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Culture War Roundup for the week of May 11, 2026

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Uncommon and niche is not the same thing as "absolutely alien". There are known real life examples of people who spoke up against the mainstream views of their time, like Thomas Paine. He was anti slavery and generally pro egalitarian as a founding father even further back than the setting of RDR2.

A historical figure can stand up on principles against common stuff of the day whilst still holding social values surrounding it that are going to shock and appall modern audiences. Without getting into the 'why is this random bandit the one that has picked their moral compass here'. The dominant viewpoints of the time aren't going to be the only ones that exist, but they're gonna function as the center of the bell curve. Super-progressive abolitionists in history are still likely going to be believers in HBD and a lot more liberal with the N-Word than anybody today. Martin Luther King would likely not be comfortable with Trans people.

If there was a TV show 500 years ago from now recreating your life, there'll likely be elements of their culture war/contemporary ethics that you have either never thought about or would have conservative views on relative to the typical person of 2500.