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 -
This seems like a general complaint with Dems/Socialist/Commies ability to build coalitions. When you are running let’s call it a spoils systems (not a perfect fit here) you run into internal bickering over who gets the better spoils. In this case it’s closer to who is the oppressor/oppressed and the top oppressed in the social pyramid.
I tend to think Trump has this election won just because of how close the last election was an on the margins Israel/Hamas and inflation memories should swap some votes. The counter is the lawfare angle but the left has claimed Trump is a bad man for almost a decade now so getting some NY courts to declare him a bad man doesn’t to me feel like it moves the needle.
Don't forget there have been four more years for old Republicans to die and new young Democrats to come of age. The old pipeline of people moving right as they age has stalled.
On the other hand, Trump is doing much better than expected among young voters:
https://www.axios.com/2024/02/26/biden-trump-gen-z-millennial-poll
The hell? I’m in that bracket and there’s no way Trump has 50% support among young people. How could that even come about?
maybe they are in the closet? wouldn't surprise me, with the vitriol any whiff of right wing gets among lefties.
More options
Context Copy link
I dunno, I've picked up some Trump support among younger people that would otherwise be politically disengaged.
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