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MNHQ

MNHQ here: How would you feel about a Jordan Peterson webchat?

229 replies

RowanMumsnet · 05/04/2019 13:13

Hello

We've been offered a webchat with Jordan Peterson (his new book has a chapter on parenting, although the publishers (Penguin) recognise a webchat is likely to be more wide-ranging than that). We know he's very controversial, to put it mildly, but also as you know we believe in the value of open debate. So we thought we'd ask you what you think: would you like the chance to put questions to him and debate him on-site or would you rather not?

OP posts:
SaskiaRembrandt · 11/04/2019 09:11

It's interesting to see a mention of Niall Ferguson because I've long thought that Peterson is to psychology what Ferguson is to history.

SaskiaRembrandt · 11/04/2019 09:17

It does say exactly that! Evol psych / biology looks at how our behaviours have been developed via the process of evolution.

Yet manages to take little account of the wide variations in behaviours between different societies and different time periods. Or even between the same societies at different time periods. Which is why it is bollocks. It's a successor to racial science and social Darwinism, using pseudo science and distortions of evidence to argue in favour of a narrative that maintains the status quo while trying to appear progressive.

Katterinaballerina · 11/04/2019 09:20

Mary Beard would’ve awesome. A Professor of Classics who makes history accessible and who has been subject to some truly vile sexism and personal abuse because she has an (extremely educated) opinion Shock

Katterinaballerina · 11/04/2019 09:22

Yes, it would be interesting to put Jordan Peterson and Niall Ferguson together. In a locked room. And walk away.

Fazackerley · 11/04/2019 09:31

We could have both, surely? I like my thinking to be challenged and I always know what Mary Beard is going to say before she says it.

Weezol · 11/04/2019 09:44

Would we get a preview the Parenting chapter of his new book beforehand?

Excellent suggestion - it would keep the Q & A focused.

If MNHQ decide to do this I'd strongly advise they rota the paid mods on a 24hr basis for a few days afterwards. The influx of 'interest' will be far above anything that Nightwatch volunteers could be expected to handle.

As MNHQ are well aware,I think this site should have 24 hour paid mods in place already instead of relying on 'the kindness of women'.

FlaviaAlbia · 11/04/2019 09:45

I wasn't suggesting a replacement Fazackerley MNHQ asked for suggestions and I gave some after answering the question I clicked on the thread to answer in the OP.

I wish I was intelligent enough and had enough years of research behind me to know what Mary Beard is going to say next Wink

SaskiaRembrandt · 11/04/2019 09:52

If we're doing requests, I'd like Jim Al-Khalili, because he's fascinating, and such a good communicator.

SaskiaRembrandt · 11/04/2019 09:54

I wish I was intelligent enough and had enough years of research behind me to know what Mary Beard is going to say next

Me too! I certainly don't, and I'm a historian. Maybe Fazackerley is an eminent classicist?

MNHQ
RowanMumsnet · 11/04/2019 10:00

Thank you for the suggestions - we'll add them to our list - I would really like Jim Al-Khalili to explain that black hole to me tbh. (Mary Beard probably also understands it a lot better than I do, come to think of it)

We can ask about getting a preview of the parenting chapter - Penguin might be reluctant as they'd probably rather people bought the book, but no harm in asking

OP posts:
SaskiaRembrandt · 11/04/2019 10:02

I would really like Jim Al-Khalili to explain that black hole to me tbh

I was thinking along those lines too Smile

Welcometotherock · 11/04/2019 10:18

I have no idea who he is but I don't think we should automatically shut down conversation with people who are controversial unless the views they spout are illegal/terrorism/likely to cause serious harm.

I've been on Mumsnet on and off since 2003 and I think it's robust enough to handle an interview with someone whose views are different.

Fazackerley · 11/04/2019 10:23

I am not an eminent classicist. Just vaguely intelligent. Not sure we need a classics lesson on mumsnet and I'm pretty sure the questions to Mary wouldn't mainly about classics. Yes she's on Twitter a lot and yes she got lots of Twitter hate - to which most rational people would have suggested that she didn't spend so much time on Twitter?

SaskiaRembrandt · 11/04/2019 10:30

o which most rational people would have suggested that she didn't spend so much time on Twitter?

Really? I would have thought most rational people would suggest that Twitter should have a look at their policies when someone using their platform is subjected to hate for little more than explaining history in an evidenced based manner.

I for one would love to learn more about the classical (and I already have an above average knowledge), especially the Romans because their influence is still with us. It wold be really interesting to have an expert talk about how and why this is. Also Roman graffiti, fascinating and so informative.

FlaviaAlbia · 11/04/2019 10:31

We may not need it, but I would enjoy it very much.

SaskiaRembrandt · 11/04/2019 10:31

That should be classical period - just classical sounds a bit vague, sorry.

AssassinatedBeauty · 11/04/2019 10:33

to which most rational people would have suggested that she didn't spend so much time on Twitter?

Really? That's your solution to hate? Ok......

SaskiaRembrandt · 11/04/2019 10:36

Yes, don't use Twitter if you don't want to receive verbal abuse is akin to don't do X if you don't want to be on the receiving end of sexist/racist/homophobic abuse. Not really a solution.

Fazackerley · 11/04/2019 11:23

Ok. Well, just to repeat myself in case mumsnet are doing some sort of poll, I would tune in to a Jordan Peterson webchat, wouldn't bother for Mary Beard, but think the two shouldn't be mutually exclusive.

Makinitup · 11/04/2019 13:37

@Erythronium - I'm listening to her book on Audible, I'm only up to chapter 4 but I am having so many mixed feelings. She did such an amazing job with her research and I quite like listening to her accent too, but the data gap is just unreal and infuriating! I would love to see her do a webchat on here.

cucumbergin · 11/04/2019 15:08

I'd like to suggest Angela Saini if she hasn't already done an MN webchat: www.angelasaini.co.uk/

If you really are planning to go ahead with JP - can I ask if it's possible to get prior posts deleted when you dereg?

Given that you're calling the alt-right in for tea & biscuits (even the most ardent Peterson fan can't deny that he has some very unsavoury fanboys) I think it'll likely change MN for the worse for some time - think of the massive influx after Penis Beaker and then imagine that a significant chunk of them were MRAs intent on fucking shit up. Currently we get a few of those types, but you should be planning for how you'll handle it if a metric fuckton descends. It's going to be messy.

Fazackerley · 11/04/2019 15:56

Given that you're calling the alt-right in for tea & biscuits (even the most ardent Peterson fan can't deny that he has some very unsavoury fanboys) I think it'll likely change MN for the worse for some time - think of the massive influx after Penis Beaker and then imagine that a significant chunk of them were MRAs intent on fucking shit up. Currently we get a few of those types, but you should be planning for how you'll handle it if a metric fuckton descends. It's going to be messy

sorry but - are you for real

it is amazing how we all have a different view of a public internet forum

and amazing how people literally cannot deal with hearing from someone they don't agree with

FuzzyShadowChatter · 11/04/2019 16:51

I don't feel particularly strongly one way or the other, though agree that if it were to go ahead, some preview or outline of the material to focus questions might help.

While discussing things like the not long ago humanities journals scandal and it's similarities to the ones in maths, computing, and the sciences or how, with the changes in media and information, research paywalls may be contributing to the spread of misinformation and ways to challenge that or theories on things like order/chaos (personally, the feminine=chaos symbolism is in a ton of work, but much of that work has been done or recorded by men. We recognize the changes medieval Christian scholars did to earlier text or the changes of oral fairy tales when written down to fit later ideas. It's within possibility that research into women's literature and works may find that the feminine=order and the men being the chaotic bringing element), I think this would really only have a hope of working with a focus point for discussion that was strongly held to.

tipOver · 21/04/2019 19:53

I'd be interested in that. It's nice hearing different opinions sometimes, even if just to avoid an echo chamber, and I don't particularly think he's hateful or aggressive so see no harm in it.

donquixotedelamancha · 21/04/2019 19:59

Not a fan of Peterson, but I think he should have the same opportunity as others.

Yes from me.