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 -
Betting/prediction markets look slightly up for Trump, like +6%-7% or so.
But yeah, lots of room for Democrats to play a reverse uno card upon the Republicans, along the lines of a LeopardAlmostAteYourFace or a NearHermanCainAward. Gun control would be an obvious pathway.
Especially if the shooter ends up being a white male, then the drum can be banged with regard to White Male Fragility and the supposed epidemic of white male shooters (despite… what FBI crime statistics may state). Regardless of his politics. All the better if he’s an explicit rightist, but even a centrist griller, a compass-scattered schizo, or a non-explicitly ardent, vocal progressive would do.
I just don't really see which extra votes this is getting for them. Biden's probably the biggest beneficiary directly as he's moved out of the media focus now.
People who were disengaged deciding to vote. Also, this gave Elon the cover to officially endorse Trump, so that's probably going to help sway some grey tribe members in the tech sector
And Ackman in the finance sector.
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
I mean he looks tough. He looks like a fighter. He looks like a leader in every way Biden can’t— calm, strong, and in command of the situation.
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
Black shootings don't happen ever and all black deaths are at the hands of police or a racist state that leaves them without opportunities so of course they have no choice but to shoot themselves. To posit otherwise is showing your bigotry and proof of why we must implement reparations to counter Project 2025.
Crappy, low effort comments dripping with sarcasm and failing to speak plainly are not welcome here.
You were warned the last time you went on a shitty low effort posting spree to stop doing this.
Banned for 5 days.
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
Democrats / media playing that card would only sound convincing to the people they already convinced long ago, and it would be extremely off-putting to everyone else. They might not be able to help themselves but do it, as the alternative, doing the right thing (and the thing that wouldn't immediately disgust anyone who could be a swing voter) means giving Trump a couple of days at least of deferential, respectful coverage (in the case of the media) and unqualified wishes for a speedy recovery to Trump and complete unconditional condemnation of the assassin (for Democrat politicians).
Prettymuch all Trump can do as well, though. Who does this really galvanize towards being pro-Trump? Trump's base loves him already
Cross pressured voters are real. There's people out there who don't like abortion bans but also don't like inflation, or people who don't want immigration but also don't like rich people getting tax cuts, etc, etc. You add another thing into the mix and sometimes it can make one of these people with mixed feelings flip.
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link