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 yes, the roman pontiff can hardly justify calling the Holy Roman Emperor to his knees in the snows of Canossa otherwise.
Less cynically, the Pope prostrating himself might be more convincing as a true symbol of humility were it not done on marble floors, silk and velvet fabrics, with gold and fabulous art everywhere - literally a basilica, or a kingly palace.
Venice and the holy league at Lepanto. The Conquistadors in Mexico and Peru. The English in North America. The French, before Napoleon squandered their nation's lifesblood. The Germans in their orderliness, art, and science. And the heir to all of them - America.
I mean, the Hagia Sophia is a mighty-impressive work of architecture; the Byzantine empire was worlds ahead of its contemporaries in governmental organization and finance, and before first the latins and then the muslims sacked and despoiled it, Constantinople was a shining gem; the greatest and richest city in the world. A might ingrateful to the west's greatest shield against the depredations of Arabia and the turkic steppe hordes, I think.
Nietzsche is right. God is dead. He has lain in the tomb and gone down to Sheol, like the rest of us.
And today, He is now alive again, restored to us, and bringing us all into the new life. Alleluia!
This victory has come about not by the heroics of the great heroes like Achilles, but by surrendering and suffering like the most humble. It is the foolishness of the world. The strong and mighty have not achieved this, but the Suffering Servant has done so.
Alleluia!
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link