Right's idea of wholesome:
Nobody swears or talks about sex
Race, class, and gender hierarchies are unquestioned
Nothing is dirty or worn
People are encouraged to talk about their relationship with Jesus
Law enforcement or soldiers are present and praised
Left's idea of wholesome:
Diversity is explicitly represented and welcomed
Everyone constantly affirms each other
People are encouraged to talk about their feelings
Cartoon animals (or people dressed as them) are present and cooed over
Discuss!
re Right's and Left's idea of wholesome...
>"Nobody swears or talks about sex"
This used to be, but I don't think this is the case anymore for conservatives.
>"Race, class, and gender hierarchies are unquestioned"
Racism and sexism is prevalent, but I think those in the MAGA group are actually upset about the inequality of their social standing.
>"Nothing is dirty or worn"
I don't think I understand this one. "Worn" maybe means they never change attitudes or platitudes which is kind of the definition of conservative -- not changing.
>"People are encouraged to talk about their relationship with Jesus"
I think it depends on the religious denomination
.
>"Law enforcement or soldiers are present and praised"
Yep.
>"Diversity is explicitly represented and welcomed"
To a point.
>"Everyone constantly affirms each other"
I don't think this is the case at all. I hear a lot of insults and ridiculing comments from the left about people they don't like.
>"People are encouraged to talk about their feelings"
Yes, unless they feel differently about an issue, then they get cancelled.
>"Cartoon animals (or people dressed as them) are present and cooed over"
Cartoons are for kids.
The left (those who want change) as a group are generally younger because they have less to lose from changing things. Also, young brains have more plasticity, so change is easier.
@Pat "Nothing is dirty or worn" was meant literally about clothing, household items, cars, etc. as they might be portrayed in movies or TV. This is perhaps about the American corporate aesthetic rather than a left/right distinction. You would also find it among, say, dedicated Apple customers, who would say they lean left.
On people constantly affirming each other, I was thinking about the students and faculty at the very left-wing college where I teach. They are vocally supportive of each other. For example, when I juggle (badly) outside on campus, passing students (whom I don't know) tell me, "You're doing a great job! Keep at it!"
You are right that the left (especially personalities like John Oliver or Seth Meyers) have no shortage of harsh words for the right. I think there's a difference, though, that these attacks spring not from who the targets are but from what they've done. Even the most generous person is not going to look at someone who is suppressing votes, violently trying to overthrow democracy, closing libraries, passing anti-LGBTQ+ laws, etc., and say, "you do you!"
On people getting more conservative as they get older:
For some context, part of my inspiration for this musing was seeing this TTRPG and the thumbnail for a video of "wholesome RPGs":
https://www.snowbrightstudio.com/teatime-adventures
I thought, the right wouldn't find this wholesome at all! They would find something like a Hallmark movie wholesome, while a leftist might find that patriarchal and creepy.
>"This is perhaps about the American corporate aesthetic rather than a left/right distinction."
I think people who have money, whether they're on the left or the right, generally want to show it off.
>"...affirming each other..."
This is cultural, I think. It depends a lot on how people are raised and educated. People who are well educated are more likely to be derisive in a subtle manner, whereas poor people are more direct with their insults. In some groups, insulting each other is a form of bonding within the group. But others may take great offense at that. Comedians are notorious for insulting each other along with insulting everyone else too, which is why they get into trouble sometimes.
I've noticed a trend recently among the left to vilify old people just for being old, which also occurred during the 1960s revolution.
Regrading life spans of left vs. right, I think the pandemic may have evened that out, since many more people from the right died from COVID-19.
I don't know much about games, so I can't comment about that.
