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 -
I was thinking about something similar today. The real power is the Overton window and not values like free speech. I’ve long supported a character like Pinochet. I don’t give a shit about human rights for communists because if they ever gained power I view it as very bad for civilization. Therefore, I have no problem with death squats for communists. I’m ok with say 3% of US citizens being communists and having their free speech somewhere on Reddit. If they become politically powerful enough to take over the State I would support death squads here and not care about their human rights.
As a fan of the NFL I wouldn’t watch the games if they supported Kaepernick movement. I think he’s a racists. Atleast for his stated BLM goals that cops are racists and kill black people etc. I don’t think that argument stands up statistically which makes me view him as just a race warrior. Though if BLM had focused on other issues where I think things can be improved like statistically America probably doesn’t police enough and over jails. We could get less crime with more police on the street and letting more criminals out of jail. Jail really is inhumane but necessary. Think the basic theory is young people act irrationally but more police would increase the chance of being caught and reduce crime more than longer sentences.
Hockey is probably a little weird in that their players are likely heavily red tribe from small towns but their customers are highly blue tribe.
But this is mostly to my point trying to enforce different Overton windows and no one cares about free speech. In my case I do try to differentiate between speech that leads to bad things versus good things. But a lot of that’s just my opinion (which I think I’m smart).
It’s important to put Latin American death squads in sociological-political-judicial context. (Yes, I know that in the shitpile that is the normie world, only leftists get license to appeal to context in public discourse, but screw that.) Wherever leftist insurgents operated in Latin America, they specifically terrorized judges as well, to intimidate them into basically letting captured commie agitators, terrorists, sympathizers, saboteurs, agents etc go free with a slap on the wrist. The entire judicial system was paralysed. Also, many judges were leftist activists themselves. So yes, death squads were necessary. There was no other option for defense.
More options
Context Copy link
No wonder commies always look like they skip leg day.
And here I thought it was the idea that only lefties could play with the really fun old Games Workshop miniatures.
Hmm, we apparently haven't added a ban of mention of the Squats on here yet...
The Squat Clock broke. A refugee showed up on Necromunda. The GW Youtube video announcing this is a classic, and is seen by some Kevin Rountree fans as the decisive turning point that put an end to the Tom Kirby dork age. Unfortunately I am on a VPN which blocks Youtube at the moment so I can't link.
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