Are they constantly imagining that they are talking to UNREASONABLE individuals?

I do not come from the US, but in somewhat lefty or centrist spaces I can’t see this style.

  • mfed1122@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
    151·
    9 hours ago

    I know it’s popular to call conservatives dumb and while I don’t like to beat dead horses, I really think the explanation for this is that they’re dumb. The illiterate form of dumb, to be precise. The caps are a way of adding emphasis - which is something that can also be done by phrasing, word choice, sentence structure, and so on. But those techniques would require a beyond 4th grade level of writing and reading ability, so they do not succeed in the conservative communication marketplace.

    I will add a disclaimer, my beloved Nietzsche also does all caps words sometimes, but I believe that since this is alongside his impressive eloquence, it is clearly not a sign of stupidity in that context. Likewise, it is not a sign of stupidity in many other contexts. That is to say:

    Using that style of communication does not always make it a safer bet that someone is stupid, but being stupid does make it a safer bet that they use that style of communication.

    • cub Gucci@lemmy.todayOP
      12·
      8 hours ago

      I know it’s POPULAR to call conservatives DUMB and while I don’t like to beat dead horses, I really think the explanation for this is that they’re DUMB. The ILLITERATE form of dumb, to be precise. The caps are a way of adding EMPHASIS - which is something that can ALSO BE DONE by PHRASING, WORD CHOICE, SENTENCE STRUCTURE, and so on. But those techniques would require a beyond 4TH GRADE level of writing and reading ability, so they do not succeed in the conservative communication MARKETPLACE.

      I will add a disclaimer, my beloved Nietzsche also does all caps words SOMETIMES, but I believe that since this is alongside his impressive ELOQUENCE, it is clearly not a sign of stupidity in that context. Likewise, it is not a sign of STUPIDITY in many other contexts. That is to say:

      Using that style of communication does not ALWAYS make it a safer bet that someone is stupid, but being stupid does make it a safer bet that they use that style of COMMUNICATION.