site banner

Culture War Roundup for the week of March 4, 2024

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.

6
Jump in the discussion.

No email address required.

Please speak plainly and explain what you're aware of.

Of course. I am aware that the Biblical figure Job, and Steve Jobs (a messianic one, to certain tech evangelists) are different people. It was a joke.

So... uh... after that nice interlude... what sin did Job commit?

Some time-traveling Catch-22 shenanigans, apparently claiming you're not a sinner is a sin. All I know is I know nothing.

Fair enough. I would only express to you that it might be of value to understand that your opponents have done more than their fair share of wrestling with the general problem you propose. Simply asking, "What sin did a two year old child with ALL commit, such that she wasn't worthy of a miracle while your remission from UC was?" as though it were a complete, coherent argument for a specific position is sort of on the same tier as, "If humans descended from monkeys, why are there still monkeys?" Like, yes, Mr. Fundi, we have thought of that concern, but you'll need to step away from your Fundi Smugness for long enough to try to understand anything about how this tradition works.

I've heard the term "theodicy". I am aware of efforts of theologians to reconcile the irreconcilable. The poor bastards end up embroiling themselves in word games and dancing on pinheads.

I expect the typical reader of this forum to be able to understand, when presented with:

"What sin did a two year old child with ALL commit, such that she wasn't worthy of a miracle while your remission from UC was?"

That we are operating under the hypothesis that there is an All Knowing, All Powerful and All Loving Creator who loves his children equally. Or so it's claimed, I suppose. Well, if we can excuse Santa for giving richer kids more expensive presents..

I am sadly all too aware of how this rich and ancient tradition works. And the traditionalists are, I hope, also familiar with common critiques, even if the evident attempts to shore up their worldview boils down to "mysterious ways" or other forms of non-productive engagement.

Yeah, again, this is definitely why are there still monkeys territory.

I expect the typical reader of this forum to be able to understand, when presented with:

"What sin did a two year old child with ALL commit, such that she wasn't worthy of a miracle while your remission from UC was?"

That we are operating under the hypothesis that there is an All Knowing, All Powerful and All Loving Creator who loves his children equally.

Like, where exactly did this come from, and what is supposed to be the implied conclusion? Please speak plainly.