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 -
Well yeah, we do blame Trump, or at least I do. But that's an even worse problem, because it proves that these loyalties to Israel have to be rooted out of our government on both the D and R side, it's not a matter of just "find someone with higher agency who can balance these concerns more responsibly". I'm never supporting a candidate who vocally supports Israel, ever again. Compromise is impossible- "Trump is based but he supports Israel, we'll support him in hopes he gives use the change we want without compromising the very existence of our Empire on behalf of the Jews." Didn't work. The Right-Wing Zionist/Brown Alliance the BAP sphere insists upon in opposition to "peasant antisemitism" is impossible. It's not just about the advisors, it's about the politicians themselves. Supporting Israel should make you unelectable in both parties, it's the only solution. Newsom is pivoting hard in that direction, reading the writing on the wall. Woke shit sucks, but it's not nearly as dangerous as this fifth column, and demonstrated loyalty to that fifth column even if it's bundled with based rhetoric should be a disqualifier whether you are left-wing or right-wing.
So I agree with you, I can criticize the lifestyle of people who indulge while at the same time resolve that nobody in bed with those salesmen should have power anywhere in America.
More options
Context Copy link