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 -
NPR completely and explicitly buried a story about major corruption from a presidential candidate and his son's overseas business dealings, in order to hand that preferred candidate the election. I'd challenge to to find a more-impactful example of corruption censorship from any other news media in world history.
"Completely and explicitly"? Huh? Chinese reports on corruption of Xi's son wouldn't look like (pre-2020 election) this - or explicit coverage of a biden sexual assault allegation
Because political leaders in China can have stories, or entire topics, pulled at their discretion!
:/ Not sure how to respond to this? Chinese media reporting on Xi's consolidation of power? Saudi media reporting on MBS's purges?
"Completely" as in zero coverage. "Explicitly" as in they came right out and said "We don’t want to waste our time on stories that are not really stories, and we don’t want to waste the listener’s and readers’ time on stories that are just pure distractions”
More options
Context Copy link
Accusing Biden Sr of sexually assaulting a grown-woman is not exactly damaging when he's recorded on camera grooming multiple little girls.
If anything it helps.
Regarding Hunter, why write he was paid 50k a month instead of the actual number? Oh, just 50k?
What about his actual qualifications? What makes him worth 50k a month? Is there anything that connection to his father would bring to Burisma?
They asked Burisma for comments, not Hunter?
Here's a piece from the NYP about the media's undying support for Biden
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link