^ (sci-nerd)

I just started The First and Last Men by Olaf Stapledon, but I JUST started it so I don't have anything to share yet.

I just finished Encounter with Tiber by Buzz Aldrin. Really good and realistic fiction, I especially like the way he makes the aliens seem both alien and familiar. Their prejudices that they bring to the stars resonated in a way that I find hard to describe.

In recent past I finished Dan Simmons' Hyperion 4-novel set. (Hyperion, Fall of Hyperion, Endymion, Rise of Endymion). Really fantastic hard sci-fi that also has engrossing characters. Highly recommended.

First of all, I'd like to thank you for being civil in your response. I meant my comment in that way so I appreciate you doing the same. Personally I feel like lately there has been too little civil disagreement and resulting refinement of dialogue within the social justice movement. To me, that's the real power in debate, the ability to refine your arguments until they're razor honed and unassailable. So, thank you for responding.

On your main point I'll agree to disagree. But I'll say that two things. First, in my experience positivity always is more powerful and affects more lasting change than negativity. I have yet to see calling it out work to change hearts. Most people react defensively to being put on the spot like that and it takes a lot of concerted effort to retrain yourself to handle it better. To me, the presupposition of that much internal change would be better spent on the actual problems instead of taking the easy way out of calling someone a racist douche. Second, in my own life I've seen that social respect and equality is never a zero sum game. There is no limit on the amount of love and appreciation we can give out. But if we're moving into economic realms, yes there are a finite number of pennies running around. 10 yachts versus 6 is an entirely different question. After all, one can be dirt poor and still be happier than any billionaire. But we can do better, that's obvious.

And about the casual racism, you can do with that what you will. I've read a lot about racism only being from white people, or the 3rd wave let's-rewrite-the-dictionary "power+privilege" and I reject the premise there. I personally don't think the color of your skin makes any difference if you're saying things that attribute negative characteristics to a large portion of a race of people. If you're white and you say racist things about black people, that's racist. If you're black and say racist things about white people, that's racist. If you're white and you say racist things about white people, that's racist. But I may have been painting with a broad brush, so feel free to ignore if you don't think it applies.

I see your point but I take issue with a couple things.

The overall tone of hate and division isn't helpful to having realistic conversation and debate on these issues. It's disappointing coming from someone who nominally wants to change minds.

But more importantly, this argument is extremely Americentric and historically blind. There are places like Ireland that are full of angry white men that have been horribly mistreated long times before African slavery started. Ever wonder where the "Gingers have no soul" meme comes from? And African descendants have plenty of blood in the past too, look up what Shaka Zulu did to Zwide's mother. Does that mean that the sins of the father should be visited on the sons perpetually? I don't think it does for anyone.

I'd like to discuss your theorem: "What is a negative stereotype of an angry white man? There aren't any." I'd just like to point the obvious. They're shallow, closed minded, insular, pedantic, and self-centered. It's the Fox News greatest hits.

You also have a misconception about the term "Social Justice Warrior". You seem to think it's a dig against social justice as a category, when it's not. It's a rejection of the idea that social justice can only be accomplished by war. That it can only be, as you so painfully put it, "a zero-sum game". Why must we crater the beautiful idea that diversity, inclusion, and equality enrich us all? What happened to Dr King and his Dream? Look back at Jesus, Gandi, and MLK. Then, and tell me what has changed more than love and peace. Hate isn't the answer.

This blurb had a defeatist and pandering attitude, full of casual racism and I feel it wouldn't serve to change one mind that didn't already believe your tenant. Your arguments were malformed and your barbs missed the target. But I thank you for sharing your thoughts and hope you don't take my criticism too harshly. I just think race relations are too complicated for either a Tumblr blog or /r/GamerGate. Please respond, I'm very interested in your take on this. ^_^ (also, please excuse any autocorrect shenanigans, this was typed on mobile.)

I know I'm new, so that means I'm not very familiar with your community. And I posted this before, but this seems like a better place to discuss this. So feel free to tell me to bug off or mute me, but here's my thoughts:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/07/15/you-must-blow-reddit-up-to-save-it.html

After reading the linked article, I've been questioning whether a corporate startup environment is the right way to handle an online marketplace of ideas and discussion. There will always be the Imgurs and 9Gags out there to share pictures (shoutout to Plag and their fantastic app I found recently). But for larger and longer discussion that can give voice to the tired, the poor, the huddled masses maybe a different structure is needed.

I know, that's blasphemy in today's Silicon Valley or Wall Street, but maybe that's part of the problem. Basing a community on the foundation of shifting sands that is VC funding is maybe part of the problem? Haven't corporate interests shown that most people can be bought eventually? An old corporate negotiating tactic is to invite the leaders of the opposition to your ivory tower and treat them like equals. Pretty soon they start to identify with you rather than who they're supposed to be representing and you get whatever you wanted. Slashdot, Digg, SourceForge, and now Reddit seem like they were bought out that way.

So, respectfully I offer my two ideas about what may work:

Mutual Organization: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutual_organization Pros: This is funded by members who are customers. Extra funds can be used to invest with and be at least partially self-funded. Perhaps at $5/yr it would cover costs and have extra to drive growth and investments to maybe lower costs or offer rewards/dividends. VC funding could be used to start with the understanding that they then would be bought out when investments start to roll in. Cons: This does not preclude people being elected into powerful positions and then being more interested in squeezing the most money out of members for their own pay/bonuses. VC is always a mixed bag. Sometimes filled with angry cats.

Cooperative (perhaps Consumer or New Generation): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooperative Pros: Could be non-profit and able to be a little above the typical corporate capitalist drama. Because all the users are in control the likelihood that someone will try to take over for their own benefit seems less likely. Also could let you do some really cool stuff like fund clean water for a remote village or a jobs fair for homeless in a specific area. Cons: Literally all the users would have to pony up to start the deal. Trying to find a standard price to buy into at the beginning would be difficult and/or getting credit to fund at the could be SUPER dicey. Having a completely democratic structure could mean that painful decisions get done at a glacial pace or not at all.

They do, it's connected with having Prime. But a lot of their music that's available for download isn't for streaming. I checked them out recently and was disappointed.