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PaperclipPerfector  4d ago (text post)   1701 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for September 7, 2025

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.

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So this place is kinda dead now eh? What happened? There’s a ton of stuff happening in the culture war and the main thread is wildly boring with posts not at all topical

Guys, I think I found the suspect.

Get back to poasting or see what happens

Who the hell do you think you are, DuoLingo?

Maybe someone should post the charlie kirk assassination. Sounds like a culture war.

When was your last top level post in the CW thread and what was it about?

So this place is kinda dead now eh? What happened? There’s a ton of stuff happening in the culture war and the main thread is wildly boring with posts not at all topical

"Willing to comment, not willing to effortpost" syndrome.

I have no doubt that if someone made a toppost about the train stabbing of Iryna Zarutska, it would generate hundreds of comments in response. But that requires someone to do the work of writing a summary and well-posed take, first.

EDIT: @Ademonera bit the bullet.

Yes that’s the exact topic I was looking for. Thanks

Then post something I guess?

I’m a mobile user and effort posting is really hard. If the mods were more relaxed about making simpler posts then I would be more willing.

Israel lures all of its enemies' leaders to a meeting and blows it up for the 4th time is kind of tired.

More evidence that everyone has already made up their mind about in the Epstein case was released.

Got an interesting take?

More evidence that everyone has already made up their mind about in the Epstein case was released.

I actually haven't. I don't know if the Trump birthday letter to Epstein is real or not, for example. My hunch is that it is, but I'm not sure.

I've been a combination of too busy and too lazy to make a worthwhile post about it, however.

This might be one of the issues with the Reddit-style format of forums. On an old-school style of forum, you could just dig up a relevant Epstein thread from the past, even if no-one has posted on it in weeks, and post on it. This would automatically bump the thread to the top of the forum. And if your post is interesting enough, the thread might come to life again. So you wouldn't have to make a brand new one. But with the Reddit-style format, this is a lot harder, since making a new post on an old thread doesn't bump the thread up to the top of the forum.

Well that, plus almost nobody on TheMotte posts anywhere outside of the Culture War thread. If there was a dedicated Epstein thread that actually had significant engagement, that would also address the issue.

I actually haven't. I don't know if the Trump birthday letter to Epstein is real or not, for example. My hunch is that it is, but I'm not sure.

It seems real but not like a smoking gun or anything. Trump admitting to being a perv just like Epstein and also winking that Epstein likes girls under 18 is not a great quality but on its own I don't think it means Trump knew Epstein was a massive underage girl sex predator and that he also participated in it.

I think lots of people look the other way on underage dating if it seems like the people involved are mature or aren't being harmed. I had a high school music major friend that was 16 who was dating like a mid-30s something pianist guy. Seemed outrageous at first but she was mature enough and we didn't think too much of it.

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