John F

We become so damn glued to our positions that it is not easy to move the needle.

Indeed Jake. Any good philosophy program or institute will try to instil deep into the student the urge to challenge their own ideas and be willing to change them when your premises or the soundness of your argument is reasonably challenged or when new evidence…[Read more]

That seems to be a thing sometimes as well.

That is your concrete example. A bad taste joke which the person apologised for afterwards? It seems you’ve really drunken the JP coolaid. I don’t know in what alternative universe you live in where straight white males are being systemically pitted against everyone else. If anything I see the o…[Read more]

I mean that it separates people off into groups, and appears to pit some of them against each other.

Could you give a concrete example?

Do you not find identity politics divisive?  I do.

You are overgeneralising again. Identity politics are unconstructively divisive when they are being pointlessly divisive. Not when they aren’t. You are likely focusing on examples which you have read in the media or on social media which seem excessive. It’s like a camera focusing on ten violent…[Read more]

Enco, rationalwiki says it best when referring to JP:

His statements are notoriously incoherent, vague, jargon-laden, and ambiguous, which allows him to hand-wave criticism as mere misrepresentations of his babbling gibberish.

A classical liberal is someone who celebrates a diversity of ideas, and the fact that people are allowed to voice them: and an intolerance of intolerance

Simon if you are going to use a classical liberal definition (something almost nobody does anymore) then you should be up front about that with people. This is probably the source of your…[Read more]

I simply don’t understand how JP could be considered liberal (socially) in any way considering his misogyny, family-values, christian-values, homophobia, transphobia, disinterest in the problems of marginalised people and his admiration for some far-right figures.

Simon could you give a loose definition of what being a liberal is (socially)? I am…[Read more]

It’s a culture war, and he’s spearheading one particular aspect of one side.  Wars are messy.

That sounds a little bit like you’re excusing the use of pointless bigotry, racism, transphobia along with manipulation, lies and deceit in the aim of defending your own ideology. Does the fact that a problem is messy ever justify any of this?

Maybe he c…

[Read more]

Both sides feel they’re under attack, or in a war.  This is unfortunate.

Transgender people have been and still are, objectively under attack. This isn’t a feeling. They are.

JP feels under attack in the same way white people in segregated southern states felt under attack when they were forced to, at least under the law, treat black people wi…[Read more]

Enco,

Mixed systems (capitalism and socialism) countries…basically every western country except the US…recognise the need for free markets, incentives to produce and innovate, generate wealth and growth. Only countries with very special circumstances (like small countries with vast amounts of valuable resources) can see growth or wealth…[Read more]

So, it’s no wonder if there is hostility involved.

I’m not sure what your point is Simon. Are you referring to the hostility coming from trans-gender people who are fighting to have the equality they deserve according to the charter of rights and freedoms recognised under the law…or are you referring to the hostility coming from a person a…[Read more]

+1 Kristina

Enco I starting tuning out after the third overgeneralization and misdirection you made in your reply. I’m not interested in discussing a topic with someone whose preconceived ideas cannot be changed under any circumstances and keeps repeating the same lines after reasonable critique. Whatever. You win. Woke people are awful humourless tyrannical…[Read more]

I don’t see how, in any way, shape or form.  He’s specifically against totalitarianism.  That’s why he speaks out in favour of free speech.

Simon…all sorts of people speak out in favour of free speech. Across the political spectrum. It isn’t outstandingly admirable. You shouldn’t get credit for doing something you should be doing anyways. Defe…[Read more]

JP isn’t one of these people who rail against transgender rights, to my knowledge.

Then you haven’t read or watched much by JP. Which makes it even more shocking that you love this guy.

These lost boys should try to find out what it is that women actually want, and give it to them, instead of, perhaps, attempting to continue to control them. That has to be one of JP’s messages.

Another clear example of JP’s muddled contradictory messages then. Because he clearly stands by traditional gender roles, traditional marriage (is not a f…[Read more]