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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Interview with Kara Dansky and Charlie Kirk

139 replies

Appalonia · 14/09/2025 00:44

There's been a lot of pp saying how hateful he was, especially as regards to women, but I think it's useful to know that he was willing to platform someone like Kara Dansky, a self professed left wing feminist, and to know that he actually listened to what she had to say. I hate how polarised politics has become, and I think what we need right now more than ever is to actually listen to pp that we disagree with.

Kara is at just the same risk of being murdered for her views as Charlie was, and he definitely didnt deserve to die for them.

https://open.substack.com/pub/karadansky/p/my-2022-interview-with-charlie-kirk?utmcampaign=post&utmmedium=web

My 2022 interview with Charlie Kirk

September 13, 2025

https://karadansky.substack.com/p/my-2022-interview-with-charlie-kirk?triedRedirect=true

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DrBlackbird · 17/09/2025 20:05

Helleofabore · 17/09/2025 10:12

Thing is DrB, is that I don’t know that he would disagree that initiatives were needed to get people who needed equitable assistance to get the equality outcome. He did seem willing to listen and engage to others opinions and questions. However, those interactions don’t make exciting soundbites.

As I didn’t ever listen to him, I can’t comment with authority but I was under the impression that he was against EDI? And for ‘merit’ based hiring. It’d have been interesting for him to have gone up against a really well informed person who could speak as elegantly on the evidence. Unfortunately, that can never happen now and instead only an increasing atmosphere of danger for any disagreement or discussion.

Helleofabore · 17/09/2025 10:12

DrBlackbird · 17/09/2025 10:00

I have watched videos where Kirk explained his issues with DEI and affirmative action very clearly. He had been clear that his discussions were about ensuring the person had the best qualifications and fit for the job. His argument didn’t change across multiple discussions about the topics. He was arguing against forced specification and meeting quotas. There are valid concerns about imposing quotas rather than using other DEI initiatives to remove systemic oppression to allow people access to opportunities.

The issue was that so many of the discussions were people telling him he was wrong. Are there any videos where someone asked him what he suggested to address the systemic issues that prevented people from getting those qualifications and the opportunities that gave relevant experience?

This is an excellent point @Helleofabore I’d never heard of Charlie Kirk before his death, but the whole ‘merit based’ claim in hiring or facilitating admissions is rife with issues and inconsistencies. If someone had fully addressed and critiqued his position with clear evidence that might have helped move the conversation on if he’d have been willing to hear and acknowledge the evidence.

Tragic that opportunity can now never happen and opposing views are only further entrenched and polarised.

Thing is DrB, is that I don’t know that he would disagree that initiatives were needed to get people who needed equitable assistance to get the equality outcome. He did seem willing to listen and engage to others opinions and questions. However, those interactions don’t make exciting soundbites.

DrBlackbird · 17/09/2025 10:00

I have watched videos where Kirk explained his issues with DEI and affirmative action very clearly. He had been clear that his discussions were about ensuring the person had the best qualifications and fit for the job. His argument didn’t change across multiple discussions about the topics. He was arguing against forced specification and meeting quotas. There are valid concerns about imposing quotas rather than using other DEI initiatives to remove systemic oppression to allow people access to opportunities.

The issue was that so many of the discussions were people telling him he was wrong. Are there any videos where someone asked him what he suggested to address the systemic issues that prevented people from getting those qualifications and the opportunities that gave relevant experience?

This is an excellent point @Helleofabore I’d never heard of Charlie Kirk before his death, but the whole ‘merit based’ claim in hiring or facilitating admissions is rife with issues and inconsistencies. If someone had fully addressed and critiqued his position with clear evidence that might have helped move the conversation on if he’d have been willing to hear and acknowledge the evidence.

Tragic that opportunity can now never happen and opposing views are only further entrenched and polarised.

Helleofabore · 17/09/2025 09:50

RingoJuice · 17/09/2025 09:36

The issue was that so many of the discussions were people telling him he was wrong. Are there any videos where someone asked him what he suggested to address the systemic issues that prevented people from getting those qualifications and the opportunities that gave relevant experience?

To me, I don’t know why anyone looks at aviation and has an issue with the skin color and sex of the pilot. So it is overwhelmingly white and male. Who the fuck cares?

Aviation is a strange one. Of course, intake of ex-military pilots is huge and the demographic of those tends to be male. Partly due to some types of fighters needing physical requirements to cope with gravitational force.

RingoJuice · 17/09/2025 09:36

The issue was that so many of the discussions were people telling him he was wrong. Are there any videos where someone asked him what he suggested to address the systemic issues that prevented people from getting those qualifications and the opportunities that gave relevant experience?

To me, I don’t know why anyone looks at aviation and has an issue with the skin color and sex of the pilot. So it is overwhelmingly white and male. Who the fuck cares?

Helleofabore · 17/09/2025 08:55

Someone can indeed have the best qualifications in the world and still not be the best candidate for a role. And Biden declaring that he was deliberately seeking a person from a particular demographic and likely made the choice based on that demographic did significantly undermine that person’s appointment.

Helleofabore · 17/09/2025 08:51

I have watched videos where Kirk explained his issues with DEI and affirmative action very clearly. He had been clear that his discussions were about ensuring the person had the best qualifications and fit for the job. His argument didn’t change across multiple discussions about the topics. He was arguing against forced specification and meeting quotas. There are valid concerns about imposing quotas rather than using other DEI initiatives to remove systemic oppression to allow people access to opportunities.

The issue was that so many of the discussions were people telling him he was wrong. Are there any videos where someone asked him what he suggested to address the systemic issues that prevented people from getting those qualifications and the opportunities that gave relevant experience?

So much of the discussion on social media has been twisted away from what he was trying to point out. That DEI needs to be evaluated and it needs modification if that review has found that outcomes are not meeting the standard.

I support many DEI initiatives in principle. However, if these are not producing high quality results, changes need to be made. As with every programme for change that has been introduced into any government.

BundleBoogie · 17/09/2025 08:11

Howseitgoin · 17/09/2025 07:29

However you want to spin this, there's no getting around KJB's qualifications AND that CK knew but exploited 'the narrative' anyway. Blaming Biden's framing won't change that.

It’s not ‘spin’ to point out the very real issues that CK was discussing and I don’t know why you keep repeating that he knew her qualifications- of course he did, everyone does - that’s the irony. But you don’t seem to see that.

She could be the most highly qualified person in the world but Joe Biden had already undermined her appointment. CK was highlighting this. You accused him of being a racist for doing so.

BundleBoogie · 17/09/2025 08:04

Howseitgoin · 17/09/2025 00:33

Strawman.
My point is disinformation has an influence on people's accuracy in understanding. See: Vaccines.

Edited

But you post disinformation and misinformation in an attempt to influence people’s understanding.

Howseitgoin · 17/09/2025 07:29

BundleBoogie · 17/09/2025 07:24

No he didn’t. You’ve misunderstood the whole conversation.

Jo Biden undermined Ketanjie Browns appointment by stating that he was determined to recruit a black woman.

In saying that he implied that he was not looking for the overall best candidate but the best black female candidate. That’s on him. Charlie Kirk was discussing that.

Your ‘evidence’ that CK was racist was him saying that Ketanjie was a diversity recruit - that’s exactly what Joe Biden did.

However you want to spin this, there's no getting around KJB's qualifications AND that CK knew but exploited 'the narrative' anyway. Blaming Biden's framing won't change that.

BundleBoogie · 17/09/2025 07:24

Howseitgoin · 16/09/2025 22:58

Um, he lied about KJB…but you know that….

Kirk is also an unabashed white nationalist & proponent of Great Replacement Theory so I suggest you do you find out what all that means…

No he didn’t. You’ve misunderstood the whole conversation.

Jo Biden undermined Ketanjie Browns appointment by stating that he was determined to recruit a black woman.

In saying that he implied that he was not looking for the overall best candidate but the best black female candidate. That’s on him. Charlie Kirk was discussing that.

Your ‘evidence’ that CK was racist was him saying that Ketanjie was a diversity recruit - that’s exactly what Joe Biden did.

Howseitgoin · 17/09/2025 05:41

RingoJuice · 17/09/2025 04:43

Hope you weren’t one of those pushing the, ‘guy with a trans identified boyfriend was ackshully a conservative’. Talk about disinformation and influencing people’s accuracy in understanding an event …

No I wasn't. I don't see one's personal life or political affiliations as particularly relevant as mass shooters come from all walks of life.Ultimately it gets down to the common denominators of mental health problems, gun access & inflammatory language.

Howseitgoin · 17/09/2025 05:37

RingoJuice · 17/09/2025 04:41

People always point to legacy admissions as a reason why we should keep doing affirmative action or caring about DEI.

Why don’t they ever just advocate for the end of legacy admissions? I think most people would agree with that (except the extremely wealthy).

Universities themselves however like to be at the nexus of power, so getting them to stop is very challenging.

But IME progressives don’t care. It’s just that they point to it as a reason why they should keep affirmative action policies in place.

They point to the inconsistency. If your'e going to point to merit then both are problematic. Same with race. You just can't have it one way.

I'm personally fine with maintaining legacy, donor & sporting admits & AA as they all bring value to university life. For me as long as the student is capable of completing the course, a slight relaxation of academic qualification is worth it for a minority of students & the purely academic students benefit from them.

I'm actually opposed to a strictly academic admission procedure because the world isn't like that. Employers don't just select on qualifications but soft skills & other beneficial qualities/skills/experiences so college life & entry requirements or should reflect that.

RingoJuice · 17/09/2025 04:43

Howseitgoin · 17/09/2025 00:33

Strawman.
My point is disinformation has an influence on people's accuracy in understanding. See: Vaccines.

Edited

Hope you weren’t one of those pushing the, ‘guy with a trans identified boyfriend was ackshully a conservative’. Talk about disinformation and influencing people’s accuracy in understanding an event …

RingoJuice · 17/09/2025 04:41

People always point to legacy admissions as a reason why we should keep doing affirmative action or caring about DEI.

Why don’t they ever just advocate for the end of legacy admissions? I think most people would agree with that (except the extremely wealthy).

Universities themselves however like to be at the nexus of power, so getting them to stop is very challenging.

But IME progressives don’t care. It’s just that they point to it as a reason why they should keep affirmative action policies in place.

Howseitgoin · 17/09/2025 00:33

TempestTost · 17/09/2025 00:18

People disagreeing with you is not propaganda.

Do you seriously believe that when people disagee with you on something that's significant, they must have been influenced by propaganda?

Strawman.
My point is disinformation has an influence on people's accuracy in understanding. See: Vaccines.

Howseitgoin · 17/09/2025 00:29

TempestTost · 17/09/2025 00:11

So what?

You can have any opinion you want about legacy admissions, No one is saying you need to support it, so why are you talking about it in this thread?

The discussion is about basing how hard it is for people to get admitted to university on their race, or basing job offers on race.

Making admission for some easier because of their race, and admissions for others harder, based on their race.

Giving some jobs because of their race, and denying others jobs because of their race.

Is't an institutionalisation and systematisation of racial discrimination and advantage, that's the problem.

The point you are spectacularly missing is white affirmative action via legacies is racial preferential treatment.

It's a matter of consistency. Both effectively favour racial outcomes.

TempestTost · 17/09/2025 00:18

Howseitgoin · 17/09/2025 00:10

Qualifications are the issue, because people are concerned they aren't being considered because of a deliberate propagandist campaign of equating DEI with lack of merit. The narrative being DEI & merit are mutually exclusive when they clearly aren't.

That people are 'confused' about the merit of a policy doesn't necessarily invalidate it or give grounds to.

People disagreeing with you is not propaganda.

Do you seriously believe that when people disagee with you on something that's significant, they must have been influenced by propaganda?

Pallisers · 17/09/2025 00:12

TempestTost · 16/09/2025 23:59

You are really missing the point here which is not to argue the pros and cons of affirmative action.

I'm really not. but you do you.

TempestTost · 17/09/2025 00:11

Howseitgoin · 16/09/2025 23:02

It has everything to do with AA because both allow lower academic achievement. The fact that some minorities are legacy admits is irrelevant given the overwhelming majority are not & comparatively numbers wise are significantly larger than AA admits.

So what?

You can have any opinion you want about legacy admissions, No one is saying you need to support it, so why are you talking about it in this thread?

The discussion is about basing how hard it is for people to get admitted to university on their race, or basing job offers on race.

Making admission for some easier because of their race, and admissions for others harder, based on their race.

Giving some jobs because of their race, and denying others jobs because of their race.

Is't an institutionalisation and systematisation of racial discrimination and advantage, that's the problem.

Howseitgoin · 17/09/2025 00:10

TempestTost · 17/09/2025 00:02

You are missing the point which is that qualifications aren't the issue, it is the legitimacy and wider effects of giving people jobs based on their race.

Qualifications are the issue, because people are concerned they aren't being considered because of a deliberate propagandist campaign of equating DEI with lack of merit. The narrative being DEI & merit are mutually exclusive when they clearly aren't.

That people are 'confused' about the merit of a policy doesn't necessarily invalidate it or give grounds to.

TempestTost · 17/09/2025 00:02

Howseitgoin · 16/09/2025 22:50

You don't seem to understand how SCJ appointments are made. KJB not only had bi partisan congress support for appointment but was rated as highly/well qualified by both the New York Bar Association & American Bar Association. Apart from this necessary support, as already mentioned up thread SC appointments are selected by the political party in power for reasons that usually reflect their values/political agenda. Trump did so 3 times & achieved the political outcomes he campaigned for as in the demise of Roe V Wade by selecting candidates with conservative religious beliefs.

https://www.nycbar.org/press-releases/ketanji-brown-jackson-qualifications-for-supreme-court/

https://www.americanbar.org/news/abanews/aba-news-archives/2022/03/aba-committee-rates-judge-ketanji-brown-jackson-well-qualified/

So by conflating DEI with this process is not only specious because KJB met the necessary conditions/qualifications but misleading because this form of politically motivated preferential selection is the long held standard.

CK knew all of this but engaged in racist tropes & misinformation to mislead the public.

"You have totally missed the point however which is that just because others don't agree with it does not mean they are "dismissing" anyone's qualifications. That's not the substance of the argument they are making.
You additionally seem unable or unwilling to understand that people can have varied views on the benefits and problems, and even principles, involved in affirmative action, without being, personally, racists. It should be possible to have political discourse about this stuff without assuming bad faith in other people - the inability of progressive politics to do this has become a serious problem."

Strawman.
I never said Dansky was a racist or that anyone who disagreed with AA was a racist…just Kirk & showed why. You don't seem to have read the thread where I made the point that Dansky achieved no gains for her cause by pursuing Kirk & his audience as by virtue of being his audience were already well versed & opposed to gender ideology.

Whatever Dansky's motivation, the messaging effectively reflects an alliance with Kirk to her audience. She presents herself as a feminist but introduced KIrk…a far right proponent to her centrist & centre left fans as an ally with out any push back about his anti woman views.

And lets not forget the point of this thread is to critique her interview with Kirk which in my view is problematic because its dilutes the far right agenda making them more palatable to a wider audience.

I actually have no issue with the left debating or holding discussions with the far right & have watched many podcasters on the left do this that to Kirk's credit was very civilised. But the difference here is the push back. Kirk's views were challenged so any new audience were very clear what this person actually stood for.

Edited

You are missing the point which is that qualifications aren't the issue, it is the legitimacy and wider effects of giving people jobs based on their race.

TempestTost · 16/09/2025 23:59

Pallisers · 16/09/2025 19:17

Whether you think it's a good or bad idea it has nothing to do with DEI admissions and the reasons to support it or not are unrelated.

But the argument against it could be the same.

That's one of the arguments against it, it follows people whether they are qualified or not, and casts doubts on their competence even when those doubts aren't deserved.

This ought to be as true for legacy admissions as DEI admissions. It should follow people whether they are qualified or not and cast doubt on their competence deserved or not. The only person I've seen that happen to is Jared Kuchner. there are plenty more like him and not just in Harvard. That's why the college admissions scandal was so baffling - no idea why those people didn't just make a generous donation.

You are really missing the point here which is not to argue the pros and cons of affirmative action.

JanesLittleGirl · 16/09/2025 23:09

Howseitgoin · 16/09/2025 22:50

You don't seem to understand how SCJ appointments are made. KJB not only had bi partisan congress support for appointment but was rated as highly/well qualified by both the New York Bar Association & American Bar Association. Apart from this necessary support, as already mentioned up thread SC appointments are selected by the political party in power for reasons that usually reflect their values/political agenda. Trump did so 3 times & achieved the political outcomes he campaigned for as in the demise of Roe V Wade by selecting candidates with conservative religious beliefs.

https://www.nycbar.org/press-releases/ketanji-brown-jackson-qualifications-for-supreme-court/

https://www.americanbar.org/news/abanews/aba-news-archives/2022/03/aba-committee-rates-judge-ketanji-brown-jackson-well-qualified/

So by conflating DEI with this process is not only specious because KJB met the necessary conditions/qualifications but misleading because this form of politically motivated preferential selection is the long held standard.

CK knew all of this but engaged in racist tropes & misinformation to mislead the public.

"You have totally missed the point however which is that just because others don't agree with it does not mean they are "dismissing" anyone's qualifications. That's not the substance of the argument they are making.
You additionally seem unable or unwilling to understand that people can have varied views on the benefits and problems, and even principles, involved in affirmative action, without being, personally, racists. It should be possible to have political discourse about this stuff without assuming bad faith in other people - the inability of progressive politics to do this has become a serious problem."

Strawman.
I never said Dansky was a racist or that anyone who disagreed with AA was a racist…just Kirk & showed why. You don't seem to have read the thread where I made the point that Dansky achieved no gains for her cause by pursuing Kirk & his audience as by virtue of being his audience were already well versed & opposed to gender ideology.

Whatever Dansky's motivation, the messaging effectively reflects an alliance with Kirk to her audience. She presents herself as a feminist but introduced KIrk…a far right proponent to her centrist & centre left fans as an ally with out any push back about his anti woman views.

And lets not forget the point of this thread is to critique her interview with Kirk which in my view is problematic because its dilutes the far right agenda making them more palatable to a wider audience.

I actually have no issue with the left debating or holding discussions with the far right & have watched many podcasters on the left do this that to Kirk's credit was very civilised. But the difference here is the push back. Kirk's views were challenged so any new audience were very clear what this person actually stood for.

Edited

Sorry sunbeam, I am unable to pay any attention to you after the first two posts you placed on this thread.

Howseitgoin · 16/09/2025 23:02

TempestTost · 16/09/2025 18:03

I mean , some people do worry about legacy admissions and think they should stop. It is something that gets talked about, I don't see why you would say it isn't.

It's not really the same thing though, there are black legacy candidates in places like Harvard. It's meant to be about maintaining family connections to particular institutions.

Whether you think it's a good or bad idea it has nothing to do with DEI admissions and the reasons to support it or not are unrelated.

It has everything to do with AA because both allow lower academic achievement. The fact that some minorities are legacy admits is irrelevant given the overwhelming majority are not & comparatively numbers wise are significantly larger than AA admits.