracing that is wisdom itself.
More options
Context Copy link