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As I said in another comment - I don't disagree with Harvard's decision, or any decision made by a private institution or person. I disagree with the notion t

As I said in another comment - I don't disagree with Harvard's decision, or any decision made by a private institution or person. I disagree with the notion that certain types of speech or thought are universally wrong. Personally - I believe racism is wrong - but I disagree with the notion that it's "wrong think". It's simply a different world view. To re-iterate: I don't agree with what the students said or did. I agree with Harvard's decision. I don't agree that protecting someone's right to speak freely and openly supports their agenda.

fao_ 9y ago
> It's simply a different world view. One that states that people with more melatonin are fundamentally inferior and should be subservient to people with less melatonin. It is a point of view that is objectively and morally wrong. I wonder whether you would support the right of people to state that PoC should be sterilized, or the rights of people to call people to attack PoCs. Because that is what more and more people have been calling for in America. That is what Richard Spencer, one of the leaders of the alt-right, advocates. The problem with these 'different world views' is that even without directly stating that people should attack minorities, these statements lead to people beating up black people on the streets. The more these ideas and 'world views' are accepted, the more acceptable it will become to think and state such things, leading to a resurgence of people who think that PoCs should be murdered. That will then directly impact the probability of someone acting upon those beliefs. The reason why the rest of the world does have as bad a racism problem as America, is because they took steps to alienate people who had such views.
- nxsynonym 9y ago
  There is no such thing as an objectively correct or incorrect world-view. It's an opinion and is shaped by culture, circumstance, and upbringing. To answer you question - Yes, I would support the rights of people to state whatever they wish. I also support the rights of individuals such as you or myself to call those people morons, and to not associate with them. Suppressing speech, and demonizing people for their views (no matter how "objectively wrong") does not solve any problem. It only breeds hate and contempt and radicalizes people more.
  - fao_ 9y ago
    > There is no such thing as an objectively correct or incorrect world-view. Of course there is. If I have the world-view that I am the most successful person in the world, yet 90% of people have not heard of me, then that world-view is false. If I have the world-view that climate change is just something made up the scientists to get more funding, then that world-view is false. If I have the world-view that some people are inferior because of their skin-colour, then that world view is scientifically false. As best as we can objectively measure, those world-views are false. > Suppressing speech, and demonizing people for their views (no matter how "objectively wrong") does not solve any problem. You are incorrect, and you mistake how facism works. Facism is not after the truth, facism is not after peace. The only peace that facism, and facists want, is peace through the absence of justice. The only goal of white supremacists, is to create a world in which PoC either no longer exist, or are subjugated. They will abuse any system and platform that you give them, to spread their philosophies and ensure more people join their cause. They continue to be a thriving community because the educated population have ignored them out of politeness. The sole goal of them is to further their philosophy. The only way we can stop that, is by depriving them of platforms from which to speak their hate. Let us not forget the last time we tried to bargain with white supremacists. Several deals were forged, and as soon as the facists had got a firm position, they went back on the deals and moved into Poland, and meanwhile began exterminating parts of their populations that they deemed inferior. The only reason they were able to do that was because they were ignored and thus tolerated by the educated population. If you think I am being paranoid, let us look at what the leader of the large political movement called the "alt-right" stated only a few years ago: """"Instead of asking how we can make reparations for slavery, colonialism, and Apartheid or how we can equalize academic scores and incomes, we should instead be asking questions like, "Does human civilization actually need the Black race?" "Is Black genocide right?" and, if it is, "What would be the best and easiest way to dispose of them?" With starting points like this, wisdom is sure to flourish, enlightenment to dawn. """"[0]. [0]: https://web.archive.org/web/20120216183528/http:/www.alternativeright.com/main/the-magazine/is-black-genocide-right https://web.archive.org/web/20120216183528/http:/www.alterna...

fao_ 9y ago

> It's simply a different world view. One that states that people with more melatonin are fundamentally inferior and should be subservient to people with less melatonin. It is a point of view that is objectively and morally wrong. I wonder whether you would support the right of people to state that PoC should be sterilized, or the rights of people to call people to attack PoCs. Because that is what more and more people have been calling for in America. That is what Richard Spencer, one of the leaders of the alt-right, advocates. The problem with these 'different world views' is that even without directly stating that people should attack minorities, these statements lead to people beating up black people on the streets. The more these ideas and 'world views' are accepted, the more acceptable it will become to think and state such things, leading to a resurgence of people who think that PoCs should be murdered. That will then directly impact the probability of someone acting upon those beliefs. The reason why the rest of the world does have as bad a racism problem as America, is because they took steps to alienate people who had such views.

nxsynonym 9y ago
There is no such thing as an objectively correct or incorrect world-view. It's an opinion and is shaped by culture, circumstance, and upbringing. To answer you question - Yes, I would support the rights of people to state whatever they wish. I also support the rights of individuals such as you or myself to call those people morons, and to not associate with them. Suppressing speech, and demonizing people for their views (no matter how "objectively wrong") does not solve any problem. It only breeds hate and contempt and radicalizes people more.
- fao_ 9y ago
  > There is no such thing as an objectively correct or incorrect world-view. Of course there is. If I have the world-view that I am the most successful person in the world, yet 90% of people have not heard of me, then that world-view is false. If I have the world-view that climate change is just something made up the scientists to get more funding, then that world-view is false. If I have the world-view that some people are inferior because of their skin-colour, then that world view is scientifically false. As best as we can objectively measure, those world-views are false. > Suppressing speech, and demonizing people for their views (no matter how "objectively wrong") does not solve any problem. You are incorrect, and you mistake how facism works. Facism is not after the truth, facism is not after peace. The only peace that facism, and facists want, is peace through the absence of justice. The only goal of white supremacists, is to create a world in which PoC either no longer exist, or are subjugated. They will abuse any system and platform that you give them, to spread their philosophies and ensure more people join their cause. They continue to be a thriving community because the educated population have ignored them out of politeness. The sole goal of them is to further their philosophy. The only way we can stop that, is by depriving them of platforms from which to speak their hate. Let us not forget the last time we tried to bargain with white supremacists. Several deals were forged, and as soon as the facists had got a firm position, they went back on the deals and moved into Poland, and meanwhile began exterminating parts of their populations that they deemed inferior. The only reason they were able to do that was because they were ignored and thus tolerated by the educated population. If you think I am being paranoid, let us look at what the leader of the large political movement called the "alt-right" stated only a few years ago: """"Instead of asking how we can make reparations for slavery, colonialism, and Apartheid or how we can equalize academic scores and incomes, we should instead be asking questions like, "Does human civilization actually need the Black race?" "Is Black genocide right?" and, if it is, "What would be the best and easiest way to dispose of them?" With starting points like this, wisdom is sure to flourish, enlightenment to dawn. """"[0]. [0]: https://web.archive.org/web/20120216183528/http:/www.alternativeright.com/main/the-magazine/is-black-genocide-right https://web.archive.org/web/20120216183528/http:/www.alterna...