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 -
Ooh ooh, don't forget we're The #2 most visited state by foreign tourists, narrowly behind New York, and CRUSHING California (if you don't count illegal immigrants, that is). That's why sales tax works so well for us, incidentally.
You probably can't tell me anything about my state's strengths and weaknesses that I'm not already acutely aware of.
Did you know we got high speed rail before California?
Oh, and don't forget we're second in all time rocket launches behind the USSR and ahead by a country mile in launches in the last 10 years. Yeah yeah its mostly federal funding.
Also we have won more Stanley Cups than the ENTIRETY OF CANADA over the past 30 years Panthers won this year so the total is now 5, BTW.
On the flip side, did you know that New York is the place with the most Medicaid spending, even in excess of its population share. Florida happens to be WAY lower on that list. Fourth from the bottom.
So your point about Florida being "old" is well taken, but not really a knockdown argument in the slightest.
Also we're allegedly #1 or #2 in the country for education DESPITE being eighth from the bottom in per-pupil spending and DEAD FUCKING LAST in K-12 spending as a % of taxpayer income.
SINGLEHANDEDLY blowing up the idea that its education spending that drives outcomes, I guess.
Having experienced the Florida Educational system I would find this hard to believe, but I assume other states' systems are genuinely JUST THAT BAD.
Best state for Higher Education...NINE FUCKING YEARS RUNNING. Seriously what the fuck are the rest of the states even doing at this point?
Anyhow, please don't move here, it sucks. You're welcome to visit and leave your money, though.
More options
Context Copy link