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 really don't think this is comparable. Mostly just the status quo at least since Nixon. An embarrassingly paralyzed Congress has been a feature of American government since I became remotely cognizant of it in the 90's, regardless of who the president is. That's the whole reason the first 100 days of a presidency has been fetishized for as long as I've been alive.
What was truly novel about the era of libs throwing a tantrum was suddenly, DEI, explicitly anti-Republican training sessions became mandatory. Schools integrated explicitly anti-Republican lessons geared towards children. Fundamental web based utilities began instituting explicitly anti-Republican TOS to boot them off platforms vital to engaging in the modern economy. Where I used to live, the town center got boarded up and businesses closed from time to time over "mostly peaceful" tantrums that threatened life and property. One morning at a farmer's market, in front of our families and newborn babies, I said I didn't like the new Star Trek and another liberal father there started yelling at me at the top of his lungs in public about the importance of punching fascist.
I moved to a red area shortly after Trump lost. You meet a person who can't help but grumble about a stolen election or bamboo ballots or whatever. But no business ever had to close for fear of their wrath. Nobody has been subjected to specialized anti-Democrat workplace seminars. The schools haven't changed the curriculums to focus on the long history of fishy elections, wink wink nudge nudge. I've never been subject to being publicly screamed at, or witnessed it the new local farmers market when someone wears a BLM slogan.
Another person who thinks DISCO Trek was an abomination! That makes at least two and possibly even several of us on here! I've been told it got better but sorry, even Christopher Pike can't entice me back to that nonsense, and I understand Michael "I'm So Special, I've Got A Man Name (Even Though This Is The 24th Century And Nobody Cares About That)" Burnham is not locked up forever in a maximum security Federation jail as being a galactic pest, but instead gets to be captain of her very own starship. You want me to cheer for whoever the bad guys are, being all mean to Mikey Mike? Because this is how you get me to cheer for the bad guys.
Discovery is an abomination. The first season of Strange New Worlds was decent, at least. Not perfect but I enjoyed it. Haven't watched the second season yet though.
More options
Context Copy link
I’m sorry, but complaining about modern trek is perhaps the least controversial thing you’ve ever said on this board.
I disliked modern Trek before it was popular or profitable; I was mildly disappointed by Voyager because the writers didn't know what they wanted to do or stick to it; I was very disappointed by Enterprise, and then when I thought I had hit the floor in "being let down by Trek revivals", along came Disco.
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
Well-put. This lines up very well with my set of experiences, too. TBH, I really do think that Scott's recent theories in The Psychopolitics Of Trauma are pretty spot on, for better and for worse.
More options
Context Copy link
I remember the day I said The Last Jedi wasn't very good and some 40something mom said I was just against strong role models for girls. I told her to go back to the internet and take her opinions with her. It was a big moment for me, because politics intruded on one of my favorite hobbies; bitching about film and TV.
I agree, I think a lot of people are serious denial about the degree to which these opinions have broken social media containment and bled out into the real world. I'd guess mostly because of TikTok, but that's just speculation.
This was when the Last Jedi had just come out, and in a Costco. This shit's been going on since way before TikTok.
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
I wouldn't go that far, but yes: somebody explain to me how it went from "look, Drag Queen Story Hour is only hosted at libraries, it's voluntary, if you don't want your kid there then don't bring them in the day it's on" to "we must have it in schools, yes the same schools your kids have to attend for mandatory education, no you can't sign them out of those classes otherwise we'll suspect you might be abusing your children at home as a transphobe homophobe bigot terrorising your queer trans kid".
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link