this post was submitted on 09 Dec 2024
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interestingasfuck
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Took a few courses on American culture where it was notably absent. I think any course of study that starts with Eisenhower's farewell address should end with at least a cursory look at Industrial Society - even if it means those last couple of classes are full of very heated, uncomfortable debate.
It's an important document, regardless of how people feel about the author and what he did.
Is your favorite part where he blames liberals, commies, and academics for everything wrong with Reaganism or the part where he decides it's the fault of women and diversity?
My favourite part is his position that you can't restore a person's inherent autonomy in a meaningful sense while keeping the larger sociotechnological structures that limit it in place.
Take a look at the direction of the U.S. these days, and the significant rollbacks in the limited autonomy afforded liberals, commies, academics, women, and ethnically diverse individuals either actioned or on the horizon as evidence. There's merit to this position.
I do not agree with all of Ted's positions - I am a collectivist, ultimately and perhaps foolishly, at heart - but I find quips like yours to be distractions. These comments certainly shouldn't be ignored, but considered within the larger context.
That said, if these comments are such that you don't want to engage with the rest of it, that's your decision and I respect it. And I mean that sincerely (trying to account for Poe's law here - I really do mean that).