Leaving aside that this comes from Faux News, maybe I could take it more seriously if it weren't being presented by four women in mini-dresses, high heels, and strata of makeup clustered around the central male authority.
You're right. If it were real, when one of the panel offered an alternative explanation, the other four would have piled on mercilessly instead of allowing another to voice support.
In sociology, history, gender studies, etc, using the correct terminology to refer to persons is as important as using the correct units is in science. I haven't watched the video but I support any prof who makes this clear, including to the tune of grades.
Some of the language policing on campuses with regard to using inclusive language and avoiding microaggressions has become way too absurd, and I'm becoming more and more of a free speech absolutist ever since Yale Halloween 2015 and the increasing call for "safe spaces" on campus. Don't get me wrong--I'm all for inclusivity and diversity--but I'm growing tired of politics on campus and off that focus primarily on language choices (e.g., s/he used an offensive word, let's shame that person publicly and get her/him fired). I think many of us know (of) people who are racist but they always use the right words (e.g., "African-American") when speaking to others.
See, I'm a strong believer in letting idiots say what they want to say. You don't get rid of idiocy by hiding it. You make it a sub-culture that way. You defeat it by shining a spotlight on it. PLEASE, yes, let the KKK give speeches on why everyone but white anglo-saxon protestants are inferior. God, yes, let the Neo-Nazis hold a rally. Let everyone SEE how stupid these people are! Let us mock them. Mocking people is actually a good way of getting them to reconsider their beliefs.
Also, if you don't let the idiots speak, you don't give us the chance to argue with them and tell them they're wrong. Counter-speech is a huge part of the Marketplace of Ideas that has the good ideas sift to the top and the bad ones sift to the bottom. I would compare censoring hateful/derogatory speech to putting an animal that would otherwise go extinct into captivity and breeding it. Let it die.
Leaving aside that this comes from Faux News, maybe I could take it more seriously if it weren't being presented by four women in mini-dresses, high heels, and strata of makeup clustered around the central male authority.
ReplyDeleteThis isn't real. They're actors and this is them method acting for an upcoming movie or something. This can't be reality.
ReplyDeleteYou're right. If it were real, when one of the panel offered an alternative explanation, the other four would have piled on mercilessly instead of allowing another to voice support.
DeleteI haven't watched the video (won't load) but I double want to see it now.
DeleteIn sociology, history, gender studies, etc, using the correct terminology to refer to persons is as important as using the correct units is in science. I haven't watched the video but I support any prof who makes this clear, including to the tune of grades.
ReplyDeleteSome of the language policing on campuses with regard to using inclusive language and avoiding microaggressions has become way too absurd, and I'm becoming more and more of a free speech absolutist ever since Yale Halloween 2015 and the increasing call for "safe spaces" on campus. Don't get me wrong--I'm all for inclusivity and diversity--but I'm growing tired of politics on campus and off that focus primarily on language choices (e.g., s/he used an offensive word, let's shame that person publicly and get her/him fired). I think many of us know (of) people who are racist but they always use the right words (e.g., "African-American") when speaking to others.
ReplyDeleteSee, I'm a strong believer in letting idiots say what they want to say. You don't get rid of idiocy by hiding it. You make it a sub-culture that way. You defeat it by shining a spotlight on it. PLEASE, yes, let the KKK give speeches on why everyone but white anglo-saxon protestants are inferior. God, yes, let the Neo-Nazis hold a rally. Let everyone SEE how stupid these people are! Let us mock them. Mocking people is actually a good way of getting them to reconsider their beliefs.
DeleteAlso, if you don't let the idiots speak, you don't give us the chance to argue with them and tell them they're wrong. Counter-speech is a huge part of the Marketplace of Ideas that has the good ideas sift to the top and the bad ones sift to the bottom. I would compare censoring hateful/derogatory speech to putting an animal that would otherwise go extinct into captivity and breeding it. Let it die.
That being said, dignity culture is just objectively better than victim culture.
Delete1: Minor offense? Let it slide.
2: Major offense? Confront them.
3: Huge, damaging offense? Contact the authorities.
Whereas victim culture's steps are:
1: Minor offense? Appeal to third parties.
2: Major offense? Appeal to third parties; contact the authorities. Rinse and repeat for drastic offenses.