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Small-Scale Question Sunday for December 29, 2024

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.

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Take #3 was far closer:

Looking at the piece again:

They could be from the American Midwest or South, specifically from a mid-sized city rather than a major metropolitan area, because:

  • Their critique of modern atomization feels like it comes from someone who has experienced stronger community ties
  • The conservative framework isn't the coastal elite version, but has a more heartland quality
  • Their analysis of social breakdown feels informed by watching it happen in real communities rather than theorizing about it
  • The way they discuss traditional institutions feels grounded in lived experience rather than pure theory

More specifically, they could be from somewhere like:

  • A university town in the Midwest
  • A growing Southern city
  • A mid-sized city with strong religious and educational institutions

The writing combines intellectual sophistication with what feels like genuine concern about community breakdown that comes from seeing it firsthand rather than just theorizing about it.

Now we're talking. Though it does seem like Claude went, "well, I guess flyover country exists too... right?"

And I find its analysis of these points rather insulting:

"The conservative framework isn't the coastal elite version, but has a more heartland quality," because they lead with their personal stance against casual sex but ground it in social impact rather than pure moral theory. Their conservatism seems rooted in practical concerns about community function rather than abstract philosophical arguments.

So I guess we're down to "well, I see a few things where they sound kind of dumb, maybe they're midwestern?"

How's that for reinforcing biases!