Threat to freedom of speech, Oxford university

[BovaryX]

In yet another example of the existential threat to freedom of speech, Merton College Oxford proposes draconian conditions on an upcoming debate on gender which will prevent the GC position being articulated. As a poster on another thread commented, the anniversary of George Orwell's death shines a spotlight on the dystopian environment where rigorous debate, critical thinking and freedom of speech are struggling to withstand an onslaught from those that believe in none of the above.

^Academics have accused Merton College of adopting a “draconian” stance towards free speech by “suppressing gender-critical thought”.
Prof Selina Todd, a historian at Oxford University, said she was “stunned” by the event’s rules, adding that it sets a “dangerous precedent”.
“My understanding is that universities and colleges are supposed to be upholding free speech” she said. “Merton College seemed to me a place where you could debate calmly and an informed matter, and the way this has now been couched as 'you're not allowed to debate' has left me staggered.”She said it is “very worrying” that a reputable university college such as Merton has made such an “overt statement that debate is not welcomed”^

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/01/21/oxford-college-accused-closing-free-speech-transgender-event/

So to attend you must agree not to offend people with gender diverse identities.....except those who think their gender identity is null and ..hold on now...different to their sex ....whose existence is basically offensive

Anyone up for making logic part of the national curriculum?

Very sad, Merton was my staid old college and there were many things I found difficult there but I never thought this would be one of them.

It's not much of a "conversation" if everyone has to pretend that it's still the 1950s.

Since the majority of people who identify with/as the opposite sex stop after a few years when they realise gender is societally imposed b**cks that doesn't fit everyone, surely this is an important view to have in the "conversation".

And the obvious complementary pairing of people who decide gender is an unstoppable societal belief that they just have to go along with by changing their appearance.

It's not much of a discussion if the views of those who question the ideology in question are prevented from articulating the reasons for their dissent. This is happening in Oxford university in the 21st century.

Prof Michael Biggs, an Oxford sociologist, said: “The code of conduct seems intended to instil anxiety in the audience, who cannot know what viewpoints are forbidden

Looks like a complaint to [email protected].
Astounding that a university would allow a 'conversation' or debate with certain views and language disallowed.
What a load of...

Oxford was the most misogynist environment I have ever been unfortunate enough to live in and it is no surprise to me that they have found a new way to squash women.

From the article:

Merton College has advertised its upcoming “Equality Conversation” event which it says will explore “perspectives on trans intersectionality”.

Have a look at the speakers to see how open it's going to be:

www.merton.ox.ac.uk/event/merton-equality-conversation-2020-perspectives-trans-intersectionality

nauticant

Hmm. That's an interesting line up for diversity of opinion. Or lack thereof......

It is arguable that since the event is strictly about trans identities then they don't want anything to happen that might undermine those. But the way to do that would be for Merton to say "since we're having a closed thinking event, for balance we're also going to have a separate open thinking event".

I saw someone on Twitter suggested it should be called "The Validation Monologues" instead of "The Equality Conversation"

Looks like #nodebate means exactly that #nodebateaboutanything

I think the majority of trans people would be happy to welcome factual debate and are likely to have no wish to silence anybody. That said, I can understand that it must be a bit at least difficult when your diagnosed medical condition is the subject of such scrutiny and negative opinion. All that said, this may be draconian but, in my personal opinion in general, the U.K. media, in particular, the Times, the Mail, the Sun, Sky news, and even the Guardian would struggle evidentially to prove quant actively that on the balance of their articles that they are complicit in silencing the GC position.

I suppose what I'd ask is if people can picture Oxford having a similar kind of approach to a talk regarding another group. Like something about black identities, or Muslim identities, etc?

I don't have any idea, does anyone involved there have any thoughts?

What is a thin-film material scientist?

I'm going to take an informed guess that Dr CB is looking for a certain type of equity in STEM.

After a backlash today, Merton College has removed the draconian code of conduct. And replaced it with a statement supporting freedom of speech.

On Wednesday, the College removed the code of conduct from the event page and replaced it with a statement in support of free speech. It said: “The University and College prioritise the protection both of academic freedom and of their members from unlawful discrimination. “We seek to foster a culture of robust expression of opinion and debate that does not tolerate any form of harassment or victimisation

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/01/22/oxford-college-rows-back-transgender-discussion-rules-following/

That's all well and good, but when the predictable lot start up with the predictable complaint about how the other side makes them feel "unsafe", I wonder what'll become of "robust expression of opinion and debate".

Ffs! I'm so fucked off with this! What is wrong with our universities? Trying to stifle freedom of speech and critical thinking? What are we trying to do to our young people?

Despite the update about apparent change of heart.

"The Validation Monologues"

Very clever

Be interesting to see if they change their change of heart when the TRAs start shouting.

twitter.com/transactionox/status/1219971684742172673

There does seem to be a sizeable minority of super entitled young people who really do seem to think that people holding different opinions to them makes their space 'unsafe'. It's ridiculous. They need to get out into the real world - maybe volunteer at a foodbank and see how little the people using it care about pronouns or other peoples identities.

Of course there are lots of lovely young people too just working hard and getting on with their lives - but I think the problem is that they're scared to speak up - so you get ridiculous situations like this one.

That said, I can understand that it must be a bit at least difficult when your diagnosed medical condition is the subject of such scrutiny and negative opinion.

Isn't it good then that this isn't what's happening?

Few of us are scrutinising, criticising or analysing gender dysphoria. And the vast majority of women's rights campaigners go out of their way to express empathy with and sympathy for those diagnosed with gender dysphoria.

What we are arguing against is the policy of deciding access to female-only provisions not on the basis of sex, but on the basis of which straitjacket of sex stereotypes and sex role stereotypes you think fits you best.

As women's rights campaigners here in Scotland, we spend remarkably little time scrutinising gender dysphoria and we certainly don't waste our time holding negative opinions about its sufferers. We focus entirely on arguing why female-only provisions must stay female-only and what harm it does to women and girls to have males (however they identify) imposed onto or encroaching into our spaces.

FYI, the vast majority of the males who identify as trans today do not have a medical diagnosis (less than 20% according to GIRES), so we'd really be wasting our time scrutinising the condition.