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This phenomenon is known as a purity spiral, and here's a great story about one tearing an online knitting community to shreds. In game theory terms, objecting
by rippercushions 4y ago
This phenomenon is known as a purity spiral, and here's a great story about one tearing an online knitting community to shreds.
In game theory terms, objecting to something was now always a dominant strategy, and rejecting an allegation of racism was always a losing strategy. Inevitably, a ratchet effect took hold in which those with the most strident vision of what ‘diversity’ meant were effectively handed the keys to the castle. That is — until someone with a more strident vision turned up behind them…
https://unherd.com/2020/01/cast-out-how-knitting-fell-into-a-purity-spiral/ https://unherd.com/2020/01/cast-out-how-knitting-fell-into-a...
- techdragon 4y agoI’m going to start using this terminology. It’s good to have simple phrases for this. It’s so much easier to say “I’m not going to engage in perpetuating a purity spiral” or “your not helping anyone by continuing the purity spiral long past the point of helping anyone who was genuinely affected by this” It’s short and pithy, and it can sort of cover the core concept without needing deep academic understanding of the social dynamics involved.
- Teever 4y agoIt's also very googleable which means when you casually drop it into conversation they can just look it up without you having to explain it.
- low_tech_love 4y agoNice, thanks for the link. ”Moral outbidding” is also a great term, very clear and expressive.