Nov 04, 2013
ssc
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List of Reasons Why Gunpowder Treason Should Be Forgot
1 min
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107 words
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26 comments
Scott Alexander lists five reasons why Guy Fawkes Day should be forgotten, demonstrating how easy it is to generate arguments when one puts some thought into it.
Longer summary
This post presents a list of five reasons why Guy Fawkes Day (Gunpowder Treason) should be forgotten. The reasons range from historical anti-Catholic bigotry to modern associations with internet culture. Scott Alexander provides this list not because he's against the celebration, but to demonstrate that it's possible to come up with reasons for something if one thinks about it for a few minutes.
Shorter summary
1. Guy Fawkes Day was historically used as excuse for anti-Catholic bigotry and traditionally involved burning effigy of the Pope
2. In Britain it frequently devolves into hooliganism and public disorder
3. King James I was actually kind of a jerk who was super keen on witch-burning and minority-exterminating
4. George Washington himself specifically condemned Guy Fawkes celebrations
5. Its modern association is primarily with people from 4chan
(I’m not actually against Guy Fawkes Day. It just bothers me when people say they can’t think of any reason for something. Did you think about it for five minutes first?)
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