Banning Free Speech From Panel On Feminist Free Speech Problem
Entirely without any sense of the irony, the precious kitten students of the Manchester Students' Union (University of Manchester/UK) have banned a feminist activist from speaking on the grounds that she might hurt students delicate widdle feelz.
Elizabeth Nolan Brown posts at Reason:
LOL LOL LOL is about all there is to say on this story: The University of Manchester has banned feminist activist Julie Bindel from speaking at a panel on feminism's free-speech problem.The Manchester Students' Union (SU) flagged Bindel's appearance at the event--titled "From Liberation to Censorship: Does Modern Feminism Have a Problem with Free Speech?"--as a potential breach of the school's "safe space" policy. "After reviewing the request in more detail, the Students' Union has decided to deny this request based on Bindel's views and comments towards trans people, which we believe could incite hatred towards and exclusion of our trans students," SU said in a statement.
I'm not as familiar with Bindel's repertoire on trans issues as I am with her views of sex work, which are of the second-wave, prostitution-is-inherently-abusive variety. Bindel regularly campaigns against sex-worker rights and prostitution decriminalization. And both in articles for The Guardian and on social media, Bindel comes across to me like an awfully unpleasant and misguided human being.
That being said: Bindel's views on prostitution and trans issues are certainly active schools of thought in some modern feminist circles (generally referred to as "rad-fems"). They might not be en vogue with the kids today, but it's not as if Bindel is advocating violence or harassment against trans people and sex workers. So call me a free speech nut, but I'd prefer those who disagree with her shtick debate her on the merits of her ideas rather than seek to silence her--this is not the first time U.K. student groups have "no platformed" Julie Bindel.
They've also banned Breitbart writer Milo Yiannopoulos from speaking there as well (to debate Bindel), calling him a "rape apologist."
From Breitbart:
The student union accused Yiannopoulos of being a "rape apologist" and claimed that his presence could "incite hatred" against people who have "experienced sexual violence." They provided no evidence to support either claim. This appears to be a typical misrepresentation by campus radicals, who often accuse critics of dodgy rape statistics (such as the notorious "1 in 4 women on U.S. campuses will be sexually assaulted" claim) of "apologising" for rape.Yiannopoulos is a leading hate figure for feminists. This weekend, organisers of the Los Angeles Slut Walk called the LAPD after they discovered he and Rebel Media broadcaster Lauren Southern were interviewing attendees. He regularly receives death threats from feminist activists, although he insists that such threats are not to be taken seriously.
Hear, hear on that.
"Free speech event bans speakers with controversial views"
what planet are we on?
a_random_guy at October 8, 2015 8:04 AM
So let me get this straight... two people were supposed to engage in a debate. But both of them have been banned from the campus because the school deems their views unacceptable. Soooooo... what's left of the debate? (Of course, this was pretty much the idea...)
As I was reminded by something I read last night, suppression of opposition is what a faction turns to when their argument fails to carry the day on its merits. It's a last-resort tactic.
Cousin Dave at October 8, 2015 8:04 AM
"From Liberation to Censorship: Does Modern Feminism Have a Problem with Free Speech"
With their actions, they just answered their own question.
charles at October 8, 2015 8:29 AM
That's what I was going to say Charles. The debate was no longer necessary since the answer is obviously a loud and resounding yes.
Ben at October 8, 2015 8:45 AM
Milo is awesome. Anybody who hasn't read him should do so. The overwhelming majority of the time, and on topics ranging from Gay rights to feminists, its hammer - meet nail.
The WolfMan at October 8, 2015 9:03 AM
What David Horowitz told me years ago: "We wanted our rights so we could use them to take away everyone else's rights."
Cousin Dave at October 8, 2015 9:17 AM
Of course Milo is a rape apologist. Anyone who has the slightest doubt about any rape accusation, anywhere, is a rape apologist.
Rex Little at October 8, 2015 9:57 AM
In today's political climate, skeptics of the prevailing orthodoxy are deemed deniers and held in contempt - with the true believers advocating for the imprisonment of all skeptics?
This is what passes for open debate today?
Conan the Grammarian at October 8, 2015 11:14 AM
Hey, watch it, y'all. You don't want to wake up one fine morning to find out you're facing a RICO indictment...assuming you don't wake up to the cops kicking in your door and putting you face down on the floor as they serve their search warrant.
I R A Darth Aggie at October 8, 2015 2:08 PM
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