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 -
What's pseudo about it? She's genuinely an intellectual. In fact she bested Meghan Murphy in their debate over porn and sex work on Benjamin Boyce's podcast a few years ago. I remain more on Team Murphy, but she lost that battle.
Anyway, maybe it's just me being jaded and experienced, but I don't see the value in spending so much on these women. They're still just meat sacs after all, they don't warrant such money being spent on them. There's no way they are so differentiated from some other attractive, smart woman that they should command these prices. Do they come with some state-of-the-art virtual reality experience that enhances the encounter, Strange Days-style?
I'd like to see a profile on the guys paying for these women. That would be more illuminating. If they're twenty-something rich, nerdy Asian guys, that would track. If not, I'd have to revisit my murky thesis. These men might too be enchanted by the aesthetic of it all, just like some of the women who will see the article and especially the photo that comes with it. "I'm with this high-end escort like I'm in some Mission Impossible movie or something. It's a cool story I'm in. The people looking at me from across the hotel bar don't know she's an escort, anyway. They may think she's with me organically, and that we're a power couple out here slaying."
I think the answer is that attractive, smart women who are plausibly these guy's class peers are very rarely willing to have sex for money.
Right. Having to pay for a simulacrum of a conversation they wish they were having with a badass power couple wifey just feels patronizing.
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link