Is it appropriate for a university to give out pro-life leaflets

[StealthPolarBear]

I genuinely don't know. Was a bit disappointed

Exactly two fingers

Evet abortion is pain free and no babys are hurt
I presume this is your idea of sarcasm, Mum?
Mine was pain free and no 'baby' was hurt.

Peppa - you’ve quoted me someone who has said more than once pro abortion isn’t a thing.

I’d rather have had my abortion than probably killed myself due to being pregnant and leaving my son without a mother. That abortion was less painful than my other option .

Dipping I don't think Peppard was suggesting abortion is a bad thing.
Forgive me if I'm getting confused. I think some of us are discussing terminology. Few people are pro abortion (rather than just pro choice). A sizeable minority are pro life ie anti abortion

It didn't make me feel less pro-choice but it made me question calling myself pro-choice because of the attitudes of some people who also called themselves pro-choice. I totally believe it is the woman's right to choose and supported my sister to make whatever decision she wanted.

You don't have to believe me, bertrand, and I suppose I don't have to believe DSis. But dismissing other women's experiences because they don't fit your narrative isn't okay.

I’m not saying she has said abortion was a bad thing she quoted me and then said pro abortion isn’t a thing which I had already said!

Ah OK think I am officially confused :o

Pro abortion may not be a 'thing' but that doesn't make the opposite of pro life pro choice. Imo.

“It didn't make me feel less pro-choice but it made me question calling myself pro-choice because of the attitudes of some people who also called themselves pro-choice.”

See, this is something I never get. If I believe in something, I don’t stop believing in it because some arsehole also believes in it.

“Ah OK think I am officially confused”

To be fair, you are a polar bear.......

I’m just a bit shocked that you think a leaflet on a table in a university means that you think the university is “giving out” the leaflet.

“I’m just a bit shocked that you think a leaflet on a table in a university means that you think the university is “giving out” the leaflet.”

It was on a table in a university building. With other leaflets. It is reasonable to assume, unless you know about SPUC’s tactics, that it has the university’s imprimatur.......

stealthPolarBear

You suggested I burn them and asked if I knew who burned books. Or was that someone else

I suggested to peppapigwouldmakelovelyrashers they could burn the leaflets instead of putting them in the bin, not to you

I agree it's different - but, actually, I also don't think it's appropriate to have the vegetarian society leaflets out in the situation you're describing either.

Whatever happened to universities being places where ideas could be discussed? Are they now full of special snowflakes who can't be exposed to other people's views? I can accept the proposition that this kind of leaflet (SPUC) should not be in a student welfare/counselling area (or, preferably, only be there if is there is other literature to give the opposing view) but to say generally that literature advocating different views should not be allowed in a university beggars belief.

Not impressed by the suggestions above about burning literature or people either...

I disagree, Bertrand. Universities host lots of organisations and loads of places put leaflets in reception areas in university buildings.

Ah OK. I'd assumed that was to me, sorry

If a university has a creationist leaflet on a table, does that mean that the university is endorsing creationism? If they have a leaflet about Catholicism does that mean you have to be a Catholic to attend?

Of course not.

No but if they have a leaflet about where to find help when pregnant and that is the spuc it's a fair assumption they are suggesting it

If they had a leaflet for a debt management company I'd assume it was in some way approved by them

That’s not really how leaflets at unis work though, anyone can leave a leaflet

Most universities have rules about what material can be displayed and where. The university I used to work for had boards / displays that belonged to particular groups and boards for general posting but they all came under the Marketing and Communications department and they all had a sign stating that material could and would be removed. The student union had it's own building and had similar policies.

The majority of materials from outside organisations were OK'd but only if they were in line with university policy. We mostly removed promotional materials for commercial organisations or events, often for broaching rules about the promotion of alcohol.

I expect these leaflets were put there by a SPUC member or sympathiser and should not have been there. If you let someone know I expect they will be removed or put somewhere more appropriate. It sounds as if the display was for general student support materials. If you look on your universities website you'll probably find a contact email or phone number for a student services department. If not contact security, they will know who to talk to.

I think that's the thing I didn't appreciate. I'd assumed it was university suggested help.

Good bit of education has been had by the OP. That leaflets left in a place of learning are not necessarily the views of the place of learning or endorsed by it. Who'd have thunk, eh?

Next lesson - that people have all sorts of views. Many of them are religious in nature without the god/virgin birth/omnipotent etc element so they are harder to spot. They are not therefore necessarily correct or rational. Many people even say 'I believe..' (they have on this thread) and they may or may not be correct or rational. They may all agree with each other, but that does not make them right or rational. It is a BELIEF. A VIEWPOINT.

However expecting or hoping to get anyone else to police the views rational, irrational or just plain foaming at the mouth of other people is just... what? Looking for an omnipotent, always-correct deity? Nope, life is not like that.

Basically, there are no lows to which the forced birthers will not sink.

So if you walk into your GP do you expect the leaflets to be endorsed. Or would you be unsurprised to see one talking about how drug addiction can be cured through chanting?
Maybe I'm naive but I tend to focus on the duty of care institutions have to young people who are vulnerable.
Nice use of patronism by the way. Full marks.