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PaperclipPerfector  5d ago (text post)   18848 thread views

Culture War Roundup for the week of May 11, 2026

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Traditionalism does not have an answer for this

Of course, much like communism, true traditionalism has never been tried.

I would have to disagree, I think traditionalism is working reasonably well among groups such as the Amish and the ultra-orthodox Jews.

The solution seems to be (1) discourage people from engaging with outside people and ideas; (2) discourage people from casual/recreational dating; (3) give men a special path to obtain social status; and (4) heap social status on those who marry young and stay together.

I would have to disagree, I think traditionalism is working reasonably well among groups such as the Amish and the ultra-orthodox Jews.

Not really, no. Both groups are dependent on being embedded in modern cultures which tolerate (and in some cases, support) them. Yes, the Amish would do fine if they were the only ones around, but the fact is they are not.

This doesn't necessarily mean that "traditionalism" isn't a viable solution for individuals, only that it doesn't scale. (Of course the reason Amish/ultra-orthodox isn't a viable solution for most individuals is that part of the trad solution of both groups is insularism.)

Both groups are dependent on being embedded in modern cultures which tolerate (and in some cases, support) them.

If that's the test, then no identifiable group has ever had a culture which worked reasonably well. Literally everyone is dependent on the people around them not ganging up on them.

Literally everyone is dependent on the people around them not ganging up on them.

Every individual is. But, e.g., the United States is not dependent on that the way the Amish are.

Every individual is. But, e.g., the United States is not dependent on that the way the Amish are.

If the rest of the world decided to gang up on the United States, we'd be in a lot of trouble. Certainly economically. Possibly even militarily, although that's more of an open question. Anyway, I'm pretty sure it's historically unusual for one political entity to have a decent shot at fending off the rest of the world combined.

Yes, the Amish would do fine if they were the only ones around

If you mean the only humans around in the world then maybe, sure. If you mean if they controlled solely their own territory absolutely - would they? The Amish don’t have an army or any real means of defending themselves while they live on some of the world’s best and highest yielding farmland. They aren’t welfare dependent in the way the ultra-orthodox are, but they are ultimately reliant on the United States’ power, military, borders and technological leadership. They live in a garden inside a nearly impenetrable geographic stronghold maintained by the United States.

The Amish seem to do OK in cartel ruled Mexico, they're not reliant on a strong state with an inexplicable soft spot for them. You're correct that they probably couldn't run their own country, but in a post apocalyptic world they'd just feed the hells angels for protection or something, they way peasants always have.

I meant if they were the only people in the world.

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