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Culture War Roundup for the week of August 21, 2023

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I think the reason there is such a strong negative response is that most regulars here are terrified of this becoming a place to wage the culture war, rather than discuss it. If we start allowing passionate screeds directly in favor of political candidates, the walls between this place and the rest of the political internet will start crumbling very quickly.

The fawning tone is undeniable, but on the other hand, users on this site wage the culture war often. It is just usually with a more negative tone/perspective. The truth is that users on this site are far more comfortable with wholly negative criticism because it can be passed off as analysis. Never mind the fact that critical analysis is far child's play next to strong positive claims.

There is a growing miasma of pseudo-intellectual sneering here, perhaps because of its connection to another site. At least this user leaned the other way. At least there was something earnest about his post. It is something this userbase really lacks these days.

The fawning tone is undeniable, but on the other hand, users on this site wage the culture war often. It is just usually with a more negative tone/perspective. The truth is that users on this site are far more comfortable with wholly negative criticism because it can be passed off as analysis. Never mind the fact that critical analysis is far child's play next to strong positive claims.

This is actually a very fair point, and I am trying to fight against the perpetually negative, usually right-coded sneering and literal calls for violence against leftists. I don't think fawning over a candidate this hard is the right way though.

I'm as earnest as the next guy, I mean hell look at this post I made recently. That being said, I think there's a tasteful way to be earnest, and I think this post went well overboard in terms of earnestness.

We also want people to have a little nuance - if the post kept the same earnest tone but at least admitted some faults, I would see it in a much more positive light.

I appreciate the response, and I hope you keep posting here and help us fight against the miasma of negativity. Every comment counts.