Spiked Magazine's Unsafe Space Tour Debate Panel: "Identity Politics: The New Racialism on Campus?"

[Arkain2K]

The Unsafe Space Tour panel discussion on PC at Harvard University, featuring Steven Pinker, Wendy Kaminer, Robby Soave and Brendan O'Neill. Moderated by Tom Slater (of Spiked Magazine):



There are so many points that I agree with in this debate, from the Liberals on the panel as well as the civilized audience.

I can't believe I actually finished watching the entire discussion in a single sitting, but I think you would too, especially if you are part of the Center Left/Center/Center Right who is disgusted by the intolerant extremists from both ends of the spectrum these days.

For everyone else: Please refrain from offering your inputs about the topics discussed in the debate, until after you have actually watched the debate, thanks!

 

[MicroBrew]

A major reason Trump won was free-trade vs. fair-trade and outsourcing , which has nothing to do with political correctness.

Another major reason was immigration, which isn't about politically correct discourse.

 

[machidafan99]

Liberals love their white people. Pinker still can't get over taking an L. lol Still in hissy fit mode.

 

[all caps]

A major reason Trump won was free-trade vs. fair-trade and outsourcing , which has nothing to do with political correctness.

Another major reason was immigration, which isn't about politically correct discourse.

Do you believe the majority of trump supporters have any know or care about free trade vs fair trade?

 

[trident]

Each side has stereotypical reprehensible ideas to the other. They are literally becoming caricatures of themselves, providing the perfect foil for the other. The absurd direction political correctness has gone certainly plays a galvanizing role for opponents. But its only an ingredient in a large and complicated recipe of political snot.

 

[Higus]

A major reason Trump won was free-trade vs. fair-trade and outsourcing , which has nothing to do with political correctness.

Another major reason was immigration, which isn't about politically correct discourse.

You realize that's all dog whistles for nationalism?

 

[Gunny]

There are so many points that I agree with in this debate, from both the panel and the civilized audience.

I can't believe I actually finished watching this hour-and-half panel on Political Correctness in a single sitting, but I think you would too, if you are part of the Center Left/Center/Center Right who is disgusted by the extremists from both ends of the spectrum these days.

It was an interesting discussion but worth noting that all of these people (maybe not the woman?) seemed to be coming at the issue from the left and thinking about it in terms of how the left can avoid getting stung by the problem of political correctness. I felt it lacked the perspective of people who recognize PC as a problem in and of itself.

 

[Seano]

I do think a major factor in this election has been telling white people how racist and awful they are for the past 10 years. A lot of people feel we have stopped looking for equality (which we were pretty damn close to post Obama election) and are just looking to punish people for things they have nothing to do with while excusing poor behavior and morals from others because, well again, white people.

 

[cincymma79]

You realize that's all dog whistles for nationalism?

Dog whistles are for bitches. And when did nationalism start to mean anything that you would pursue because it benefits you?

 

[machidafan99]

It was an interesting discussion but worth noting that all of these people (maybe not the woman?) seemed to be coming at the issue from the left and thinking about it in terms of how the left can avoid getting stung by the problem of political correctness. I felt it lacked the perspective of people who recognize PC as a problem in and of itself.

Yep and at least the bearded Englishman called PC a form bigotry which it is, intolerance toward those who hold different opinions from oneself.

I consider PC a factor but not one of the keys to Trump winning and I don't think the left will figure out the real reasons for the loss for many decades.

 

[Gunny]

...

 

[wlu.29]

build the wall and ban muslims

when he said those two things, i feel a big percentage of his supporters just rallied behind that

 

[panamaican]

Watching. Will comment after.

EDIT:

It's a good watch. Most of what they stated is valid. I have no personal issue with PC speech in the public square so long as it doesn't bleed into government action. I think that's part and parcel of how society sets its mores.

That said, and I said it during the election, there is a segment of our population that feels largely disregarded by the modern social movements or, more pointedly, they feel targeted by those movements. They and Trump are as PC in their views as their opposition (as noted in the video) but they are also severely ostracized as a result of not matching the views of the literati. They feel like outsiders and are treated like outsiders even though they represent a large swathe of the population.

I think one speaker stated the most insightful comment on the issue - they have been pathologized by their opposition and, naturally, responded to that in a way that best indicates that they are not an abnormal section of the public.

 

[Makani]

Yep and at least the bearded Englishman called PC a form bigotry which it is, intolerance toward those who hold different opinions from oneself.

I consider PC a factor but not one of the keys to Trump winning and I don't think the left will figure out the real reasons for the loss for many decades.

Running a highly disliked dynasty candidate into an apathetic electorate probably didn't help.

 

[Trotsky]

A major reason Trump won was free-trade vs. fair-trade and outsourcing , which has nothing to do with political correctness.

Another major reason was immigration, which isn't about politically correct discourse.

No, it wasn't.

Poll after poll has shown that "trade" was not a significant issue and that, surprising enough, Midwestern America didn't spontaneously become aware of and develop political opinions on dense international trade issues.

The economic anxiety myth was a way or intelligent centrists, liberals, and leftists (like myself) to reconcile the fact that the American right elected a racist moron. But they didn't elect a racist moron because he had incoherent opinions on trade. They elected a racist moron because he's a racist and a moron.

 

[Scerpi]

Hillary is the reason Trump won

 

[Arkain2K]

Watching. Will comment after.

That would make you better than most of the people who have responded so far, whose input gave no indications that they actually know anything from the panel's discussion itself.

I think I'll change the thread title a bit to filter those folks out.

 

[A Very Serious Cat]

No, it wasn't.

Poll after poll has shown that "trade" was not a significant issue and that, surprising enough, Midwestern America didn't spontaneously become aware of and develop political opinions on dense international trade issues.

The economic anxiety myth was a way or intelligent centrists, liberals, and leftists (like myself) to reconcile the fact that the American right elected a racist moron. But they didn't elect a racist moron because he had incoherent opinions on trade. They elected a racist moron because he's a racist and a moron.

This attitude is part of the reason trump won too

 

[machidafan99]

Hillary is the reason Trump won

though she would have beaten Romney

 

[panamaican]

That would make you better than most of the people...

Isn't that a given?