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 don't see the problem with arresting someone for driving with a suspended license. Is there something else to this that bothers you?
I think suspended licenses are one of those "disproportionate impact" things--low-income people are most likely to be the ones driving around with suspended licenses, IIRC.
More options
Context Copy link
Some people argue that, in areas where public transportation is poor or nonexistent (i. e., much of the USA), the suspension of drivers' licenses is an excessively harsh penalty, because it makes keeping a job difficult or impossible. The issue is compounded when a driver's license is suspended as penalty for an offense that has nothing to do with driving. For example (these people argue), revoking the driver's license of a person who has failed to fulfill his child-support obligations only makes it less likely that he will pay in the future. See the "findings" section of this Senate bill (which died after passing the committee) for some more information (e. g., "In the United States, 40 percent of all driver’s license suspensions are issued for conduct that was unrelated to driving").
Obviously, however, complaints on this topic should be directed toward the legislature, not toward the police department.
My point is that having the police go to gas station parking lots and run plates all day is an enforcement decision by the police department, and I think it’s a poor use of police resources. Squandering resources chasing easy arrests instead of trying to focus on maximizing public safety is squarely the fault of the police departments.
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link