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I don't know why you're getting downvoted. Social norms serve to uphold the status quo which is a right-wing position.


I find this absurd.

The idea that those on left dont also have their own norms (which they police ruthlessly) is ridiculous.


Maintaining the status quo is absolutely a right wing position, and current social norms absolutely do serve to maintain the status quo.

In our society we have an idea of an "ideal" human being, and the norms are designed to serve those people. Are you a tall, white, straight, neurotypical, handsome, wealthy, sports loving, business-minded person? Great! You'll fit right in.

Anyone else? Well you're kind of a failure and you should try as hard as you can to act like the ideal person.


You seem to be conforming to a particular set of norms yourself very well.


I'm not sure what you're implying.


There is injustice in our society no doubt and there are many ways of interpreting this and how it should be understood. You simply appear to be following the very narrow railroads tracks (norms) of a particular ideology without seemingly any attempt at independent or critical thought.


That is still quite a vague answer. You seem to disagree with me about something so it'd be helpful if you were more specific.

I can assure you that I've spent a lot of time thinking about these things and I have, at various points, pissed off people on the left and the right during my process of learning.


I strongly disagree that social norms serve only or even mainly to support the status quo. Norms of equality drove anti-slavery campaigners. The French Revolution was deeply influenced by norms about natural rights. Communism was a profoundly idealistic movement. Today, many people call for deep social change by appealing to norms.


You seem to be confusing norms and moral values.

Using one of your examples, the norm would have been slavery and the moral value would have been equality.

This is actually a great example of what I’m talking about. Norms usually enforce the status quo, but values drive us to break norms and change the status quo.


No, I am referring to social norms, the way I define them in the piece (which is quite standard).


Social norms are accepted standards of behavior in groups of people. "Equality" is not a norm, it's a value. A norm can lead to equality, but it is not itself a norm.

However, they both play a role in preserving the status quo. A certain set of norms and values will lead to a certain type of society. If you want a different society you have to change the norms and values.




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