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 -
This really isnt persuasive to me at all. Posting video online where someone over-reacts to your jerk move is pretty standard fare. We have the Shiloh Hendrix case, thousands of cases where women dress provocatively at the gym for the purpose of cussing out men who looked at their butt or bosom, trans people being aggro then filming clerks who "misgendered" them, and many more. I think the term is outrage farming. Its super common. My presumption now is that anyone filming a sole, private citizen, in public at a non-public event is probably a bad actor. You dont just film a 14 year old girl, even if she is being an asshole and brandishing a hatchet if you are a normal guy. A normal guy just shrugs and leaves. Video guy tries to provoke the situation so he can get a good video. Whether he is just a jerk video guy, a snitch, or a creepy rapist remains an open question. But I see no situation where he is actually a positive contributor to the community.
(Assuming that the girl started an interaction and was harassing/intimidating, which we don't know):
I think there is a case for thinking (not saying) 'fuck you, you little punk. You don't get to scare me out of public spaces. I'll film this for the police.'
I do agree most people would leave, however there is a pro-social element of recording teenage thugs to make public spaces safer. Particularly if they interact with and brandish a weapon at you. Its not for everyone and its probably prudent to just leave things be and tell any police you walk past what happened.
If the kid hadn't initiated an interaction though and the man did (say after spotting she was carrying an axe), well its much harder to justify that in the current zeitgeist.
Edit: Looks like the kid started it (the guy says he has a witness and cctv reviewed by police) from @jkf
The transcript in that video is really weird, though. Her words are aggressive, but he keeps saying variations on, 'yes, yes, show the knife'.
It could be 'get the knife again, I want the world to see what you were threatening me with' but coupled with the weird way she's holding them (face on to the camera, maximum display, minimum threat) and his background as a 'digital artist' I would not be at all surprised if he's paying her.
Okay, but paying for what purpose? What's the exact business case for a video showing yourself being threatened with an axe and a knife by an underaged girl?
To go viral, one assumes. Then you sell the story, plus when you sell your services as a content creator you can point to when one of your videos was literally world famous, etc.
More options
Context Copy link
BLM2 electric boogaloo. Or just raising your profile as a Stunning And Brave artist, which I think worked quite well, if that was the goal.
Ah yes, George Zimmerman and Derek chauvin, easily mistaken for middle school girls.
When demand exceeds supply, you gotta make do with what you have.
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
The point being moreso the "by an underaged girl" part than "video showing yourself being threatened with an axe and a knife" part.
The fact that we're talking about it is proof that it's an effective way to raise your profile, no?
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link