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 -
Two screens is an understatement.
I mean, Trump does himself no favors going off on more awkwardly phrased rants about the Biden Laptop, Russiagate, The Spies Who Lie, etc when the matter before him is ending the Ukrainian War. It's... lets say subtle whatever it was Zelensky said or did which set him off.
That said, despite Trump practically exploding in rage, he had Zelensky dead to rights on a few inarguable points. He's gambling with WW3, he has zero cards in this situation, and peace is the only thing that can save his nation even fractionally.
Zelensky is the president of a vassal state, and he needed to be put in his place, even if the Trump is fairly intemperate. Hard as it is to watch, the counterfactual where Trump doesn't get angry and humiliate Zelensky, and yet Zelensky discovers some humility anyways and becomes willing to negotiate a peace that doesn't involve dragging the US into WW3 is impossible to imagine. And you've basically either made peace with or, or enjoy, Trumps inappropriate in a politician disposition, or the next four years for you will be rough.
What is it with Russian shills and this stock phrase? What on earth is in their mind? I'm mystified.
A "World War" needs multiple nations around that world to be at war. Presumably highly developed ones of equal relatively strength. There are no other nations. There's Russia, maybe North Korea, and that's it. China is certainly not going to get involved. Who else? India? Japan? Brazil? If NATO/Europe gets involved it's over for Russia. The only thing I can think of is it means nuclear missiles.
Thats it.
More options
Context Copy link
China's involvement comes presumably through taking advantage of the distraction to invade Taiwan.
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
This kind of thing always reminds me of Richard Hanania tweeting:
"lt's aways World War III with these people. We're never on the brink of a medium sized conflict like the Iran-Iraq War."
Well, we're currently in a medium sized conflict like the Iran-Iraq war. So it's hard to see what it could escalate to except a big conflict.
More options
Context Copy link
We are sleepwalking into the Second War of Jenkin’s Ear
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link