The political/economic complain thread...

[Seattle]

This may not catch on but it's worth a try...

There is a lot of complaining these days (I'm not exempting myself either) about the economy, fairness, life in general. It's not always logical, rational, well informed but people do have differing opinions and rightly so.

You look at life today and life in the 50's (for example) and many seem to think they would prefer the 50's.
Many people don't like change or they don't like the changes partially brought about by Reagan.
Some focus on "the rich".
Some only complain with no alternatives or solutions.
Some haven't thought these issues through.
There is disdain for corporations, capital, investors, shareholders.

Have I missed anything? What is your biggest complaint with the world today?

 

[C C]

[...] What is your biggest complaint with the world today?

I'll be brief and more internationally inclusive by just expressing a general disgust of the West and its horrible history of oppression. While rattling on about the social injustice of capitalism is a universal item that all noble humanities scholars and their groupies can relate to, it's probably best to minimize those specifically American complaint-fixations revolving around Trump, GOP, etc. (Conveying outrage about the latter might also be a popular activity in the Anglophone sphere at large, but that's the point: The world has suffered enough Yank cultural exports over the decades like rock n' roll, jeans, junk-food, cowboy/outlaw films, etc.)
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[Seattle]

I'll be brief and more internationally inclusive by just expressing a general disgust of the West and its horrible history of oppression. While rattling on about the social injustice of capitalism is a universal item that all noble humanities scholars and their groupies can relate to, it's probably best to minimize those specifically American complaint-fixations revolving around Trump, GOP, etc. (Conveying outrage about the latter might also be a popular activity in the Anglophone sphere at large, but that's the point: The world has suffered enough Yank cultural exports over the decades like rock n' roll, jeans, junk-food, cowboy/outlaw films, etc.)
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If we eliminate those complaints about the West, as you say to be more global, what are the complaints about the "East" and their "exports"? Or maybe they have some contributions that you could mention?

 

[C C]

If we eliminate those complaints about the West, as you say to be more global, what are the complaints about the "East" and their "exports"? Or maybe they have some contributions that you could mention?

No, I meant expanding to overall disgust of the West (was more inclusive) rather than narrowly focusing on the US's own self-denigration (of its part of that "oppressive" tradition). Never mind. Subtle communication via sarcasm context has always been an acrobatic feat to get across successfully in here.
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[Seattle]

No, I meant expanding to overall disgust of the West (was more inclusive) rather than narrowly focusing on the US's own self-denigration (of its part of that "oppressive" tradition). Never mind. Subtle communication via sarcasm context has always been an acrobatic feat to get across successfully in here.
_

OK but to criticize the West with perspective would require pointing out what the East has contributed that is better than the criticism of the West, right?

You don't like war and jeans. Is war and turbans better?

 

[C C]

OK but to criticize the West with perspective would require pointing out what the East has contributed that is better than the criticism of the West, right?

You don't like war and jeans. Is war and turbans better?

Well, you seem to be traveling in the right direction with respect to eventually "getting it" (i.e., what ideological faction or movement was actually being poked at or pretentiously exalted). Unfortunately, any road on the way there that also involves me lending a helping hand is at least a tad akin to:

"A stand-up comedian having to awkwardly and meticulously explain her facetiousness to an audience of aspies or Vulcans, thereby nullifying it."

So I'll just leave it at that (because the post was intended as such a trivial "amusement starter" to begin with) and offer my best wishes on escaping whatever this maze of sarcasm impairment is that we all at one time or another (including me) are known to bumble into the entrance of...
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[Seattle]

Well, you seem to be traveling in the right direction with respect to eventually "getting it" (i.e., what ideological faction or movement was actually being poked at or pretentiously exalted). Unfortunately, any road on the way there that also involves me lending a helping hand is at least a tad akin to:

"A stand-up comedian having to awkwardly and meticulously explain her facetiousness to an audience of aspies or Vulcans, thereby nullifying it."

So I'll just leave it at that (because the post was intended as such a trivial "amusement starter" to begin with) and offer my best wishes on escaping whatever this maze of sarcasm impairment is that we all at one time or another (including me) are known to bumble into the entrance of...
_

OK, you do that...

 

[C C]

OK, you do that...

Ah... of course! The ??? of this thread results from Poe's Law even applying to the Left. That should have dawned on me -- that there is such a degree of fashionable nonsense and arrogant moral posturing transpiring on that side of the fence, too... That some observers cannot distinguish parody from seriousness. Even outrageous exaggeration and the most pompous or judgemental elitism will still fit the actual manner and thought orientations of some existing set of individuals or political sect.

Darn. I can't have fun any more. (Well, I still can except when crossing paths with somebody not wholly entranced by the spell.)
_

 

[parmalee]

Ah... of course! The ??? of this thread results from Poe's Law even applying to the Left. That should have dawned on me -- that there is such a degree of fashionable nonsense and arrogant moral posturing transpiring on that side of the fence, too... That some observers cannot distinguish parody from seriousness. Even outrageous exaggeration and the most pompous or judgemental elitism will still fit the actual manner and thought orientations of some existing set of individuals or political sect.

Darn. I can't have fun any more. (Well, I still can except when crossing paths with somebody not wholly entranced by the spell.)
_

Caveat: I'm still in "dick" mode, but I promise I'll stop after this.

I've always been skeptical about Poe's Law. Not so much re: the inability to distinguish sarcasm, but rather the contexts in which such seems to occur. I don't think it's got fuck all to do with the internets, or not being face-to-face, or whatever it is that supposedly makes Poe's Law unique.

If people can actually read or communicate adequately, then they've generally got no problems discerning satire. They don't need emojis or caveats or, heh, trigger warnings--the sneering disdain will shine through. It has to. Otherwise, we are truly fucked as a species.

At least, this is what I tell myself.

Also, funnily enough, Sokal was, in fact, sometimes prone to this. I wouldn't quite say that the book is chock full of examples where he's just not getting it, but there are a few instances.