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 think the smarter Democrats will quickly learn to see as a positive that lawfare is not paying out, because they could soon be the defendants. Though I have to say that the recent assassination attempt reduces the likelihood of Trump retaliating, I believe. (he wants his legacy to be that of a uniter, and the attack gave him a path to that if he acts the bigger man)
And in any case, if Democrats want to replace Biden and have a chance in the election they need the spotlight squarely set on them, not on Trump, especially when it's clearly not even damaging his chances at election. Any attention spent on the Trump sideshow is not used to pressure Biden to step down, and then not used to build up the replacement.
I don't even believe they have a path to a meaningful stepdown bar any end-of-life instant expiration issues.
More options
Context Copy link
Does he want a legacy of unity? More than any other politician, I mean.
I’d say he wants a legacy of Winning. The people on his team should end up happier and more successful than they were at the start. That doesn’t require making up with the other guys.
Unity is one of those things which sounds nice once you’ve already taken charge. It’s not one that gets you into power.
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link