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PaperclipPerfector  10d ago (text post)   25195 thread views

Culture War Roundup for the week of March 9, 2026

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Why is it "as it should be" to look at environmentalists using low resolution? Surely there is a significant difference between a scientist studying climate change models who calls for using less fossil fuels, on the one hand, and Ted Kaczynski on the other. And plenty of people make the distinction, indeed it is unusual not to.

When moderates (of whatever topic) benefit from the actions of extremists, I start to suspect that they are only moderates out of practicality and convenience. If one person in a crowd starts throwing molotovs, then peaceful law-abiding people should either kick them out, or leave. If they close ranks instead, then I suspect the only reason they aren't committing arson themselves is practicality and convenience.

Outsiders using low-resolution judgment means that movements have an incentive to clean up their act. A high-resolution one would let them reap the benefits and face none of the consequences.

Notice that you yourself picked two particularly militant examples of environmentalists.

You have to choose controversial examples, otherwise it's rhetorically useless. Would you have learned anything about my opinion if I said "Both used oil recycling advocates and anti-CFC advocates are 'environmentalist'"?

Indeed, since Kaczynski acted alone, his actions cannot be characterized as being the actions of any environmentalist association whatsoever.

I called out non-affiliated individuals above. Why do you think formal organization matters at all? Leaving aside his environmentalist bona fides, he was certainly part of a movement. Does your (presumably negative) perception of his actions just poof into irrelevance when he died? Would it have mattered if he founded and passed on a shell corporation to promote his work, making an "association" of 0-1 people?

Outsiders using low-resolution judgment means that movements have an incentive to clean up their act. A high-resolution one would let them reap the benefits and face none of the consequences.

In other words, you can't complain about being called a communist unless you have enemies to the left.

Pretty much.

I tried looking for that comic with someone politely asking for a wallet while backed by a crazy guy with a gun (who he disavows, of course), but I couldn't find it. At least he had the good grace to say the right things, even if he didn't take any concrete actions.

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