The Coddling of the American Mind

sailordeac said:

Are you still a mod?

I'll have to think about the tactics. Certainly they would include reasoned argument and exemplary behavior.

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sailordeac said:

I was kidding about you being a mod.

Behavior that is difficult to object to, that sets an example and supports one's earnestness and seriousness.

At this point, I think reasoned argument, and there is certainly reasoned argument that can be made against prejudice, and exemplary behavior will produce far better results than simply claiming victimhood and hamfisted efforts to indoctrinate and bludgeon people into accepting and publicly professing a party line. If history is to be any guide, I doubt any tactic will produce significant results quickly. That's just the way society is. It changes very slowly, and it is very easy to over exaggerate the possible speed and magnitude of social changes. There is, however, a brand new phenomenon, the internet, which is a kind of joker - a very unpredictable one at that - in the issue of social change. If I wanted to speed up social change in ways that were previously impossible, I would probably try to exploit opportunities made possible by the internet. This has started to happen already, but the long term results - in terms of how society will change - remain highly unpredictable. The law of unintended consequences is as valid and powerful as ever. The whole issue of how to change things in society is much more complex than this forum allows at this time.

I gotta run now. Later.

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PhDeac said:

I really don't know how to respond to this. I hope you are alone in your views. The idea that an entire group has to be perfect in order to not be seen as inferior is bad enough. Not recognizing that racism colors perceptions of behavior is worse.

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Students at Ithaca College in upstate New York joined their peers at Yale and the University of Missouri Wednesday by protesting over issues of race.

"Tom Rochon, no confidence," bellowed chants across campus Wednesday, calling for the resignation of college President Thomas R. Rochon.

Faculty joined many students in a walkout, organized in part by the People of Color at Ithaca. At least 1,000 students have joined the "Solidarity Walk Out."


"Our hearts are heavy with the pain of Mizzou and Yale and Smith and every person of color on a college campus simply because of the color of their skin, the texture of their hair or their ancestry. This a problem of the nation," a demonstrator said to a crowd, the Ithaca Journal reported.

Following an incident in October where an alumnus referred to a student as a "savage" in a misunderstanding at a campus event, Rochon issued a statement apologizing for the incident, but also defending free speech, and indicating to students that they could never been fully inocculated against offensive speech.

"In general, the college cannot prevent the use of hurtful language on campus. Such language, intentional or unintentional, exists in the world and will seep into our community," Rochon said.

The student government is planning to call a no-confidence vote on Rochon's leadership, scheduled to happen on November 30. Students would then have the opportunity to cast an up-or-down vote on their president's performance. The exact authority the results of such a vote would have is unclear.

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sailordeac said:

Defending freedom of speech does not constitute evidence, much less proof, of racism.

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PhDeac said:

I really don't know how to respond to this. I hope you are alone in your views. The idea that an entire group has to be perfect in order to not be seen as inferior is bad enough. Not recognizing that racism colors perceptions of behavior is worse.

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Wakeforest22890 said:

Most of the vocal protestors are likely going to find a job in an area related to improving race-relations/advocating for causes they believe in so I think it's likely going to be okay for them.

I would say there are more employed left-wing "SJW" people I went to law school than those who weren't. Generally those people took jobs with either public defenders in low-income areas (mainly in the south) or with an advocacy group.

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The oldest historically black university in D.C. received a threat to campus safety this morning as students at schools across the country take up the issue of racial discrimination.
Early Thursday, reports surfaced on Twitter that an anonymous author had posted a death threat targeting students at Howard University to an online comment board. The author writes that he "left [Missouri University] yesterday because he just couldn't put up with it anymore," likely a reference to protests against racism that have rocked Mizzou's campus this past week.
In an email to students, Howard President Wayne Frederick said the university is "aware of the threat" and is "working with campus, local, and federal law enforcement on this matter. This is an ongoing investigation." Frederick said "in an abundance of caution" security has been increased on campus and at nearby Metro stations.

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2&2 Slider To Leyritz said:

I've decided over the past few years that social media has little actual value, and is mostly a platform for idiots and losers who previously wouldn't have gotten any attention as they yelled at the shadows.
Hopefully it dies off as a fad in the near future, but unfortunately I don't see that happening as millennials seem to view it as the truth and purpose of existence.

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