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 -
When they go after Home Depot lady they are going after essentially their own people. Those not smart enough to have perfect grace on knowing what memes are appropriate at a given time.
I am all for canceling Bud Light and over educated Bud Light marketing VP but attacking the working class is just wrong. It’s not in the best interest of the right.
Someone isn't on my side because they work at a Wal-mart.
No, but it's a pretty good sign they aren't actually your enemy either.
I've looked into Portland antifa bios, and a lot of them work shitty retail jobs if they work at all, although usually at smaller companies or schools that won't fire them for getting arrested.
Going after foot soldiers doesn't really matter, but the real target is the companies that feel safe hiring such people. The left has an entire punishment apparatus for firing "the kind of people who might think things that could conceivably someday create a hostile work environment", and companies are enslaved to it (see gattsuru's latest damore post for the quote).
Time to take over that system and turn it against them.
Please, no. We don't want it normalized for employers to scrutinize their employees' politics, regardless of ideology.
Not only is it already normalized, it's mandated by the Federal Bureaucracy, enforced routinely, and has been for decades.
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
Not to be all "both sides" but both sides have footsoldiers of varying levels of tact. The dumbest of the enemy soldiers does not make a friend.
"He's is edgy and politically incorrect like me, so he must be on my side. The fact that he wants me and my kind dead must be a misunderstanding"
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link