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 -
Could you put even a little effort into not straw manning the opposing viewpoint?
I thought this was just another generic bad faith poster, but now that you pointed out the actual meaning of the name, I'm realizing this very well could be Darwin just having some fun with his username. It's been a long time since I've read his posts with any sort of regularity, but this definitely fits the pattern of obviously bad faith strawmanning that I remember.
It is, in fact, very obviously Darwin.
Nothing is less obvious. What’s your evidence? He’s a progressive…. who strawmans. Which is another way of saying he does not hold the average opinion of the sub in high regard, which is normal for a progressive. So your only piece of evidence is that he’s a progressive.
You've already had a big discussion on the subject, if you're not convinced, that's your right, but come on, you're the one sniffing out galaxy-brained alt-righters who pretend to criticize antisemitism in order to spread it! How do you get off on demanding concrete evidence here?
Well yeah, because I had evidence. As I recall, you and other doubting commenters ended up admitting the behaviour I denounced was, at the very least, quite suspect.
That's not evidence, that's other people agreeing with you. A lot of people also agree with FC on this.
I had stuff like the new account popping up one day after the last alt, numerous deleted comments that were copypasted antisemitic ramblings in contrast with naive denunciations of antisemitism, turns of phrase that could only be uttered by an alt-righter, etc.
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
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link