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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To Think That Academia Should Encourage Freedom of Speech?

33 replies

SPOFS · 08/09/2018 20:51

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/trans-goldsmiths-lecturer-natacha-kennedy-behind-smear-campaign-against-academics-f2zqbl222

(Behind Pay Wall)

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6145781/University-researcher-asked-Facebook-group-circulate-list-academics-disagreed-her.html

(Not behind pay wall, but Daily Mail)

Basically, an academic at Goldsmith's Uni has secretly compiled a list of professors who disagreed with her views. The list was made through a Facebook group. All of the academic listed were female. The members of the Facebook group were then encouraged to report the female academics for "hate crimes".

I am shocked by this. I thought that the whole point of academia was to generate and discover new ideas? How are people supposed to do that without the fear of being reported for "hate crimes"?

When I was at uni, I used to debate with the people I disagreed with. I wouldn't have dreamed of setting up a secret group against them!

OP posts:
IAmLurkacus · 08/09/2018 22:14

YANBU

How is this education? Seems to be a growing problem that some universities are not allowing dissent from left wing views? How do you get to be sure what your views are as an adult if you’ve never heard the opposing ones?

And people are PAYING 9K a year to be told what to think?

I thought freedom of speech was one of the British values the government was so keen on promoting?

Seniorcitizen1 · 08/09/2018 22:15

It was in my day, both as a student and research fellow. But the millenials seem to be scared of debate and only eant to hear what they agree with. So called safe spaces and other attempts to block free speech in our university is a real worry. These precious little darlings would never have coped in my youth. The snowflake generation - our next leaders - give me great cause for concern

Original poster
SPOFS · 08/09/2018 23:00

It must be scary for students during their seminars... if they say the wrong thing, they might get suspended!

I remember our seminars always being lively with lots of discussion and opposing views. Nobody ever took it personally. It was all part of the learning experience! Smile

OP posts:
IAmLurkacus · 08/09/2018 23:04

I don’t understand how the actions of that Facebook group are not cyber bullying? Why is the university not taking action against them?

MissusGeneHunt · 08/09/2018 23:21

YANBU at all. There appears to be a complete lack of debate in universities now, all under the guise of E&D. It's shocking, immoral, and is encouraging pure hatred. I'm sick of this narcissistic attitude and utter contempt for the freedom of healthy, factual and academic discussion.

Where, and when did it go so damn wrong?

HawkeyeInConfusion · 09/09/2018 07:54

So they were campaigning for these women to lose their jobs?

Has this sort of thing ever happened before? The McCarthy era?

Or is this area of 'debate' plumbing new depths never seen in modern times?

Beamur · 09/09/2018 07:56

YANBU
Surely this is bullying?

MnerXX · 09/09/2018 08:17

YANBU - definitely bullying

Original poster
SPOFS · 09/09/2018 14:06

Yes, it is misogynistic bullying, but many on Twitter are defending this academic! Search for "Natacha Kennedy" on Twitter and you'll see! SadAngry

OP posts:
IAmLurkacus · 09/09/2018 14:10

What possible defence is there for this?

1981fishgut · 09/09/2018 14:13

thought freedom of speech was one of the British valuesonly if you follow the perscribed view

Blessed be the fruit

Original poster
SPOFS · 09/09/2018 21:41

I guess the defense is that the women attacked are just that, women. Let's face it, they don't matter anymore. Sad

OP posts:
EarlyModernParent · 09/09/2018 21:50

It isn't just bullying, it's thought crime.

IdahoJones · 09/09/2018 21:58

Goldsmiths is an academic joke.

I hope we can all support the actual female victims of this perverse collective egomania before the clock really does strike 13.

Only a subset of men could have driven this pomo coach and horses through women's hard-won rights.

mothertruck3r · 09/09/2018 22:35

YANBU. Everything seems to be going absolutely mental at the moment. Free expression is precious and should be protected.

IAmLurkacus · 10/09/2018 06:57

Any the response to being called out on the bullying is.... More bullying.

twitter.com/lgbtqgold/status/1038895259122630657?s=19

SunsetBeetch · 10/09/2018 07:05

"The Goldsmith's Uni LGBT twitter account is posting lists of women they've designated 'terfs' to be blocked & policing other people who follow them. If I hadn't seen this so many times before I'd be shocked. #thoughtpolice #ToxicTransactivism "

twitter.com/FeministRoar/status/1038933968924667905?s=19

To Think That Academia Should Encourage Freedom of Speech?
To Think That Academia Should Encourage Freedom of Speech?
To Think That Academia Should Encourage Freedom of Speech?
SunsetBeetch · 10/09/2018 07:06

"All right, going off Natacha’s brilliant idea, pls see below for a list of TERFs to add to your block chains: "

twitter.com/lgbtqgold/status/1038895259122630657?s=19

SunsetBeetch · 10/09/2018 07:08

Links haven't posted properly. See below.

twitter.com/FeministRoar/status/1038933968924667905?s=20

twitter.com/lgbtqgold/status/1038895259122630657?s=20

Uncreative · 10/09/2018 07:09

YANBU

It used to be a case of all opinions were welcome if you could justify or argue them. But now, critical thinking is not encouraged at all.

ChattyLion · 10/09/2018 07:32

A functioning society needs a questioning education, freedom of thought and speech, and the safeguarding of vulnerable adults and of children, and for women to be able to freely associate with each other, and access services, use toilets and changing rooms, compete in sports, be housed in hospitals and prisons together as women without men.

Why is it that these things are all being dismantled under a transactivist agenda based around forcing everyone else to think and speak and give them access to single sex spaces and to weaken safeguarding protections according to their preference?

Why are none of us not supposed to see danger in the type of people who make threats to women’s jobs, freedoms, reputations and safety and security?

Original poster
SPOFS · 10/09/2018 12:15

The person running that Goldsmith's LGBT account sounds seriously unhinged and very misogynistic.

OP posts:
TigerDrankAllTheWaterInTheTap · 10/09/2018 12:22

The idea that sex is a social construct is so ridiculous I just don't know where to start with it. Coupled with the young LibDem woman who has been arguing over the last couple of days that she doesn't want sex-based rights (except when she does, but that's different Hmm), it doesn't inspire confidence in the coming generation.

Of course, a certain prominent Labour activist starts at Goldsmith's this term. I imagine LM will soon be very active in that society. If anybody reading this is in Goldsmith's politics department, good luck.

longwayoff · 10/09/2018 12:25

Revolting infantile behaviour. Really, making uk education an absolute joke.

IdahoJones · 10/09/2018 12:31

Ideas about sex and biology are social constructs, sometimes bizarrely so, as the Goldmitheologists demonstrate.

They seem to have confused 'an idea about biological sex is a social construct' with 'biological sex is a social construct'?

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