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> I guess I'm so far to the left that I have a hard time believing in "cancel culture" as anything meaningful That's likely. Though i'm not sure that it really

> I guess I'm so far to the left that I have a hard time believing in "cancel culture" as anything meaningful That's likely. Though i'm not sure that it really matters whether lefties recognize it or not, because the culture war won't be won by the side practicing logic and understanding. Essentially anyone who has ever felt and inkling of skepticism at whatever progressive proposal is currently at the fore will know that cancel culture exists. It's very obvious at tech companies, where far left political slogans are carelessly bandied about, and mere hints of doubt or disagreement tend to cause drama. For example, I work somewhere than no longer allows you to program the words "blacklist" or "master," and the list of terms they have in the works is hilariously impressive. It's hard to prove cancel culture exists unless you personally experience it. That said, I will attempt to do so with some prominent examples: 1. Barack Obama on the circular firing squad: https://amp.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/apr/06/barack-obama-progressives-circular-firing-squad-democrats https://amp.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/apr/06/barack-obama... 2. Noam Chomsky (among others) in the Harper's Letter: https://harpers.org/a-letter-on-justice-and-open-debate/ https://harpers.org/a-letter-on-justice-and-open-debate/ 3. Philosophy professors on cancel culture: https://www.insidehighered.com/views/2019/07/22/philosophers-should-not-be-sanctioned-their-positions-sex-and-gender-opinion https://www.insidehighered.com/views/2019/07/22/philosophers... 4. Left wing twitch streamer loses partnership after Kenosha comments: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Destiny_(streamer)#:~:text=This%20led%20to%20temporary%20suspensions%20from%20the%20Twitch%20platform%20for%20insensitive%20language.&text=Destiny%20lost%20his%20eligibility%20as,during%20the%20George%20Floyd%20protests https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Destiny_(streamer)#:~:text=Thi... 5. Covington kid: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_2019_Lincoln_Memorial_confrontation https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_2019_Lincoln_Memoria... Some examples from the programming community and other places i found amusing: 1. Verified twitter response (from media and academics) to a Covid19 study: https://mobile.twitter.com/JAMA_current/status/1304102350857154567 https://mobile.twitter.com/JAMA_current/status/1304102350857... 2. Richard Stallman cancelled: https://www.google.com/amp/s/arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2019/09/richard-stallman-leaves-mit-after-controversial-remarks-on-rape/%3famp=1 https://www.google.com/amp/s/arstechnica.com/tech-policy/201... 3. The infamous donglegate 4. Some professor fired for not giving students time off after george floyd: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.foxbusiness.com/money/ucla-professor-suspended-final-examination-lecturer.amp https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.foxbusiness.com/money/ucla-... I just wish things would get disgustingly progressive, fast, instead of teasing me into thinking the simple, hegemonic culture of the 90s is still a possibility.

papaf 6y ago
For example, I work somewhere than no longer allows you to program the words "blacklist" or "master," and the list of terms they have in the works is hilariously impressive. I have no problem with this. I take no pleasure in offending people and will change my language accordingly. My problem is that I am older than my colleagues and am less likely to know what is considered offensive. I have already made big mistakes about gender identity and I am sure I will make more in future. If people could be polite and patient instead of overreacting that would genuinely improve culture instead of turning language into a battleground.
- orwin 6y ago
  I'm not old but i agree with you. I don't think the "cancel culture" is something meaningfull, it's just people societally liberals (calling them leftist when they mostly are dead center on economical issues hurts me) who finally understood the overton windows have been used successfully by economic liberals and fascists/nationalists[0] and using the same tactics, but honestly it is hurting people who don't want to partake in this. [0] not a shot at them, one of the person i respect the most is fascist and have the culture to admit he is.
- bassman9000 6y ago
  I have no problem with this. I take no pleasure in offending people and will change my language accordingly. This point doesn't make sense. There's 7 billion people in the world. Everything you said will offend someone, somewhere, somewhen. Offence is truly taken, not given. The point others are trying to make is that, if you get in this spiral of changing words and meanings, you're already defeated, as there will be an endless supply of offended people, thus an endless supply of needed changes. If people could be polite and patient instead of overreacting that would genuinely improve culture instead of turning language into a battleground That battleground is precisely what postmodernists desire, and is fought with words. And that's why the only logical answer is to not give an inch, and ignore them.
- autoditype 6y ago
  > I take no pleasure in offending people and will change my language accordingly. The problem is when it's not offensive, and that's why dictionaries have a half-dozen definitions for any one word. The academic cancellers in this article are not going out and burning their own Master degrees

papaf 6y ago

For example, I work somewhere than no longer allows you to program the words "blacklist" or "master," and the list of terms they have in the works is hilariously impressive. I have no problem with this. I take no pleasure in offending people and will change my language accordingly. My problem is that I am older than my colleagues and am less likely to know what is considered offensive. I have already made big mistakes about gender identity and I am sure I will make more in future. If people could be polite and patient instead of overreacting that would genuinely improve culture instead of turning language into a battleground.

orwin 6y ago
I'm not old but i agree with you. I don't think the "cancel culture" is something meaningfull, it's just people societally liberals (calling them leftist when they mostly are dead center on economical issues hurts me) who finally understood the overton windows have been used successfully by economic liberals and fascists/nationalists[0] and using the same tactics, but honestly it is hurting people who don't want to partake in this. [0] not a shot at them, one of the person i respect the most is fascist and have the culture to admit he is.
bassman9000 6y ago
I have no problem with this. I take no pleasure in offending people and will change my language accordingly. This point doesn't make sense. There's 7 billion people in the world. Everything you said will offend someone, somewhere, somewhen. Offence is truly taken, not given. The point others are trying to make is that, if you get in this spiral of changing words and meanings, you're already defeated, as there will be an endless supply of offended people, thus an endless supply of needed changes. If people could be polite and patient instead of overreacting that would genuinely improve culture instead of turning language into a battleground That battleground is precisely what postmodernists desire, and is fought with words. And that's why the only logical answer is to not give an inch, and ignore them.
autoditype 6y ago
> I take no pleasure in offending people and will change my language accordingly. The problem is when it's not offensive, and that's why dictionaries have a half-dozen definitions for any one word. The academic cancellers in this article are not going out and burning their own Master degrees