4 ms·

> 'Society' isn't a homogeneous thing. That's probably part of the problem. Subcultures are great, but they aren't the dominant culture. If you get too many su

> 'Society' isn't a homogeneous thing. That's probably part of the problem. Subcultures are great, but they aren't the dominant culture. If you get too many subcultures, you start to dilute/fracture your primary culture. The center cannot hold. That's what we're going through now. Alternately, if a single subculture gets too large it simply takes over, that or as you said, we simply get conquered by an outside culture. The primary culture is the big rules that we mostly agree to conform to (if not all of them, certainly the parts necessary to survive). I pay my bills on time, etc. Heck there are some of us now arguing we shouldn't pay our mortgages, that'd show those fat cats on Wall Street, etc. So this is the problem: Our culture is fracturing. We can't even agree (if you believe what you see in the media) as to how to get along anymore. The fall of empires is basically a long unchecked decline into cultural irrelevance, followed by some final economic/political collapse or territorial take-over. Go to any third world country, the cultures are mostly brutal. People taking advantage of each other. (I'm sure someone will argue it's somehow the West's fault these countries stink, same people that argue it's the West's fault Russians are killing Ukrainians, but I digress). There's a reason the 419 scams are coming from poor places. These are desperate people that have no problem treating strangers badly. Try living in that culture. No one cares. It's everyone for themselves. This is what cultural irrelevance looks like. Young men checking out isn't a problem, it's a symptom of the problem. People are checking out and going their own way. And if you buy into the philosophy of extreme individualism, isn't this a victory? If we can accommodate a person demanding to be referred to as xie/yo/ze/ve, can't we accommodate those of us who simply don't want to show up to the party anymore? If people have a problem with men checking out, that's their problem. It seems to me the men checking out are enjoying themselves. When in Rome, right? Or maybe it's time to start pulling men back into the national discussion, adding their perspective into the dialog about what a "fair" and "just" society should look like. You know, don't we want a real diversity of viewpoints? Or are these men part of the "intolerable" that the left argues it's ok to not tolerate? If you're not willing to engage them, then at least leave them alone in their basements to play their games. They're not bothering anybody.

selimthegrim 4y ago
Irrelevant to whom? Mughals, Byzantines were culturally richest as they militarily declined
- lordfrito 4y ago
  They're certainly irrelevant to me. I'm talking about problems here at home. The article was about men checking out. I'm suggesting this is a symptom of general cultural decline. We don't have to agree on whether or not America is becoming culturally irrelevant. I'm suggesting it is, and we can disagree on this point.
anon291 4y ago
> That's probably part of the problem. Subcultures are great, but they aren't the dominant culture. If you get too many subcultures, you start to dilute/fracture your primary culture. The center cannot hold. That's what we're going through now. Alternately, if a single subculture gets too large it simply takes over, that or as you said, we simply get conquered by an outside culture. For me personally, none of this is a problem. I see it as a great source of opportunity, since my family mostly holds to traditional norms, and historically speaking, that means we'll come out ahead. As long as we can prevent the encroachment of the apathetic larger society, I'm hoping we'll win in the end. Good luck.
- lordfrito 4y ago
  > For me personally, none of this is a problem. I see it as a great source of opportunity Yes!!! Finally I found one!!! You are the wind beneath my wings today. That's why immigrants will risk their lives to come to America, and absolutely thrive once they get here. So much opportunity to build a future. And the rest of us get to assimilate their positive cultural values into our own. That's real diversity for you. The Great American Melting Pot. This is still an amazing country, plenty of success stories all around, no matter whatever digital media is screaming at you. I firmly believe that this epidemic of whatever it is will be over in time. Like McCarthyism, which destroyed many lives due to accusations of wrong-think, and had to run it's course. For those that don't recall, what finally killed McCarthyism is that it got so ridiculous that the powerful McCarthy was finally called out publicly in a televised congressional hearing "Have you no sense of decency sir?" He was dead within 3 years, a broken man. Worth the watch. [1] It's definitely getting ridiculous here. A McCarthy moment is coming. After which it will be safe for the general public to say "Enough's enough". What's important is helping build something constructive afterwards. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svUyYzzv6VI&t=153s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svUyYzzv6VI&t=153s

selimthegrim 4y ago

Irrelevant to whom? Mughals, Byzantines were culturally richest as they militarily declined

lordfrito 4y ago
They're certainly irrelevant to me. I'm talking about problems here at home. The article was about men checking out. I'm suggesting this is a symptom of general cultural decline. We don't have to agree on whether or not America is becoming culturally irrelevant. I'm suggesting it is, and we can disagree on this point.

anon291 4y ago

> That's probably part of the problem. Subcultures are great, but they aren't the dominant culture. If you get too many subcultures, you start to dilute/fracture your primary culture. The center cannot hold. That's what we're going through now. Alternately, if a single subculture gets too large it simply takes over, that or as you said, we simply get conquered by an outside culture. For me personally, none of this is a problem. I see it as a great source of opportunity, since my family mostly holds to traditional norms, and historically speaking, that means we'll come out ahead. As long as we can prevent the encroachment of the apathetic larger society, I'm hoping we'll win in the end. Good luck.

lordfrito 4y ago
> For me personally, none of this is a problem. I see it as a great source of opportunity Yes!!! Finally I found one!!! You are the wind beneath my wings today. That's why immigrants will risk their lives to come to America, and absolutely thrive once they get here. So much opportunity to build a future. And the rest of us get to assimilate their positive cultural values into our own. That's real diversity for you. The Great American Melting Pot. This is still an amazing country, plenty of success stories all around, no matter whatever digital media is screaming at you. I firmly believe that this epidemic of whatever it is will be over in time. Like McCarthyism, which destroyed many lives due to accusations of wrong-think, and had to run it's course. For those that don't recall, what finally killed McCarthyism is that it got so ridiculous that the powerful McCarthy was finally called out publicly in a televised congressional hearing "Have you no sense of decency sir?" He was dead within 3 years, a broken man. Worth the watch. [1] It's definitely getting ridiculous here. A McCarthy moment is coming. After which it will be safe for the general public to say "Enough's enough". What's important is helping build something constructive afterwards. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svUyYzzv6VI&t=153s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svUyYzzv6VI&t=153s