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 Democrats are realizing trans issues are the albatross tied around their neck. It alienates suburban whites, it alienates minority and immigrant voters, it alienates women, including a large part of feminists. They can’t keep bending over backwards to pander to a segment of the coalition that’s 0.3 percent of the voter base.
The trans issue isn't there to win voters. People who are militantly pro trans to the point that it steers their vote aren't voting conservative in the first place. The goal with trans is to keep the left wing activit crowd from being engaged in occupy wall street style ideas, anti war stuff and complaining about expensive health care.
The trans issue is a way for the left to give something to their base while pushing policies that benefit their oligarch donors. Except for woke issues there are few issues on which the donor elite and the activist base agree on.
Who gets out of bed in the morning and thinks, “hmm, I need to throw the activists off the trail, time to start a phenomenon”? The Clintons? Pelosi?
More options
Context Copy link
I think you’re right about being used a distraction away from class issues. But it has still turned into an obstacle in the way of power, and will be swiftly discarded as a result.
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link