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 -
https://www.newsweek.com/video-appears-to-show-new-ice-shooting-in-minneapolis-11411971
Ice shooting round 2 has kicked off. Numerous rumors already flying around but will be a bit before we have facts I imagine.
EDIT: I've been asked to add some relevant points, I'll say: this comment has links to various angles: https://www.themotte.org/post/3493/culture-war-roundup-for-the-week/405295?context=8#context This comment mentions the "Sig misfire" angle that I've seen a bit: https://www.themotte.org/post/3493/culture-war-roundup-for-the-week/405451?context=8#context
Walz has activatedthe national guard: https://x.com/MnDPS_DPS/status/2012614253090619619 The NBA postponed the Minnesota/Golden State game tonight.
I've watched the video a bunch of times and it's unclear to me where the first shot comes from, which this entire thing hinges on. IMO we need the footage from the lady in the pink who was right there. If we're to believe the posted photo of the weapon from DHS, it is a SIG, though I'm not sure if it's a P320. The only thing I want to add to the discussion is the dark possibility that if this is a P320, there's a small but non-zero chance that this is another case of a self-discharging P320, which caused the agents here to believe he had fired at them and caused them to unload on him.
Edit: her video is linked in this thread and it's not looking good for the agents but also it's still unclear if the guy could have pulled a gun. I'm leaning towards bad shoot.
Immediately after the grey-jacketed agent gets the dead guy's gun (we can see the red dot sight; it's definitely the weapon DHS says was the dead guy's, not an ICE weapon. I'm pretty sure it is a P320 but it did not go off), the agent to his left (in the pink lady's video) draws his weapon and fires the first shot, I believe. Not clear why, but it seems like he fucked up. Then there's a bunch more shots, which seems like a further fuckup. I assume if the guy had a second weapon, DHS would be crowing about that from the heights of X, so it definitely seems like an unjustified shoot. But I predict that the less-sympathetic (i.e. male) victim means this makes less news.
Yeah, after seeing more video it does seem like they disarmed him during (one of the agents is shown to have his gun, the same one that can be seen taking it from him during the struggle) and that one agent did fire the first shot. Real bad and none of the angles is redeeming the administration. No idea why they're doubling down on the "domestic terrorist" rhetoric. They're out of control.
It's the same playbook the left has been using. As for why... because it worked for their enemies.
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