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I don’t know what to do, you guys

fredrikdeboer.com

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Re: I don’t know what to do, you guys

#211

Post by yummyfajitas »

mkr-hn wrote: post #194
dragonwriter wrote: post #163

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Right wing politics in the US claims to lean toward reducing/dismantling SS and the welfare state, radically changing immigration and education policy. That's not generally true. Right wing politics usually claims its for the first two things, and one form of the last, but generally opposes substantial reforms of immigration policy in favor of more stringent enforcement of existing laws. > In contrast, left wing po…

It's a classic rhetorical trick. "My side favors [nuanced, detailed presentation of my faction's views], while the other side favors [simplistic nonsense presented as the other side's view]."

The only problem with this theory is that the right wing is not "my side". Browse my history - you'll see me favoring things like open borders while opposing nationalism and religion. Kind of the opposite of what I said right wing sorts favor. Similarly, I described Modi as favoring big change, but that doesn't mean I support Hindutva (I'm a non-Hindu foreigner, that would be pretty silly).

I'm a left winger who takes the stated basic principles of the old left (individual rights, equal treatment), and I eschew the cognitive dissonance necessary to support every left leaning special interest group. I.e., I'm a heretic, not an infidel.

Re: I don’t know what to do, you guys

#212

Post by davesque »

jsprogrammer wrote: post #201
davesque wrote: post #170

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You know, the fact that this post was down-voted is actually a great example of the phenomenon being discussed here. Opposing views are met with hostility. I really think HN needs a lesson on down-arrow usage.

I don't even see how my post is an opposing view. The first two sentences are statements of fact. I'd argue that the third sentence is also a fact, but I'll accept that not everyone believes it. I honestly don't get what people disagreed with, I was just attempting to correct some of the factual errors that people had been making all over this comment section. Edit: Ah, I see that the person I responded to edited the…

You're right. All statements of fact. Very mysterious down-voting.

I guess I used the term "opposing view" as a catch all for something that people seem to disagree with. It appeared that people disagreed with you since you got down-voted. I didn't mean to incorrectly represent your post but I guess I did accidentally.

Re: I don’t know what to do, you guys

#213

Post by mkr-hn »

yummyfajitas wrote: post #211
mkr-hn wrote: post #194

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a classic rhetorical trick. "My side favors [nuanced, detailed presentation of my faction's views], while the other side favors [simplistic nonsense presented as the other side's view]."

The only problem with this theory is that the right wing is not "my side". Browse my history - you'll see me favoring things like open borders while opposing nationalism and religion. Kind of the opposite of what I said right wing sorts favor. Similarly, I described Modi as favoring big change, but that doesn't mean I support Hindutva (I'm a non-Hindu foreigner, that would be pretty silly). I'm a left winger who take…

I didn't name the factions.

Re: I don’t know what to do, you guys

#214

Post by Kalium »

Dylan16807 wrote: post #183
Kalium wrote: post #171

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I can't think of any major downsides from letting people have work and personal life be separate. It removes the ability to enforce arbitrary social conformity.

I can't tell if you think that's good or bad, but I disagree. The workplace environment still enforces certain kinds of behavior at work, and the public environment still enforces behavior in that environment. Each kind of social pressure is only weakened slightly by being unable to cross over.

Given how readily abused it is, it seems unwise. It's one of those things that works great... so long as it's only used by good people to do good things.

You know, for whatever local definitions of "good person" and "good thing" crop up today.

Re: I don’t know what to do, you guys

#215

Post by Kalium »

baisong wrote: post #179

This article perfectly demonstrates how talking about "PC" prevents good discussion about inclusion. As it turns out, "PC" is a term developed to dismiss appeals to sensitivity and inclusion. And it's quite good at doing so! So, if you care about sensitivity and inclusion, but focus on "PC", you're forced, like this author, to throw your hands up in defeat. It's actually quite simple: if you realize that policing oth…

The point the author is attempting to make is that a culture has been created where it is unacceptable to fail to be arbitrarily sensitive and inclusive. That this is used to bully and control people and does not allow for a diversity of opinions.

Re: I don’t know what to do, you guys

#216

Post by areyousure »

Frondo wrote: post #160
yummyfajitas wrote: post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Witness how difficult and ineffective policies to ensure accountability for teachers and eliminate the bad ones are. Consider the difficulty in reducing dependency programs (e.g., SS, Medicare) - these are political non-starters due to old people voting. On the cultural front, note how difficult it is even to criticize teachers or government dependents. Consider the media reaction when Romney correctly pointed out th…

Very nearly 100% of the people living within U.S. borders are dependent on the government, whether in the form of tax subsidies or use of government-built services. I'm sure many people of a certain ideological stripe feel as though they're somehow self-reliant and do not rely on anything any level of government provides, but that does not mesh with reality. As for shaming people on welfare, I'm again unsure which co…

It is my understanding that Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is a cash benefit. Do you not consider TANF in the U.S. to be "welfare" in the form of a cash grant?
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