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 -
How do you reconcile this opinion with most of his wars being defensive? Did the coalitions rely too much on the tool of war?
Easily. Even Napoleon's defensive wars were mostly sparked by his own belligerence. Partly that was through making other powers feel threatened. Partly it was his willingness to provoke his opponents, being undeterred by the prospect of potential conflict. Partly it was through over-extending himself unnecessarily and giving those with grudges reason to think him vulnerable.
I don't think there's any question that many of his opponents also failed in their own statecraft.
It's certainly difficult to disagree that the era that birthed total war was too warlike on the whole. And Napoleon can be blamed for much of this.
Still I think you're being too harsh. Europe was in a state of chaos that is hard to imagine even for us today. Institutions that stood for centuries were overturned every month. Putting your faith in steel in those times in an understandable proposition.
Oh, I forgot to mention his repeated treachery (most notably against Spain, but also others). He proved vividly to everyone that he could not be trusted. That's not how you build stability and peace.
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link