Just to note, when i upvoted this comment, the number of upvotes stayed the same, indicating that someone had just downvoted it.
It’s scarcely believable than anyone would do so, and clearly without the courage or ability to challenge your straightforward comment by doing so themselves. That’s what we’re up against.
Just to note, when i upvoted this comment, the number of upvotes stayed the same, indicating that someone had just downvoted it.
It’s scarcely believable than anyone would do so, and clearly without the courage or ability to challenge your straightforward comment by doing so themselves. That’s what we’re up against.
Paul S
1 year ago
Arif has proven himself committed to free expression. I applaud his appointment and wish him well.
Jim Veenbaas
1 year ago
IDK. When I think free speech tsar, I think of censorship. But everything is upside down now so maybe it works. Can’t make it worse I guess.
Jim Veenbaas
1 year ago
IDK. When I think free speech tsar, I think of censorship. But everything is upside down now so maybe it works. Can’t make it worse I guess.
B Emery
1 year ago
Yes oxford student people. Don’t give up. It should be THE main priority in university. Good article.
B Emery
1 year ago
Yes oxford student people. Don’t give up. It should be THE main priority in university. Good article.
Milton Gibbon
1 year ago
It would be interesting to know what the author did, when in a position of authority (“former president of the SU”) to stand up for free speech in the cases she has noted. I don’t want to assume she either stood by or supported these cancellations but if she did oppose the cancellations she seems very reticent to call out the people who did. It is the cowardice of people in power who are letting what would have been non-events (students protesting against a speaker) turn into national news headlines which makes the country look like a laughing stock.
I agree – I never heard her name as someone who spoke out forcefully for free speech when she was in a position of power.
Milton Gibbon
1 year ago
It would be interesting to know what the author did, when in a position of authority (“former president of the SU”) to stand up for free speech in the cases she has noted. I don’t want to assume she either stood by or supported these cancellations but if she did oppose the cancellations she seems very reticent to call out the people who did. It is the cowardice of people in power who are letting what would have been non-events (students protesting against a speaker) turn into national news headlines which makes the country look like a laughing stock.
Charles Hedges
1 year ago
Orwell pointed out that if one censors one part of one’s thoughts it spreads throughout one’s thinking.
Britain fought WW2 for freedom, the middle class left seem to have forgotten. It would be interesting to know if any Left Wing Woke type person has ever listened to anyone who went through combat in WW2 as they explained the horrors of what they saw, smelt and did. The death of Orwell, Bevin, Tony Benn, , and Michael Foot, Callaghan plus others just shows how bereft is the Left of people endowed with the guiding principals of those who founded The Lbour Party.
Charles Hedges
1 year ago
Orwell pointed out that if one censors one part of one’s thoughts it spreads throughout one’s thinking.
Britain fought WW2 for freedom, the middle class left seem to have forgotten. It would be interesting to know if any Left Wing Woke type person has ever listened to anyone who went through combat in WW2 as they explained the horrors of what they saw, smelt and did. The death of Orwell, Bevin, Tony Benn, , and Michael Foot, Callaghan plus others just shows how bereft is the Left of people endowed with the guiding principals of those who founded The Lbour Party.
Free Speech Act Now!
1 year ago
A “free speech tsar” is just a way of controlling what can be said with a veneer of political response. There is nothing to stop them passing robust free speech legislation and enforcing it. Apart from not wanting to, of course.
A glass can be half empty as well as half full. A gate-keeper for hive mind authoritarianism could indeed control free speech. As long as there is a free speech culture such control will be called out. Problem solved.
A glass can be half empty as well as half full. A gate-keeper for hive mind authoritarianism could indeed control free speech. As long as there is a free speech culture such control will be called out. Problem solved.
Free Speech Act Now!
1 year ago
A “free speech tsar” is just a way of controlling what can be said with a veneer of political response. There is nothing to stop them passing robust free speech legislation and enforcing it. Apart from not wanting to, of course.
Mike Cook
1 year ago
I lost all respect for his suitability in this role when I discovered that In a blog written in February 2021, he opined that he was strongly against the requirement that universities adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism, he considered that the definition obstructed a perfectly legitimate defence of Palestinian rights.
It does not. Anyone whose prejudices lead them to believe such a trope should not have been given this responsibility.
Mike Cook
1 year ago
I lost all respect for his suitability in this role when I discovered that In a blog written in February 2021, he opined that he was strongly against the requirement that universities adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism, he considered that the definition obstructed a perfectly legitimate defence of Palestinian rights.
It does not. Anyone whose prejudices lead them to believe such a trope should not have been given this responsibility.
Alison Tyler
1 year ago
I will pray for him.
Alison Tyler
1 year ago
I will pray for him.
Bruce Crichton
1 year ago
The Tsars were completely opposed to free speech so there is no case for a free speech tsar’.
Chris Twine
1 year ago
Much of the no-platforming comes from the student unions, rather than the universities themselves. Thy are separate organisations with different charitable objectives, yet the bill lumps them together. Of course universities themselves have always been centres of left wing (see: 1968) or non-mainstream opinion (see: The Reformation!) so this really is pearl-clutching by the government. Most students really don’t care about this bit of the culture war, but makes great headlines. So this is more about an easy target for a bit of culture warring from an under-siege government.
And yet lecturers have been forced out through student activities. So university administrations do have a responsibility to ensure freedom of speech.
Chris Twine
1 year ago
Much of the no-platforming comes from the student unions, rather than the universities themselves. Thy are separate organisations with different charitable objectives, yet the bill lumps them together. Of course universities themselves have always been centres of left wing (see: 1968) or non-mainstream opinion (see: The Reformation!) so this really is pearl-clutching by the government. Most students really don’t care about this bit of the culture war, but makes great headlines. So this is more about an easy target for a bit of culture warring from an under-siege government.
Arif has proven himself committed to free expression. I applaud his appointment and wish him well.
Just to note, when i upvoted this comment, the number of upvotes stayed the same, indicating that someone had just downvoted it.
It’s scarcely believable than anyone would do so, and clearly without the courage or ability to challenge your straightforward comment by doing so themselves. That’s what we’re up against.
Don’t worry, I gave him two upvotes and you as well. I too find downvoting without stating points of disagreement aggravating.
Don’t worry, I gave him two upvotes and you as well. I too find downvoting without stating points of disagreement aggravating.
Just to note, when i upvoted this comment, the number of upvotes stayed the same, indicating that someone had just downvoted it.
It’s scarcely believable than anyone would do so, and clearly without the courage or ability to challenge your straightforward comment by doing so themselves. That’s what we’re up against.
Arif has proven himself committed to free expression. I applaud his appointment and wish him well.
IDK. When I think free speech tsar, I think of censorship. But everything is upside down now so maybe it works. Can’t make it worse I guess.
IDK. When I think free speech tsar, I think of censorship. But everything is upside down now so maybe it works. Can’t make it worse I guess.
Yes oxford student people. Don’t give up. It should be THE main priority in university. Good article.
Yes oxford student people. Don’t give up. It should be THE main priority in university. Good article.
It would be interesting to know what the author did, when in a position of authority (“former president of the SU”) to stand up for free speech in the cases she has noted. I don’t want to assume she either stood by or supported these cancellations but if she did oppose the cancellations she seems very reticent to call out the people who did. It is the cowardice of people in power who are letting what would have been non-events (students protesting against a speaker) turn into national news headlines which makes the country look like a laughing stock.
I agree – I never heard her name as someone who spoke out forcefully for free speech when she was in a position of power.
I agree – I never heard her name as someone who spoke out forcefully for free speech when she was in a position of power.
It would be interesting to know what the author did, when in a position of authority (“former president of the SU”) to stand up for free speech in the cases she has noted. I don’t want to assume she either stood by or supported these cancellations but if she did oppose the cancellations she seems very reticent to call out the people who did. It is the cowardice of people in power who are letting what would have been non-events (students protesting against a speaker) turn into national news headlines which makes the country look like a laughing stock.
Orwell pointed out that if one censors one part of one’s thoughts it spreads throughout one’s thinking.
Britain fought WW2 for freedom, the middle class left seem to have forgotten. It would be interesting to know if any Left Wing Woke type person has ever listened to anyone who went through combat in WW2 as they explained the horrors of what they saw, smelt and did. The death of Orwell, Bevin, Tony Benn, , and Michael Foot, Callaghan plus others just shows how bereft is the Left of people endowed with the guiding principals of those who founded The Lbour Party.
Orwell pointed out that if one censors one part of one’s thoughts it spreads throughout one’s thinking.
Britain fought WW2 for freedom, the middle class left seem to have forgotten. It would be interesting to know if any Left Wing Woke type person has ever listened to anyone who went through combat in WW2 as they explained the horrors of what they saw, smelt and did. The death of Orwell, Bevin, Tony Benn, , and Michael Foot, Callaghan plus others just shows how bereft is the Left of people endowed with the guiding principals of those who founded The Lbour Party.
A “free speech tsar” is just a way of controlling what can be said with a veneer of political response. There is nothing to stop them passing robust free speech legislation and enforcing it. Apart from not wanting to, of course.
A glass can be half empty as well as half full. A gate-keeper for hive mind authoritarianism could indeed control free speech. As long as there is a free speech culture such control will be called out. Problem solved.
A glass can be half empty as well as half full. A gate-keeper for hive mind authoritarianism could indeed control free speech. As long as there is a free speech culture such control will be called out. Problem solved.
A “free speech tsar” is just a way of controlling what can be said with a veneer of political response. There is nothing to stop them passing robust free speech legislation and enforcing it. Apart from not wanting to, of course.
I lost all respect for his suitability in this role when I discovered that In a blog written in February 2021, he opined that he was strongly against the requirement that universities adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism, he considered that the definition obstructed a perfectly legitimate defence of Palestinian rights.
It does not. Anyone whose prejudices lead them to believe such a trope should not have been given this responsibility.
I lost all respect for his suitability in this role when I discovered that In a blog written in February 2021, he opined that he was strongly against the requirement that universities adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism, he considered that the definition obstructed a perfectly legitimate defence of Palestinian rights.
It does not. Anyone whose prejudices lead them to believe such a trope should not have been given this responsibility.
I will pray for him.
I will pray for him.
The Tsars were completely opposed to free speech so there is no case for a free speech tsar’.
Much of the no-platforming comes from the student unions, rather than the universities themselves. Thy are separate organisations with different charitable objectives, yet the bill lumps them together. Of course universities themselves have always been centres of left wing (see: 1968) or non-mainstream opinion (see: The Reformation!) so this really is pearl-clutching by the government. Most students really don’t care about this bit of the culture war, but makes great headlines. So this is more about an easy target for a bit of culture warring from an under-siege government.
And yet lecturers have been forced out through student activities. So university administrations do have a responsibility to ensure freedom of speech.
And yet lecturers have been forced out through student activities. So university administrations do have a responsibility to ensure freedom of speech.
Much of the no-platforming comes from the student unions, rather than the universities themselves. Thy are separate organisations with different charitable objectives, yet the bill lumps them together. Of course universities themselves have always been centres of left wing (see: 1968) or non-mainstream opinion (see: The Reformation!) so this really is pearl-clutching by the government. Most students really don’t care about this bit of the culture war, but makes great headlines. So this is more about an easy target for a bit of culture warring from an under-siege government.