Any Questions now

I listened to the whole of AQ? today, rather than just the excerpt last night. I was really struck, how, in the question on whether crimes against women should be recorded as hate crimes, Caroline Flint managed to get through a comment on rape without mentioning the words 'man' or 'woman'.

Instead we got "If they are ever in the situation they are raped ... there will be an active prosecution to bring people to court and to face justice".

She was happy to talk about violence against women and violence by men and boys. But, when talking about the specifics of rape, she defaulted to gender neutral language.

A year ago I probably wouldn't have noticed this, but why are we shy about stating the reality that, almost universally, men rape and women are raped by them? Yes, I know there's the odd exception, but really.

Yes Jux extremely good point.

They've made space for the woman who only got 4 seconds last week, on misogyny. Granted these were important topics. I do suspect it will be a while yet before we get to discuss on any answers.

I loved what Goodwin said about being unable to listen to an opposing view meant you had no place in higher education. That was the highest point of the broadcast for me.

Maybe they wanted to represent both sides of the argument but they couldn't because none of the callers were against free speech and in favour of bullying.

I suspect they didn't allow any calls because they were afraid someone might say something blindingly obvious and socially unacceptable.

Chris Mason commented that the question about Prof Stock had provoked "certainly our liveliest discussion" as he encouraged listeners to phone in to Any Answers. It seems very strange that no calls on this subject were broadcast on the programme.

I’m so fed up of people lying about trans suicide rates and the BBC letting them get away with it!

So did the programme run away from the presenter - it is always a bit hit and miss or did the calls not get put through or ones on the subject not flagged up to the presenter? It was mentioned by her at the beginning

I'm so frustrated I wasted my time listening to Any Answers (I never listen, it's too annoying). My DH suggested it was because no-one rang in about the subject. I reckon it's because too many did and they were all on the side of reality.....

I thought it was quite a change that they allowed the discussion to play put properly on the programme. That's part of the slowly turning tide I think. Radio 4 has shied away from the discussion less than other been channels though, between Today, the moral maze, the odd documentary and play, and even women's hour (tho not as much as they should have featured it). But this was new for any questions. I was expecting them to allow some anti stock / pro gender callers to balance out the panel, but instead nothing! Possibly better that way, but I expect the majority of callers were in agreement with most of the panel.

Jess Barnard was actually a last minute replacement for Nadia Whittome who I'd much rather have been the guest representing the younger part of Labour.

So Jess, what were you studying at university?

JB - "Norms of Assertion"

That sounds interesting, I wonder if you could explain it a bit more?

JB - "Well, it basically means making shit up and never being questioned about it"

BBC censorship.

Wow. Not even a nod to it.

I'd be really interested to know what people phoning in do say.

Not a mention. Again.

Anita Anand has steered very determinedly away from this debate on previous programmes.

Discussing misogyny now, doubt if they'll have time for Stock.

I thought the debate was good.

Jess spewed misinformation and nonsense speak in a way only a ideological zealot can do.

They aren’t letting any one on Any Answers to discuss this….

I feel the choice of guests was exceptionally clever. Pitching Goodwin against Bradbury. He was actually v good at not getting sucked into the trans debate and stuck to the point.

Matthew goodwin's interview on Triggernometry is exceptionally interesting watching as he explains how bad getting into culture identity wars has been for Labour et al.

Recent kerfuffle

https://labourlist.org/2021/09/young-labour-chair-under-investigation-by-party-over-anti-transphobia-tweets/?fbclid=IwAR0c9Z4LvS7fXp18gHvKu7x6bViLhkgMtAJ8g2woNEmjx55_DIQVY47ewtQ

Listened to it. Agree what others said. I think that Caroline found was trying to present her points in an acceptable way, but the point she was making was definitely not pro gender ppl want to hear. It's any questions now.

It's all come from the US.

I was randomly researching eyfs good practise and found a brilliant article by an academic in the US about 5 years ago about exactly what I was looking for, that then andomly split into her and her husbands issues with woke scared students on campus, and their attempts to point out exactly what Goodwin outlined in this programme around the importance of free speech and critical analysis debate etc.