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 -
If you're implying that society should be exerting itself for the benefit of the publicly drug-addled...yes, agreed, to the extent that they should be picked off the streets, thrown into the back of a truck, and dumped into the nearest landfill.
And once we have a category of 'people who can be summarily disposed of', how long will it take for that category to expand? Once you have sown the wind, how long until you reap the whirlwind?
Sometimes I wonder what kind of civilisation existed in the last days before the Deluge, if a civilisation it can indeed be called; did they let that camel's nose into their tents? Did, as sure as sermon follows text, the long and scraggly neck come next? And then, as falls the threat'ning storm, leapt in the whole ungainly form?
I do not, contra the late Rev Falwell, fear G-d's petulant rage at sins of hedonism or neck stiffness; I fear His righteous wrath at sins of callousness and cruelty.
Indeed! And that is why I am in favor of forced rehab programs and labor camps. Leaving these people to their fate is callous and cruel. You're not callous and cruel, are you?
More options
Context Copy link
We're already talking about the scenario in which druggies are literally shitting in the streets. God isn't coming.
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link