Simon Paynton

This is interesting.  It reminds me of what I’ve read about the kitting circles.  What’s the “moral” of this story?  That it’s unhealthy to be feverishly obsessed with “sin”?  That human beings are routinely corrupt, especially corrupted by power?  I think their problem was they didn’t have secular ethics to remind them what is right and wron…[Read more]

It’s interesting you mention boycotting.  Here is a 30-minute BBC Radio 4 programme that was on yesterday, that talks about “cancel culture” in a number of historical episodes, including the original Mr Boycott.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0014g04

Autumn wrote:
Anecdotes mean little

Cancel culture is authoritarian.  The Right does it too, along with their delightful practice of doxxing.  Extremists are extremists.

Davis wrote:
Simon, your overgeneralisations are getting bloody tedious.

Only if you don’t like the Left being criticised.  Don’t cancel me now.

Simon Paynton wrote:
I’m talking about Puritans, whether religious or political.

I don’t include @autumn in that.  Far from all woke people are obnoxious.

Reg the Fronkey Farmer wrote:
I think your use of the word “woke” here is misplaced. You are talking about bullies and their behavior.

I’m talking about Puritans, whether religious or political.

Autumn wrote:
It’s not a woke people problem; it’s a people problem.

Yes, but woke people are especially known for toxic authoritarian behaviour.  Apart from people hating on their political opponents, it’s the reason why “woke” and “social justice warrior” have become terms of insult.  This is how woke people come across to the rest of us:

Autumn wrote:
Are you trying to get me into the pile somehow? Why?

A lot of people, including Jordan Peterson, complain about toxic behaviour from woke people, and it seems to be a common problem.  I was wondering what your view on this is.  The Left is charged with being authoritarian: this seems to be a widespread example of it.

@Autumn – it’s true that people can exploit charges of authoritarianism to legitimise their horrible propaganda.  But are you denying that the Left has an authoritarian element?  How do you account for toxic pile-ons such as has occurred in the knitting and young adult fiction circles?  For ex…[Read more]

Davis wrote:
I guess Simon, you won’t bang on a moving bus ever again! I would imagine the bus company didn’t give a toss about your complaint?

You’re right, the bus won for sure.  The bus company replied and said they would interview the driver, and they said they take this kind of thing very seriously.

Apparently schizophrenics can’t driv…[Read more]

Unseen wrote:
There’s got to be a story there. Tell it.

There isn’t much of a story.  I was standing at the bus stop trying to flag down the bus, but the driver couldn’t be bothered to stop, so I banged on the door and windows and it flipped me into the road, injuring my knee and shoulder and grazing my finger.  That’s what I get for being an idi…[Read more]

Lots of people I know right now seem to be injuring themselves, including me.  I’ve had a f***ed knee for two weeks, but it’s getting better.  I had an argument with a bus.