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 -
https://archive.ph/IWYc8
A Western Mass. lesbian bar required KN-95 masks. When it changed the rules, all hell broke loose.
There's some real gems in here, and I feel bad for the one remaining owner and wish they/them the best, now that they've seen how positive, supportive, and inclusive their chosen subculture isn't.
This is also an example of the Internet showing me exactly what I want. Even when I'm browsing substack not logged in, it can somehow target me and my hobby horses.
A "Lesbian" Bar (which seems to really be a Queer Leftist establishment ridden with trannies) was until recently a Masks Required establishment; they planned to allow some days each week in which masks were optional rather than mandatory. Histrionics ensued. You'd think the article was a hit-piece from a right-wing rag, but the Boston Globe is only conservative if you're standing near the Left Pole.
I post it here at the risk of it being Boo-Outgroup, but I'm actually slightly gladdened. The neighborhood where I do most of my socializing is ridden with queer leftists who still mask, but "enforcement" is limited to the occasional DIY show or rave that's specifically targeted at maskies. However bad it is here, it's not as bad as a small town in Massachusetts.
People are still masking in the year of our Lord 2026?! I had to check the date. I had expected it to be from 2022.
I wear a mask when I’m flying. I keep having the bad luck of being seated near people who are coughing and sniffling, and before I masked I would inevitably catch a cold whenever I’d go abroad.
Seems silly to make it a political issue, you’re breathing dry recycled air, in close contact to random strangers, for several hours. I got tired of every holiday or business trip leading to me being sick for a few days. If it helps, I started before Covid after seeing Asian people do it.
For what it's worth, airliner air is not recycled. The air coming through the fresh air nozzles is coming from the pressurizing system, which typically uses bleed air from one of the jet engine compressor stages. At the same time, a relief valve lets air out to maintain the overall cabin pressure.
Yeah, wasn't there a study done showing that it's actually safer in the plane than many other indoor spaces? I think the reason people get sick from traveling is fatigue, breathing dry air, and dehydration, not anything particular to the proximity to others.
Wearing a mask in a bar probably makes more sense than doing so in a plane, but fortunately no one does it because they don't want to look like an antisocial freak.
Personally, I am not a big fan of masks because it tends to create a wall between yourself and others. It would be one thing if the healthiest people I knew were wearing masks and saying "I never get sick. This is awesome." Instead the people I know who still mask seem to have a lot of issues, mostly mental ones.
I think it's better for people to be beautiful, confident, and to project strong mental and physical health. Masking when not strictly necessary sends the wrong message.
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link