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 will say there's a certain dynamic of Asian and Indian immigrants in Seattle where they would prefer a nice city, but they're not willing to DO anything about it, including vote for anyone with an (R) next to their name.
The International District has been turned into an absolute cesspool, and there is a minor epidemic of Asians being randomly targeted and attacked by black people, but there has been almost no political organization around this topic.
The workers who make their money in tech will be gone in a few years, taking their millions in RSU's with them, but leaving behind a legacy of voting for the luxury beliefs that have made the city a much worse place.
Perhaps those with an (R) next to their name support certain policies that are a bigger issue for Chinese and Indian immigrants than violent junkie hobos in the downtown?
It's not a snark, I honestly don't know why Asian Americans have become pro-Dem after being pro-GOP in the 90's.
I know why. It's the same transition that happened among college-educated whites. Voting progressive signals high status.
More options
Context Copy link
Of course neither party will have policies which exactly line up with every interest group. But as it turns out, for nearly all interest groups, the most important policies are the ones where they line up with Democrats on. Sure, the Democrats may not handle garbage pickup and be soft-on-crime and promote high taxes for you and yours and discriminate against your ethnic group, but abortion or religion or racism. And this is true even if the local Republican candidate is pro-choice, not particuarly religious, and the "racism" is merely noting COVID's Chinese origins. Because it is the Democrats who pick the salient issues for everyone, through the press.
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link