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 -
That doesn't seem to go the other way, though, does it? Solid rockets in particular seem much simpler than jet engine design, based on how quickly they've proliferated among nations not notable for jet engine design, although perhaps comparing a simple ballistic rocket to a turbofan isn't the right way to think about it, and I should be comparing a solid rocket to a turbojet instead.
I'm also not familiar with any Western companies that do both on the cutting edge, although maybe that's just because specialization matters for the extra last mile, and any Western company could make a rocket 90% as good as a Western rocket manufacturing plant and vice versa. Or maybe I'm missing some examples?
Solid rockets are a whole different beast- just as challenging but in that case its more about the chemistry. If you can build a good solid rocket you can build a hell of a bomb. Though worth noting that most nations that have solid rockets but lack other sophisticated industries are for the most part just copying existing designs (usually Soviet- they had a whole portfolio of options for sale on the export market).
Companies that build both rocket engines and jet engines are until recently Pratt & Whitney, GE historically, Safran and Northrup Grumman currently. Also some Chinese makers whos corporate structure I am still confused about because China.
Very interesting, thanks.
What jet engines does Northrop Grumman make? I thought that in the States GE and P&W had the engine market pretty locked down for higher-end engines, I guess with Rolls-Royce still being a player in the civilian market (of course I'm probably embarrassing myself by missing someone super obvious!)
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link