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Handwaving Freakoutery explores themes spanning culture wars, gun policies, misinformation, and societal behaviors toward technology and political correctness. It critically assesses various social and political issues, offering perspectives on race, gender, digital ethics, and the impact of ideology on human interactions and governance.

Culture Wars Gun Policies Misinformation Societal Behaviors Technology Ethics Political Correctness Race and Gender Issues Digital Ethics Ideology and Governance

The hottest Substack posts of Handwaving Freakoutery

And their main takeaways

MPS20 Comparison for the June 2025 LA Riots

554 implied HN points • 10 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political Analysis Media influence Public response Government Policy
  1. The MPS20 scale is a way to measure the impact of protests and riots mathematically. It helps to understand how severe or significant a civil unrest event really is.
  2. Political leaders often use the National Guard in inconsistent ways during riots. Their decisions are sometimes influenced more by public perception than by the actual situation.
  3. There is a growing belief that some riots may be staged for political or media attention. This makes people question if what they see is really happening or just part of a bigger performance.

Black Lives Matter Killed 8,682 Black People

1482 implied HN points • 15 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social Issues Crime Rates Protests Public Safety Racial Disparities
  1. Murder rates in the USA rose significantly in 2020, the biggest single-year increase ever. This spike in violence coincided with the protests related to the Black Lives Matter movement.
  2. Using historical data, an estimate suggests that about 8,682 extra black people were killed due to the rise in murder rates connected to these protests. This number reflects the additional deaths beyond what might have been expected.
  3. The impact of protests suggests that social movements can have serious real-world consequences, influencing crime and safety in communities. It's important to consider how actions taken during advocacy can affect the very people they aim to support.

The Perpetual

407 implied HN points • 26 Jan 25
⚔ Fiction Science fiction Speculative Dystopian Transhumanism Satire
  1. Different people are exploring ways to live forever, like using technology or advanced medicine. For instance, some wealthy individuals focus on using powerful medical treatments for longevity.
  2. Some people think of themselves as not just individuals but as entire organizations. This means they might have many lookalikes or replacements to keep their image alive.
  3. As humanity evolves, we might not become greater individuals but instead blend more with corporations and societies, almost losing our original identity.

Ravings of a Christmas Hater

611 implied HN points • 17 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Holidays Traditions Consumerism Social Behavior Religion
  1. Gift-giving during Christmas can feel overwhelming and stressful for some people. It creates pressure to find the perfect gift while also considering social status and connections.
  2. The holiday has become heavily focused on consumerism and materialism, overshadowing its original spirit and purpose. People often feel rushed and distracted from enjoying the true meaning of the season.
  3. Some people prefer holidays like Thanksgiving that emphasize togetherness and gratitude without the burden of gift-giving. Simple celebrations can sometimes be more fulfilling than elaborate traditions.

HWFO Reading List, December 2024

418 implied HN points • 03 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political Analysis Election insights Public Health
  1. The idea of who is 'qualified' for jobs can differ greatly among people. Some argue that a person's personal motivations can make them more suited for certain roles, even if they lack traditional qualifications.
  2. Political appointments may often reflect a person's desire to address issues they personally experienced or care about, rather than following conventional career paths or qualifications.
  3. It's important to consider how personal experiences and motivations can shape the effectiveness of individuals in political positions, as they may drive them to achieve specific goals more passionately.
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HWFO Reading List, January 2025

282 implied HN points • 09 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political theory Elections Democracy Influence Social Issues
  1. The debate around Curtis Yarvin and Peter Thiel highlights how people's connections can spark discussions about moral and political values. It's important to think critically about who we associate with and what their beliefs might mean.
  2. The illusion of democracy is argued to be valuable because it helps maintain peace and stability in society. By making people feel like they have a say, it reduces the chances of revolt.
  3. Understanding the complexities of governance can help us see that sometimes what we think is control may just be a perception. This can lead to less anxiety about political matters, even if it feels cynical.

Shiri's Margin Attractor Part 2

509 implied HN points • 25 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Media Political theory Polarization
  1. Elections are getting closer to 50/50 splits because media focuses on controversial topics. This means both political sides are becoming more polarized over time.
  2. The Electoral College gives a voting advantage to less populous states, which could lead to more rural control of the presidency in the future.
  3. As media continues to capitalize on cultural divisions, this trend towards even vote splits may solidify, changing the political landscape significantly.

HWFO Reading List, February 2025

147 implied HN points • 21 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Gun Control Culture Wars Civil Rights Political Rhetoric Social Issues
  1. Spiking articles can be a way to maintain quality and ensure only the best thoughts are shared. It's okay to keep some content private if it doesn't meet your standards.
  2. There's a belief that guns could eventually be a unifying social force rather than a divisive one. However, acknowledging the historical context and issues surrounding gun ownership is important.
  3. Participating in discussions about complex issues, even if some ideas aren't suitable for publication, can still provide valuable insight and foster community engagement.

The Woke Rails of Google Gemini are Literally Just Eric Cartman

769 implied HN points • 23 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Art Entertainment Tech TV Satire
  1. Google Gemini's AI image generation software is adding 'diversity' into images where it doesn't belong, like popes and knights.
  2. Google Gemini uses a simple hack to generate 'woke' images by altering prompts before running image generation AI.
  3. South Park predicted Google's approach by parodying inserting diversity into images through prompts, comparable to what Google is doing with its AI.

Real Talk about Race and Murder Rates

1233 implied HN points • 20 Apr 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Race relations Crime Rates Family Dynamics Social Issues Economics
  1. The key to solving the murder problem in the United States lies in repairing the family unit across all demographics.
  2. Murder rates in the US do not correlate with gun ownership by race; 'it's the guns' is not explanatory for the differences in murder rates.
  3. Single motherhood, particularly the absence of fathers, is a major factor in predicting high murder rates across different racial demographics in the US.

Mostly Peaceful Election Scenarios

520 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics
  1. Different election scenarios have different probabilities based on events like death, assassination, or replacement of candidates
  2. Estimations predict varying levels of civil unrest and rioting depending on election outcomes
  3. The average damage, death, and anarchy after the election is expected to be around 14.15% of what was seen in 2020 if certain conditions are met

Real Talk About Nicotine

882 implied HN points • 28 Jul 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Cancer CDC
  1. CDC's nicotine messaging is misleading and harmful, leading to significant misinformation in the public.
  2. Nicotine has both positive and negative effects, such as cognitive benefits and addiction risks.
  3. Vaping is a safer alternative to smoking cigarettes, but CDC misinformation is causing confusion and preventing smokers from switching.

Shiri's Margin Attractor

464 implied HN points • 18 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media Media influence Social media Political Activism
  1. In the media world, controversy attracts attention and drives engagement, leading to more clicks and traffic.
  2. The Shiri's Margin Attractor theory suggests that modern media is not focused on truth but on generating controversy for profit.
  3. Using the Attractor theory, different advocacy groups can strategically navigate their issues to align with public opinion trends and potentially secure wins on their key topics.

Why Men Don't Date Woke Women

803 implied HN points • 08 Aug 23
🎭️ Culture Dating Politics Morality Gender Dynamics Social movements
  1. Politics impacts the dating market, affecting who people choose to date based on their ideologies.
  2. There is a rise in people unwilling to date across political lines, leading to fewer marriages and dates.
  3. Woke morality dynamics and past events like the Kavanaugh trial have influenced dating decisions, particularly in avoiding woke women due to fear of false accusations.

What the Florida "Anti-LGBT" Laws Actually Do

622 implied HN points • 12 Jun 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation Public Opinion Media Analysis Gender Issues Medical Ethics
  1. The Florida laws have minimal impact on adults and gay men/lesbians, focusing more on transgender minors and gender-segregated spaces.
  2. Media portrayal of these laws as 'anti-LGBT' lacks accuracy and may lead to misconceptions.
  3. Public opinion on the measures outlined in the laws shows varying levels of support, indicating a disconnect between media perceptions and public views.

The Crab Louie Story

667 implied HN points • 11 May 23
🎭️ Culture Integration Prejudice Liberalism Racism
  1. Regional prejudices can be displayed oblivious to the person exhibiting them.
  2. Integration involves being aware of and reckoning with prejudices.
  3. Being in a diverse environment can lead to greater awareness and accountability for one's beliefs.

The Nonzero Chance of the Zombie Apocalypse

667 implied HN points • 26 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Social media Artificial Intelligence Conspiracy Theories Current Events
  1. Zombies are fictional beings driven by a singular groupthink to spread their animus by attacking humans.
  2. Egregores, evolving groupthink entities on social media, may control human sense-making, leading to cancellation for those opposing them.
  3. There is concern that artificial intelligence may drive cultural wars and eventually turn individuals into soulless techno-zombies.

HWFO Reading List, February 2024

237 implied HN points • 21 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Conspiracy Theories Policy Analysis Media influence Political Commentary
  1. The foundation of SETI uses the Drake Equation to estimate the existence of extraterrestrial life, similar to how an estimate could be made for the likelihood of someone shooting Trump.
  2. James Hankins' anti-diversity statement may signal shifts in ideologies and academic environments.
  3. Studies on topics such as car seat laws affecting fertility rates and brain structures defining self-perception shed light on various intriguing scientific findings.

Paid Subscriber Slack Invite for November 2024

0 implied HN points • 05 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Digital Media Online Communities Social Networks Content creation Subscription Models
  1. There is a special Slack invite for paid subscribers scheduled for November 2024. It's a chance to join conversations with other members.
  2. Subscribers are encouraged to act quickly and join while discussions are lively and engaging.
  3. The content is aimed at paid subscribers, suggesting that joining the Slack will offer exclusive insights or experiences.