Two written articles caught my eye:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/opinion/300889028/academics-dont-feel-free-to-air-controversial-opinions-according-to-survey
https://www.stuff.co.nz/opinion/131393894/the-free-speech-door-swings-both-ways?rm=a
They touch on things I have been saying all along for ages.
I remember discussing with my two boys a long time ago what constitutes free speech (during the saga of the NBL coach who was forced to sell his interest in the club he owned because of things he has said to his Girlfriend privately - which promptly made it into the public domain).
I said if you are under threat of job loss or income just because you have a opinion that differs from what others think it should be - then you are not "free" to express yourself. I did also forecast that this would lead to suppression of ideas and thoughts - and of course of being able to express these in a public way - so now some 20 years later - cue the "Cancel culture"!! The counter-point from the boys was - yeah you can say what you want and have to take the "consequences" of that - even if it means loosing your job and lively-hood!! I countered by saying that we will end up at each others throats and eventually (Darwinian process) the stronger person will throttle the weaker person - and that is not a good way for society to live in - and I certainly would not want to be in said society!!
Guess what - that is exactly were we are now . . . .sadly! Not surprisingly - now (some) of the "weaker" folks are growing a backbone to counter this to avoid getting completely steamrolled (see the Bud-light story in USA)! Can you blame them???
The underlying feature of all this is that we have moved into a
faithless - self-centered - egotistical (it's all about me me me me
me!!!!) society - and I will contend that as a result of that, we are
all worse off for it!!
Cancel culture can and does work both ways and some times I think that fighting fire with fire (even if wrong) is still the best way!! The left needs to learn a lesson that whatever they can do, the right can do too and -
here is where it gets peachy
Jewish / Christian and even other religions have this theme of treating other people the way you want to be treated! That does not always work and sometimes you have to give them a dose of their own medicine! - Swallow that and lets get along with each other.
Having a bit more tolerance of others and differing opinions without getting all hot and steamy under the collar just because they differ - would be a good starting point to fix this...
snip ----
While diversity and tolerance are terms that are used in abundance,
they’re often uncomfortable. They presuppose differences - meaningful
differences. Differences which will elicit a strong response from those
sitting on the other side.
But while uncomfortable, they also enable us to live in a society that
doesn’t presume there is only one way to raise a child or only one view
on how to live ‘the good life’.
What is clear is that if we start introducing moralistic impositions on
each other, then basic freedoms, like speech, which we take for granted
will disappear.
I am always wary of groups of folks who (mostly in cities and Uni's) thump their chest and say - we talked it over amongst ourselves and we have decided that this Issue (climate change / PC Lingo / Trans issues / abortion/ etc etc etc) is settled now and you non-intellectuals, simplistic (fly over country folks / basket of deplorable's / uneducated nitwits etc etc etc) just have to accept this as the 'new norm'!
My response: that's nice for you, I think differently to you - shall we have a conversation about this ??? When you say no - - then get lost - who appointed you as the bully in the sandpit!! And take your beer and . . . .
Have fun!
