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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I like Jordan Peterson AIBU?

213 replies

NeatFreakMama · 17/07/2018 11:27

With his rise to fame recently it seems like Jordan Peterson is everywhere. Personally I really enjoyed his book and I find his lectures fascinating largely, I think for me, because he's a great orator.

I know he has his detractors and I'd be really interested to hear their opinions on him. I don't really see much not to like about his rhetoric; it feels like he tends to speak mostly on universal truths but just in a really engaging way?

OP posts:
Dragoncake · 17/07/2018 18:15

YANBU. I have listened to many hours of JP's lectures but never read the books. I'm left wing and it shocks me that he has been so misrepresented in the media. I don't agree with everything he says, but equally don't recognise your description of him, Ofthread.

FrancinePefko42 · 17/07/2018 18:31

I have the unabridged audio book version of "12 Rules for Life" on my phone. He has an absolutely wonderful voice although it might not be to everyone's taste. Personally I am addicted and now look forward to walking, cleaning, gardening, tidying with my headphones listening to the clarity and power of his message. You can hear the emotion in his voice when he tells the story of his daughter's juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Along with Steven Pinker - he is my absolute favourite writer / thinker.

FrancinePefko42 · 17/07/2018 18:48

This is the now famous interview with Cathy Newman on Channel 4,

I was blown away with his calm, incisive style. If you've never heard of him - watch this.

Ruthlessrooster · 17/07/2018 18:51

He's a vital thinker in our modern times. To.certain of those on the Left, or as they like to describe themselves, 'Progressives, he is a hate figure. The Guardian has mounted a number of hatchet jobs on him, both directly and indirectly, and he is targeted by numerous academics drawn from the social sciences in particular. And yet through it all he emerges unscathed. It's fucking delightful.

AssassinatedBeauty · 17/07/2018 18:53

Of course YANBU. You can like or admire whoever you like if they appeal to you. Certainly you're not alone in your admiration of this particular man.

FrancinePefko42 · 17/07/2018 18:58

I think a lot of people on the left / liberals have a huge amount of respect for him. He is winning people over from all sides of the political spectrum.

sacredgeometry · 17/07/2018 19:24

He cares deeply about people. He is changing peoples lives for the better

This is so raw

Original poster
NeatFreakMama · 17/07/2018 19:35

Ofthread that's interesting, I'm not sure I follow the logic with you that someone explaining something complex in simple terms is in some way dangerous? Neil Degrasse Tyson I love for that exact reason, otherwise I would likely not understand most of his topics Smile

How do you find him to be misogynistic?

OP posts:
FrancinePefko42 · 17/07/2018 19:46

He is telling young men to grow up, take responsibility, start their day by tidying their room, get their act together - so obviously he must be misogynistic. I do think that word is just being thrown around like confetti at the moment.

Original poster
NeatFreakMama · 17/07/2018 19:46

@sacredgeometry I hadn't seen that before, that's so powerful.

OP posts:
Ofthread · 17/07/2018 19:53

This is a pretty good analysis of the violence and misogyny buried within JP’s book & it’s status as analgestic: www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/public/jordan-peterson-12-rules-kate-manne-review/amp/

TheWizardofWas · 17/07/2018 19:53

Yes, YABVU, because it is bullshit pandering to prejudice. If you know anything about what he is talking about, you see it is phoney baloney cod psychology with lashings of anti PC stuff, playing to the new right crowd.

FrancinePefko42 · 17/07/2018 19:58

TheWizardofWas, Ofthread have you read his book?

UpstartCrow · 17/07/2018 20:03

Eh. Andrea Dworkin is better by a country mile.

FrancinePefko42 · 17/07/2018 20:04

How do you know?

ItWentDownMyHeartHole · 17/07/2018 20:17

I call Horse Shit OP. You are bogus.

PanGalaticGargleBlaster · 17/07/2018 20:21

The Guardian went out of their way to do hatchet job on him after the Newman interview so he must be doing something right. I don’t agree with everything he says but I like the manner in which he presents his ideas, a refreshing change from the current shouty vacuous level of discourse that passes for debate these days. Feminists can’t stand him as he dares to challenge a few of their scared cows. To his detractors, rather then actually provide a rebuttal to his theories it’s easier to just call him the ‘stupid persons intellectual’ and feel smug.

UpstartCrow · 17/07/2018 20:22

I know because I have read Andrea Dworkin and watched Jordan Peterson. I don't agree with everything Dworkin wrote, but prefer her. I'm not interested in whether or not someone is a good 'orator', and actor with a good voice can manage that; more the philosophy behind the speech.

FrancinePefko42 · 17/07/2018 20:23

TheWizardofWas

phoney baloney cod psychology

Former professor of Psychology at Harvard University. Now professor of Psychology at the university of Toronto.

ItWentDownMyHeartHole · 17/07/2018 20:25

And yes, you are being unreasonable. He suggests that those angry, frustrated virgins who keep shooting up schools and clubs and colleges would be sated/less violent if they had women giving them sex. His suggestion is that society should ensure that girls/women have sex with these angry young men rather than being allowed to have sex and/or relationships with the higher status (and non-violent, socialised type) males. He’s a nasty prick. And chiming perfectly with the times.

heartsease68 · 17/07/2018 20:27

I think he has a great mind and a lot to say and is a great voice in various debates.

The problem is that he can work very quickly but not necessarily competently. But it takes other orators a while to work out what he's said and get there, by which time he is on to a new point and appearing to conquer that one too, giving an illusory impression that he's omnipotent. Even his willingness to accept criticism when it is given feeds into that because one feels he is more impartial than he is.

He also has a broad scope that is sometimes just too broad - he seems to feel the need to have a unifying theory of everything, but sometimes he doesn't know enough about different areas for even his clever mind to draw the right connections. And this worries me in a day and age when people really want answers, and he is more than half convinced he has them all.

I also feel he is a bit of a dinosaur about women and rather inexperienced about them.

heartsease68 · 17/07/2018 20:28

That said, I think many of his thoughts are genuinely seeking wisdom and immensely clever and worth listening to.

MissSusanSays · 17/07/2018 20:30

Wait, is this the guy who is so beloved of the INCEL community?

FrancinePefko42 · 17/07/2018 20:33

PanGalaticGargleBlaster
To his detractors, rather then actually provide a rebuttal to his theories it’s easier to just call him the ‘stupid persons intellectual’ and feel smug

They're spooked and left speechless...

Vitalogy · 17/07/2018 20:34

with lashings of anti PC Oh no, we wouldn't want any anti PC stuff, even if the PC stuff is BS!