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 -
The greatest American asset is being considered the richest and strongest country. You buy US bonds because they're safe and they're safe because people buy them in times of trouble... It's prestige that was once based on a rock-solid base of production but is now a floating castle in the air. Likewise you buy property to a large extent because it'll appreciate and it's appreciating because people buy it. Until it doesn't and the bottom falls out of the market.
No, it is fake and less valuable. People want all kinds of things, many of which they shouldn't have. Many people are perfectly willing to trade in their wealth, health and dignity for fentanyl. But this isn't a proper kind of economic activity, that's why most places ban it. There are many improper economic activities between mutually agreeing parties that most consider to be bad: insider trading, corruption, debt-slavery contracts, child labour...
Markets are not the sole arbiters of value, they're useful tools in some contexts. They need to be regulated to prevent externalities and incentivized to target the right areas. Of course much of the regulation that goes on is stupidly implemented to achieve bad ends. Nevertheless, there is more to value than prices. There's a hierarchy with material production at the top. Louis Vuitton does not have any military value. Steel, food, electronics, transport or AI are more important to an economy. When the chips are down, they're just really expensive handbags. Real value is independent from branding, real value is derived from concrete capabilities.
In mild fairness, there are like a few luxury brands that have had crossover with military procurement in WWII (e.g. Hugo Boss), though some did deal in metallic products to begin with (Rolls-Royce).
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link