site banner
PaperclipPerfector  1yr ago (text post)   2835 thread views

Friday Fun Thread for July 21, 2023

Be advised: this thread is not for serious in-depth discussion of weighty topics (we have a link for that), 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.

3
Top Bottom Old Controversial Comments
Jump in the discussion.

No email address required.

Surely one can avoid being milked simply by not exceeding the speed limit, at least not by 11+ mph. Especially given that "The first violation notice would be a warning."

That would indeed be the argument in favor of speed cameras. But I don't personally believe a person should be automatically ticketed for going 76mph on the freeway. I don’t really have a problem with speeding tickets, so long as they are given by actual police officers. But to institute a blanket automated speeding ticket manufacturing facility rubs me the wrong way. There’s no room for nuance, and nuance of the law is a vital part of trust in the law.

I view this as a clear cash grab, similar to privatized parking ticket enforcement. And they justify it by wrapping it under the banner of safety. IMO, there a lot more important criminal issues to focus on than automated speeding tickets.

IMO, there a lot more important criminal issues to focus on than automated speeding tickets.

Wouldn't this free police officers to focus on those important issues?

I view this as a clear cash grab Good. That neans I get more public services, without my taxes increasing.

Doubtful. Police don’t really get out of their cars in California anymore.

Evidence?

What is this place?

This website is a place for people who want to move past shady thinking and test their ideas in a court of people who don't all share the same biases. Our goal is to optimize for light, not heat; this is a group effort, and all commentators are asked to do their part.

The weekly Culture War threads host the most controversial topics and are the most visible aspect of The Motte. However, many other topics are appropriate here. We encourage people to post anything related to science, politics, or philosophy; if in doubt, post!

Check out The Vault for an archive of old quality posts. You are encouraged to crosspost these elsewhere.


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.


New post guidelines

If you're posting something that isn't related to the culture war, we encourage you to post a thread for it. A submission statement is highly appreciated, but isn't necessary for text posts or links to largely-text posts such as blogs or news articles; if we're unsure of the value of your post, we might remove it until you add a submission statement. A submission statement is required for non-text sources (videos, podcasts, images).

Culture war posts go in the culture war thread; all links must either include a submission statement or significant commentary. Bare links without those will be removed.

If in doubt, please post it!


Rules


Recommended Posts And Communities

Recommended Realtime Chats