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 -
Does anyone have a link to a sincere presentation of the case for him being a federal agent? Googling it literally only shows references to a “debunked far-right conspiracy theory” but not one genuine presentation of it from a right-leaning source
The main bit of "evidence" is the confrontation between AG Merrick Garland and Kentucky Representative Thomas Massie during the October 2021 house oversight committee hearing. An exchange that was subsequently picked up and broadcasted by the likes of Tucker Carlson, Joe Rogan, and a bunch of others. The short version being "why have defendants X, Y, and Z, spent 12+months in jail while guy who was most obviously reponible has been allowed to walk?"
Garland's response was to make a vague appeal to limited resources and prosecutorial discretion then change the subject. The general consensus amongst Republicans is that this is a bullshit excuse and that both Garland and Wray are lying through their teeth.
More options
Context Copy link
Here's the revolver news article that more-or-less started this whole controversy:
https://revolver.news/2021/10/meet-ray-epps-the-fed-protected-provocateur-who-appears-to-have-led-the-very-first-1-6-attack-on-the-u-s-capitol/
More options
Context Copy link
No single link but here's some of the circumstantial evidence:
The night before he's calling for people to enter the Capitol. Given the potential charges that brought to those who entered it would be the interest of the government for as many people as possible to enter.
However, despite his enthusiasm and him being on the Capitol grounds he shepherds many protestors into the Capitol building but didn't enter the Capitol building himself. Odd that he didn't participate in an activity he was encouraging.
After the event, he was listed as suspect number 16 by the FBI. Then he was quietly removed from the suspect list. Without charges being filed. Off for someone so directly involved in encouraging people to enter and assisting their entry not to be charged.
After considerable protest over his role remaing unpunished and draconian punishments for others involved be was charged and pled guilty to one charge of disorderly conduct and was just given a probationary sentence.
The situation suggests he glows to me.
More options
Context Copy link
Check https://revolver.news/
Meet Ray Epps
Meet Ray Epps, Part 2
its interesting that part 2 mentions the pipe bombs. the fake pipe bombs were very weird. apparently, they were placed the night before and there is video of someone suspected of placing of the bombs but one of them (or both?) used a 60 minute kitchen timer as the pretend detonation source. now, its gets weirder because apparently someone 'found' one of the bombs at a point in time where the timing made it look like it would explode around the time of certification. this was partly covered by an interview in congress: https://judiciary.house.gov/media/press-releases/republicans-release-new-information-january-6-pipe-bomb-investigation and FBI Director Wray's testimony: https://youtube.com/watch?v=DaL5RM-ZYt0 the cell phone data from the area was also mysteriously corrupted which impeded any investigation.
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link