Nobody Needs To Protect Speech About How Kittens Are Cute And Bunnies Are Furry
Check out the short-sightedness of a student at UNC-Chapel Hill at a First Amendment Day celebration where Gregg Lukianoff of theFIRE.org (the Foundation for Individual Rights In Education) presented some alarming findings.
Jesse Saffron summarizes the report by Lukianoff in a piece at PopeCenter.org:
The demographic group most hostile to free speech is not baby boomers or other generations, but millennials, those in the 18-30 age range.
And Saffron notes:
One of the panels earlier that day, "Speech that Hurts and the First Amendment," suggested that he's right. At least for some college students, freedom of speech takes a backseat to sensitivity."I am a fan of the First Amendment, but I do step in when the speech is hurtful," said Destiny Planter, vice president of UNC's Black Student Movement. One of three undergraduate students on the panel, she was not alone in her view. The other two students were also concerned that unfettered speech can create victims who, due to past negative experiences, will be psychologically and even physically affected by certain songs or books or disrespectful protesters or coarse words.
Much of the panelists' discussion related to "trigger warnings." Those are warnings that precede a reading assignment, class discussion, or campus event. They are designed to protect students from experiencing traumatic reactions to the content.
All three student panelists said that such warnings are necessary on college campuses.
No, these warnings are necessary for people who are too psychologically fragile to go to college -- a place designed for free speech and free inquiry -- and thus should not be there.
There's more:
Wilson Hood, managing editor of the Siren, a feminist magazine associated with UNC, discussed a recent anti-abortion protest that took place on campus. He described his attempts to "make the space as safe as possible" for students who didn't want to see graphic images of aborted fetuses.
I have Facebook friends who post disturbing images of abused animals. I'm not sure why. I will not see the picture of the abused dog 2,500 miles away and go do something. I will just find the image upsetting. So, when I notice the top of one of these posts, I hurry past it. Same as I do for some of people's shares of stuff I find dull, inane, or politically not my cup of tea.
Wow. Looking the other way instead of trying to shut down speech, imagine that.
Greg and I agree on something -- that people who have grown up more comfortable than most people on the planet, ever, find it hard to deal with the slightest bit of discomfort. In fact, I think they are outraged by the prospect.
Grow up, entitled brats.
via Old RPM Daddy
Props to Dad, too.
Crid [CridComment at Gmail] at October 25, 2014 1:02 AM
It is unintentionally funny that, on the same day that you posted this, a report came out that the same school (UNC) had set up a system of phony classes so that minority athletes could get good grades and keep their athletic eligibility, in order to "take the pressure off these kids that she thought were struggling and might not be able to completely handle the very difficult, rigorous curriculum here at UNC-Chapel Hill." Link: http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/10/24/4261932/woeful-lack-of-oversight-enabled.html
rick at October 25, 2014 5:24 AM
Warnings are OK when they alert the public: hey, you may not want to go there; like for movies that may be inappropriate for children.
Random aside: I hate hate hate it when movie and TV creators hide smarmy adult content in children's fare. SPOILER: there's a scene early in Jim Carrey's Grinch movie where a bunch of Whos are having a key party.
But it's ridiculous to accommodate Special Snowflakes beyond a warning.
DaveG at October 25, 2014 5:26 AM
How have we gotten to the point where any comments these students don't agree with/like can be " psychologically and even physically" damaging?
Jay at October 25, 2014 6:43 AM
The Democrat Vice Chair of the Federal Election Commission Friday said America is "long overdue" on regulating "internet based campaigns and videos," and will be seeking to have the commission examine the internet and emerging technologies.
Soon I think the issue of thought police on college campuses may be the least of our worries.
Bill O Rights at October 25, 2014 6:55 AM
There is a "Black Student Movement"?
Please for the sake of MY traumatic reactions they need to shut that down now.
Charles at October 25, 2014 7:46 AM
These folks have confused "freedom of speech" for "freedom from speech."
Conan the Grammarian at October 25, 2014 2:33 PM
I love this quote in which a student contradicts herself in one sentence.
Patrick at October 25, 2014 3:59 PM
"Hurtful". I'm really getting tired of that word. What does it mean? It sounds like a wussy word.
I think they say something is "hurtful" when it causes someone some sort of distress but they can't legitimately claim it does anyone any harm. Is that right? Is it supposed to evoke pity or sympathy?
Ken R at October 25, 2014 6:49 PM
What do we expect? They've been raised in a nurturing, sharing, tolerant environment. In their brain maps that's the way the world is; Bill of Rights be damned.
Frankly, the only way to break the pattern is to expose them to harsh realities. George Bush did his part; student debt is a constant; the Ferguson riots may help; but by and large the millenials need to seek their own awakening. Grownups have to somehow plant the seeds of rebellion, independence and achievement in these sunflowers to help them strive to be more than a reactionary political bloc.
Canvasback at October 25, 2014 8:05 PM
No Canvasback. They not been raised in a nurturing, sharing, and tolerant environment. Try expressing any unapproved ideas or opinions in K-12. What they have been raised in is a totalitarian and capricious environment. They figure now it is their turn to be the totalitarians.
Ben at October 26, 2014 7:51 AM
"I am a fan of the First Amendment, but I do step in when the speech is hurtful," said Destiny Planter, vice president of UNC's Black Student Movement."
Ah, the buffet lunch known as the Constitution.
I wonder how she'd feel about a flexible interpretation of the 13th Amendment ...
Gog_Magog_Carpet_Reclaimers at October 26, 2014 11:08 AM
Of course all of this is merely an attempt by the Left to suppress the speech of people that they don't like. PJ Media has an article today pointing out what a bunch of fucking facists the Gawker people are; they made fun of Bristol Palin for getitng assaulted, and now they're all butthurt that they're getting criticized for it.
Cousin Dave at October 27, 2014 8:47 AM
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