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“When a politician says his opponent is mistaken, that's a straightforward criticism, but when he attacks a statement as "divisive" or "racially insensitive" in
by newer_guy 8y ago
“When a politician says his opponent is mistaken, that's a straightforward criticism, but when he attacks a statement as "divisive" or "racially insensitive" instead of arguing that it's false, we should start paying attention.”
At one point he reflects on the “high water mark of political correctness during the early 1990s.” Really funny to read that in 2018. Whether you are a liberal or not, everyone would agree that political correctness has grown tremendously since then. Wherher it was for good or bad depends on your politics. In any case, very interesting to consider.
This essay was very good. Thanks.
- gweinberg 8y agoDon't you mean stop paying attention?
- imustbeevil 8y agoIt's a quote. I read this quote as "pay attention when someone stops making rational arguments because it means they don't have any rational arguments". If you aren't paying attention you'll miss the switch between what is reasonable and what is emotionally manipulative.
- AnimalMuppet 8y agoNo. The argument is that, when statements are labeled "divisive" rather than "wrong", that's telling you that there is something that, socially, you're not allowed to say (which was the topic of the essay that the quote came from).
- marcosdumay 8y ago> everyone would agree that political correctness has grown tremendously since then Yes, that's part of society stopping with it.
- doubleunplussed 8y agoI mean, divisiveness for its own sake is bad - I wish more people felt like we were 'in this together' more of the time instead of engaging in identity politics about which group deserves what. So I see where the point is coming from, but it's not a totally content-free argument to make, to accuse someone of being divisive. It doesn't mean they're wrong, but calling someone divisive could be a valid criticism in its own right.