There is no Politics Tribe who get offended by criticizing politics. There are various political groups who get offended if you allow politics and then some tiny subcomponent of you associates with the wrong side.
Unfortunately, it’s more complicated than this. There are tribes who believe that you should automatically join them… and if you refuse to join them at least partially, for whatever reason (including an explanation that as a matter of principle you ignore such requests from all tribes), then in their eyes you have kinda joined the enemy side. Because there is only their side and the enemy side, and no one can be neutral. Saying “I am neutral” is just a bullshit for “sorry, I have already joined the enemy side, I just want to avoid a direct conflict with you personally”. These people are offended by criticizing politics, and will even accuse you of hypocrisy: how can you criticize politics, when your actions (your refusal to join us) make it obvious that you support the enemy side?
An explanation they will give you is probably something like this: In a conflict between a stronger side and a weaker side, a decision to stay neutral is de facto a decision that the stronger side should win. In this metaphor, they are the weaker side, and their perceived enemy is the stronger side; so if you don’t join them, you support the enemy.
One thing that doesn’t quite fit is this: If you are the weaker side, how is it possible that you come and bully me, and expect me to immediately give up? This doesn’t seem like a typical behavior or weaker people surrounded by stronger people. (Possible explanation: This side is locally strong here, for some definition of “here”, but the enemy side is stronger globally.)
There are tribes who believe that you should automatically join them… and if you refuse to join them at least partially, for whatever reason (including an explanation that as a matter of principle you ignore such requests from all tribes), then in their eyes you have kinda joined the enemy side
You are right, and I am entirely comfortable with such tribes being treated as enemies (or at least opposed or dismissed contemptuously in that particular regard).
One thing that doesn’t quite fit is this: If you are the weaker side, how is it possible that you come and bully me, and expect me to immediately give up? This doesn’t seem like a typical behavior or weaker people surrounded by stronger people. (Possible explanation: This side is locally strong here, for some definition of “here”, but the enemy side is stronger globally.)
Another explanation could be that the side is dominant in one form of battle (moralizing) but weak at another kind (economic power, prestige, literal battle) and wish to play to their strengths. More often it is merely the already powerful bullying whoever they can. Discrimination is worst against subgroups that have not formed alliances and mobilised sufficiently to have made discrimination them a legitimate moral claim. (Short people?)
One thing that doesn’t quite fit is this: If you are the weaker side, how is it possible that you come and bully me, and expect me to immediately give up? This doesn’t seem like a typical behavior or weaker people surrounded by stronger people. (Possible explanation: This side is locally strong here, for some definition of “here”, but the enemy side is stronger globally.)
Another explanation could be that the side is dominant in one form of battle (moralizing) but weak at another kind (economic power, prestige, literal battle) and wish to play to their strengths.
Certainly related. I’d perhaps categorise the core battle here as between different forms of social power but the same kind of breakdown of power kinds applies. Sometimes there is bleed-over into structural power as well (for both ‘sides’ at various times.)
Discrimination is worst against subgroups that have not formed alliances and mobilised sufficiently to have made discrimination them a legitimate moral claim. (Short people?)
Asians in USA (internment camps, college quotas...) They deal with discrimination by working harder, which doesn’t bring them media attention, but maybe it is a winning strategy in long term.
Also, no one cares about Asians being underrepresented on LW. 這不公平！
Also, no one cares about Asians being underrepresented on LW.
It is interesting the unlike the other underrepresented groups, this difference isn’t explained by differences in IQ, and in fact becomes more mysterious. I suspect the cause is the large emphasis on conformity in Asian culture (and possibly generic adaptations to it).
Unfortunately, it’s more complicated than this. There are tribes who believe that you should automatically join them… and if you refuse to join them at least partially, for whatever reason (including an explanation that as a matter of principle you ignore such requests from all tribes), then in their eyes you have kinda joined the enemy side. Because there is only their side and the enemy side, and no one can be neutral. Saying “I am neutral” is just a bullshit for “sorry, I have already joined the enemy side, I just want to avoid a direct conflict with you personally”. These people are offended by criticizing politics, and will even accuse you of hypocrisy: how can you criticize politics, when your actions (your refusal to join us) make it obvious that you support the enemy side?
An explanation they will give you is probably something like this: In a conflict between a stronger side and a weaker side, a decision to stay neutral is de facto a decision that the stronger side should win. In this metaphor, they are the weaker side, and their perceived enemy is the stronger side; so if you don’t join them, you support the enemy.
One thing that doesn’t quite fit is this: If you are the weaker side, how is it possible that you come and bully me, and expect me to immediately give up? This doesn’t seem like a typical behavior or weaker people surrounded by stronger people. (Possible explanation: This side is locally strong here, for some definition of “here”, but the enemy side is stronger globally.)
You are right, and I am entirely comfortable with such tribes being treated as enemies (or at least opposed or dismissed contemptuously in that particular regard).
Another explanation could be that the side is dominant in one form of battle (moralizing) but weak at another kind (economic power, prestige, literal battle) and wish to play to their strengths. More often it is merely the already powerful bullying whoever they can. Discrimination is worst against subgroups that have not formed alliances and mobilised sufficiently to have made discrimination them a legitimate moral claim. (Short people?)
See also Yvain on social vs. structural power.
Certainly related. I’d perhaps categorise the core battle here as between different forms of social power but the same kind of breakdown of power kinds applies. Sometimes there is bleed-over into structural power as well (for both ‘sides’ at various times.)
Asians in USA (internment camps, college quotas...) They deal with discrimination by working harder, which doesn’t bring them media attention, but maybe it is a winning strategy in long term.
Also, no one cares about Asians being underrepresented on LW. 這不公平！
It is interesting the unlike the other underrepresented groups, this difference isn’t explained by differences in IQ, and in fact becomes more mysterious. I suspect the cause is the large emphasis on conformity in Asian culture (and possibly generic adaptations to it).