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 -
My problem is that your rhetoric is incendiary rather than illuminating. This site is devolving into mindless “boo outgroup” drivel.
The fact that you can be fined and arrested for acknowledging the ridiculousness of the situation is a valid example of how this affects your life and I wish you would have led with that. I’m sorry your country does not protect free speech.
Personally, I don’t mind people lying to themselves in the comfort of their own home, or, when it makes for meaningless paperwork issues. I do care about people lying to themselves when it affects others and I think many others are the same, and that’s why trans in bathrooms and sports are such contentious points in otherwise totally woke-d out societies. If the article you posted were in America, I, as an American, would think it’s stupid but inconsequential to my life. You, as an Irish person posting about Ireland are allowed to feel upset. I still think it’s mostly inconsequential to your life.
Ah yes, like the meaningless paperwork issues around ICE asking people for identification as citizens? I think a lot of people would not class that as meaningless paperwork, but indeed seem to see it as evidence of living in a totalitarian state.
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link