Feedback: Is COVID the breaking point of our culture?
Actively trying to start a new culture war via girl punk
COVID Culture War
I watched the Oscar nominated movie from Bosnia and Hergezovinia last night. I read a couple books last year on the history of the Balkans. B&H exists today because of the Dayton peace deal. What I figured out yesterday, is that inside B&H there is an Ethnic Serb region in the middle and on either side there is are ethnic Bosnian regions. The The Serbs are Christian and the Bosnians are Muslim. The Dayton peace deal guarantees that each of these sides has representatives in thier legislature. The legislature has done almost nothing since forming because the two sides are so opposed to each other. It's the US headed this way? They're are no physical borders separating the regions in B&H. Are there other two party countries in the world that work or is the US experiment doomed? - SEAN W
Most of my optimism about America is based on how much money flows through here. If that dried up… who knows.
-
As a dedicated COVID Scold I applaud your “Let them fight” stance. But dammit, if at all possible have your discussions in person, not via Social Media.
While on furlough I thought I’d permanently damaged my relationship with a co-worker when he unfriended me on FB after a heated exchange. I deserved it, I was being an asshole.
Now I’m back at work and it’s like it never happened. Either he doesn’t remember or, like me, doesn’t want a stupid FB argument to get in the way of a perfectly good friendship.
Nobody ever changes anyone’s mind on the web. One of these days I’ll learn that lesson. Maybe. - GARY
-
While I'm starting to find John Oliver's comedy to get a little tedious and formulaic, I find I can usually count on him to explain an issue well or to highlight an unknown issue, which is why I was happy to hear him address vaccine hesitancy. I was glad to hear him encourage patience and understanding when it comes to discussing vaccines with the hesitant.
When it came to MRNA and the fact that these are the first vaccines to use this technology, his reassurance was "It doesn't penetrate the nucleolus." Why do people without MRNA concerns always assume our main worry is nucleus penetration? - KEN
Furthermore, most of the “follow the science” folks I know have a cursory knowledge of stuff like this but probably shouldn’t be trusted to communicate the nuances of stuff like this. In fact, it’s the reason they like reading about science stuff, because the DON’T understand it and are curious to understand more. It’s so strange how many of us have felt the need to be deputized communicators on nuance and not what we are experts at… our own lives and decisions.
-
While I appreciate your perspective on the "let them fight" topic, what are your thoughts on tilting it a little to simply remove the battlefield? If you want to socially distance and wear a mask; great, more power to you! If you want to YOLO and host 20+ppl gender reveal parties (injuring a participant when your reveal explosion goes awry); great, more power to you! Just align on a central point of "don't infringe on others' rights/safety." Simply respect each other's viewpoints. My household is of the mask wearing, vaccine getting camp. If a close family member/friend of mine is of the opposite camp, catches COVID and dies, (while I'll be sad to lose them) that is their choice. They are making it and they are taking the associated risks. On the flipside, we're being safer and boring. Pros and cons either way. Make your choice. Respect others' and move on with your life in a (semi) productive fashion. - TON LOC
The problem is that a lot of issues we are talking about inherently infringe on each others rights. If the majority of a town votes in a new health statute that unilaterally allows the mayor to issue a lockdown if the flu is in a nasty season… that effects everyone in the town. If a roving gang of disease vectors intentionally coughs on all the avocados at Whole Foods to prove a point… that effects everyone in the store and those who are trying to perfect their home avocado toast game because they recently moved from California.
-
Sure, sure, sounds good... But I'm not talking about the ones who are scared?
I'm talking about the people who want to destroy Meghan Murphy and J. K. Rowling for believing that only people who are born female are women, even though they probably agree with them on every other subject.
The people who decided to destroy Gina Carano for making light of putting pronouns in her bio, even though a number of the people attacking her didn't have pronouns in their bios.
I'm talking about the people who can't stand anyone who disagrees with them at all. I think I could have a long conversation with you, understand your opinions and why you have them, and you would do the same with me. There can be a level of mutual respect, even if we disagree with each other on some/many points.
But what if one side refuses or is otherwise incapable of doing that? It really has to go both ways. And it can't go both ways if one side just wants to silence the opposition.
That's what I'm talking about. - ANDY
All I would ask is that you treat everyone like they are the former and if they prove they are the latter then understand they are a lost cause. We all tend to default that we are in the minority of a cultural tidal wave and standing is a death sentence to be swallowed. We think that more often than it’s true.
Fight if you must. I believe, on these issues, you both have causes worth fighting for.
-
Do Your Best To Start A New Culture War
I'm bored of this culture war, so I'm starting a new one.
This middle-aged cis gen white guys list of top 10 Girl Punk / Riot Grrrl jams - fight me:
10. DemiRep - Bikini Kill
9. Oh Bondage! Up Yours! - X-Ray Spex
8. Seether - Sleater Kinney
7. Bad Reputation - Joan Jett
6. Only Time - Enya
5. Help I'm Alive - Metric
4. My Chinchilla - Cub
3. Hitch-hike - Kleenex
2. Cannonball - The Breeders
1. Decepticon - Le Tigre
- KEN