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 -
Am I not saying "some" things about it? If you want a historical/sociocultural essay, I'm afraid you've got the wrong guy. I was never interested in history lessons in school. What do you even want me to tell you about - tea etiquette?
I already conceded that many aspects of daily life will have stemmed in some way from Christian traditions. I also have said that in many of those, the Christian tradition is barely recognized as such, and some are quite blatantly originally Slavic Pagan. For most people I meet their moral compass, if they appear to have one, is quite secular.
Without being Putin's butler I obviously cannot know if it's true. He certainly isn't known for drinking like Yeltsin was. His private life, to the extent he might have one, is not really the matter of public discussion. (Not because people are afraid or consider it impolite, but because it's simply not interesting. Those who want to hate Putin do it because of what he does in his capacity as the head of state, not any hypothetical grabbings by the pussy or private island trips. If there is any censorship of lurid speculation, of the kind that appears in the certain kind of pulp tabloids, I have not heard of it.)
You’re missing the point for why I asked the question. Yes, you can say some things about it. But it takes away so much of Russian civilization that it leaves you with very little to talk about. That’s a testament to its influence and importance. I remember getting into a debate with the British theologian Jonathan Hill once who’s actually an atheist, but theology has always interested him which is why he pursued a doctorate in it. One of the questions I asked at the beginning of our discussion was why he chose to study Christian theology and his response was “… because Christian history is world history…,” implying that its impact on societies is too significant to be decoupled every aspect of how humans live their life.
With Putin’s drinking, maybe it’s just a public perception of things. Some of Hitler’s strongest supporters of his fascist activities were actually middle and older aged women. Hitler obviously isn’t Putin, although the mainstream media here in the US is hard at work trying to convince people that he is. I’m curious, have you ever read The Plot to Seize Russia?
I suppose so, at least in the sense that much of daily life revolved around religious significant holidays and much of international politics revolved around subjugating neighbours and imposing your religion on them. But how much of that is specific to Christianity?
According to common stereotypes the old women are the ones who idolize Putin, too. And middle-aged women notoriously staff the public offices.
No. (I have read Kids VS Wizards, though.) I admit I've kinda lost your train of thought.
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link