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Why do conservatives write LIKE THIS? (lemmy.today)

submitted 5 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) by vivalapivo@lemmy.today to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

49 comments fedilink hide all child comments

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.

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[–] mfed1122@discuss.tchncs.de 17 points 5 days ago (2 children)

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.

[–] vivalapivo@lemmy.today 14 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

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.

[–] andrewta@lemmy.world 2 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Why did you just copy and paste their comment and just add caps?

[–] vivalapivo@lemmy.today 10 points 4 days ago

Idk, it now sounds fun in my head. Maybe because I am DUMB, who knows

[–] buffing_lecturer@leminal.space 1 points 4 days ago

I think philosophers around that time often did this especially if they were using a word in a way it is not usually used.