We don't have the bot, so let me step in: this thread is not for serious in depth discussion of weighty topics, this thread is not for anything Culture War related. This thread is for Fun. You got jokes? Share 'em. You got silly questions? Ask 'em.
Friday Fun Thread for September 09, 2022
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Why are you called The Motte?
A motte is a stone keep on a raised earthwork common in early medieval fortifications. More pertinently,
it's an element in a rhetorical move called a "Motte-and-Bailey",
originally identified by
philosopher Nicholas Shackel. It describes the tendency in discourse for people to move from a controversial
but high value claim to a defensible but less exciting one upon any resistance to the former. He likens
this to the medieval fortification, where a desirable land (the bailey) is abandoned when in danger for
the more easily defended motte. In Shackel's words, "The Motte represents the defensible but undesired
propositions to which one retreats when hard pressed."
On The Motte, always attempt to remain inside your defensible territory, even if you are not being pressed.
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Notes -
Should we make some media recommendations in this thread, or would it be better to have a "The Motte recommends" media thread? Tradition pushes me to use this thread, but I thought it might be neat since we have our own place now if there was a thread dedicated to media recommendations, since it would give new users an insight into us, plus it would also be handy for anyone looking for previously recommended titles without having to go through all the Friday fun threads. What does everyone think?
A general media thread seems like it could be a great idea. Keeps recs and reviews all in one convenient thread without splintering discussion much. Perhaps using thread themes could work as well to change it up a bit every week e.g. a focus on sci-fi themes one week, a focus on philosophical themes another...
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I like both. Mottizens have the best recommendations, plus interesting little mini-reviews even when the media itself isn't great.
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