Culture Warriors category archive
Trapped in a Cell (Phone) 0
Glen Geher explores the dark side of living in a screen-based world. A snippet:
Intuitively, we can understand why. Someone who is posting anonymously to a blog probably will never meet the blogger in person. They probably have little investment in the blogger’s personal success. Further, unless the blogger is some kind of super computer hacker, the anonymous commenter is probably never going to “get caught.” So the possibility of retribution is unlikely.
Of course, evolved human conditions were not like this at all. However, the “anonymous blog comment” is, as we all know, just the tip of the iceberg. These days, people are regularly, across a broad array of platforms, communicating with others in anonymous, deindividuated* ways. This is a highly mismatched, unnatural way for humans to communicate with one another, and for a variety of reasons, it brings out the worst in us.
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*From Britannica.com (more at the link): “Deindividuation, phenomenon in which people engage in seemingly impulsive, deviant, and sometimes violent acts in situations in which they believe they cannot be personally identified (e.g., in groups and crowds and on the Internet).”
The Anointed 0
At AL.com, Dana Hall McCain meditates.
Flagging Interests 0
Farron comments on the flap about Nike’s “Betsy Ross” flag shoes. (Yes, I know he said “Betty” instead of “Betsy.”)
Aside:
One of my pet peeves is persons who violate the U. S. Flag Code, particularly persons who wear U. S. flag-like clothing. You do not honor the flag by wrapping your greasy hair in a red, white, and blue bandanna, for Pete’s sake.
Deep Dive 0
Shaun Mullen jumps into the pool.
Immunity Impunity
0
Steven M., considering the threatened militia attacks in Oregon, espies a double-standard. A snippet:
Follow the link for his reasoning.
Teflon Don 0
David discusses the lack of reaction to E. Jean Carroll’s description of having been assaulted by Donald Trump.
Dick Polman is also troubled.
Moore of the Same 0
At AL.com, John Archibald notes that Roy Moore is again going to run for the Republican Senatorial nomination. As he reviews the field opposing Moore, Archibald reaches a distressing conclusion:
Boy, was I wrong.
Because Roy Moore already won.
Follow the link for his reasoning.
Hate! in the Name of Love 0
The Kansas City Star’s editorial board dissects the doublespeak.
Republican Family Values 0
Honest to Betsy (Pete’s taking a break), you can’t make this stuff up.
The Sanctimony of Life 0
At AL.com, Dr. Alan D. Blotcky questions Alabama Republicans’ claims that their recent anti-abortion law is all about the “sanctity of life.” I commend the entire article to your attention.
Here’s an excerpt:
In my opinion, the Alabama law is not about the sanctity of life at all. It’s a ruse. Let’s look at the facts. If the preciousness of life was at the core of their belief system, the anti-abortionists would be clamoring at the top of their lungs for sensible gun control laws. But they are not. And they would be marching in the streets against capital punishment. But they are not. And they would be unwilling to accept anything less than full access to health care for all. But they are not.
(snip)
So what were these white Republican men in Alabama trying to accomplish?
It seems clear that white men want to protect and perpetuate their patriarchy. They don’t want to give up their control and power.
Messianic Complex 0
Bobby Azarian is taken aback that some evangelical “Christians” see Donald Trump as some sort of messiah sent to save their way of life. (Of course, if you watched the short clip from the 700 Club that I posted yesterday, you have seen that some indeed do feel that way, or are at least open to the idea.)
Here’s snippet from Azarian’s article:
Of course, this only served to further strengthen evangelicals’ belief that he was their savior. What is most ironic about it all, but I suppose not entirely unexpected, is the fact that Trump’s behavior and positions are far more un-Christ-like than those of the average politician on either side of the aisle. The many infidelities, the lack of compassion for the less fortunate, the lewd comments, the blatant lying—the list of ‘ungodly’ acts is a long one. But because they believe he was an answer to their prayers, they are willing to excuse every bit of it.