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Culture War Roundup for the week of February 14, 2024

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I appreciate that you took the time to answer but I've read what you said multiple times and I can't identify anything actionable. What exactly is my argumentation style and how exactly would it give someone the subjective experience that I'm lying? What is the specific way I'm approaching this topic and how does it stymie people who disagree with me? It would help if you illustrated your concerns with specific examples of things I've said, and ideally offered suggestions on alternative ways I could convey myself.

My suggestion is to drop the topic.

You gain nothing from discussing it with those you agree with and my suspicion is that your approach is if anything anti-convincing to those you want to convince and may make them disinclined to listen to you elsewhere.

You fundamentally do not appear to "get it" for this topic, and as someone on the other side I was so blown away at all clear Dean was in this criticisms. Since that doesn't work for you I don't think anything will.

This may be too much of a two screens situation.

That said your post generated lots of good discussion so who the fuck knows.

I'm sorry but I don't know what to do with this response. If the problems with my argumentation style are so clear, why are they so difficult to specify? I understand that some issues can be difficult to articulate precisely but even so that shouldn't be a barrier from suggesting alternative ways I can communicate myself. A silly example but I can understand how responding to a text message with "Thanks." comes off as curt and rude, even if I can't articulate the exact reasons why. But even then I can still suggest alternatives like "Thanks!🥰" or whatever. I would love to hear a simple suggestion along the lines of "Instead of saying X, try saying Y" or whatever the issue is.

I've asked exactly this from Dean this many many many times and he's never taken me up on the offer. Given the persistent contours of this grudge, I can only assume that his real problem isn't with my argumentation style, but the fact that I haven't adopted the conclusion he prefers. I can't just assume that people are operating in good faith if the evidence suggests otherwise.

Accept that you have a blind spot and give up, or choose to believe those who disagree with you on this have a blind spot and give up.

It's been explained to you simply, at length, and with repetition over the course of years and has never landed and therefore will likely never land.

I gave up years ago and Dean seems to have updated his mental model of you to figure that you are liar*.

I repeat that your model of how we perceive your behavior on this should be as a Darwin* - discussion will get nowhere and time will be wasted with pointless demands for more engagement.

*Apologies Dean if you disagree with these characterizations.

Ok I appreciate the attempt. I'll stick with option c until I see evidence to convince me otherwise.