Those Brown-People Ideas

In this push for ethnic, sexual and racial diversity - which I think is just a mask to enforce ideological homogeneity - there’s no understanding that ideational diversity is the only relevant value for a university. The rest of it is all predicated on the assumption that if you select people because of their ethnicity or racial background or gender, that will, in and of itself, produce diversity of ideas - which is really pernicious… The idea that you’re going to get a diversity of ideas because you have a diversity of classes of people assumes that ideas and identity are the same thing. And that’s an absurd proposition. In fact that’s an essentially racial – and racist – proposition.

Joe Rogan chats, at length, with psychologist Dr Jordan Peterson. 

Comments

[sH2]

The idea that you’re going to get a diversity of ideas because you have a diversity of classes of people assumes that ideas and identity are the same thing. And that’s an absurd proposition. In fact that’s an essentially racial – and racist – proposition.

That.

[Tim Newman]

As has been said elsewhere of modern organisations: diversity in everything except thought.

[David]

That.

It’s rather like turning to one of your students and saying, “You, the brown boy. What’s the negro perspective on this engineering problem?”

But as Dr Peterson says, leftist identity politics is riddled with contradictions:

The left describes anything that’s associated with the assumption that someone who’s female, for instance, will think in a ‘female’ way. They regard that as an unreasonable prejudice. Yet they think it perfectly reasonable to say that we need more women in discipline X because they will bring in ‘female’ ideas. Well, what the hell are ‘female’ ideas? You can’t have it both ways. Unless you don’t care at all about coherence and consistency.

Needless to say, in a three-hour chat, there’s plenty more.

diversity in everything except thought.

Absolutely, and I doubt that’s an accident. I was reminded of the acronym L.E.T.E.L.U – Looks exotic, thinks exactly like us.

[Joan]

“You, the brown boy. What’s the negro perspective on this engineering problem?”

Snort!

[TDK]

I was reminded of the acronym L.E.T.E.L.U – Looks exotic, thinks exactly like us.

That's an outrageous slur. I've been to the BBC and there are plenty of BME staff who don't have the standard default metropolitan assumptions.

They are called cleaners and canteen staff.

[David]

Snort!

It does, I think, capture something of the dynamic. See also this.

And given the incentives in terms of admissions standards, hiring preferences and that all-important victim status, some students will play up to this farce, stressing whatever aspect of their identity grants them attention, exemption or leverage. I’ve been told that some minority students will even feign what they think of as ‘ethnic’ speech and behaviour, acting out something close to a racial caricature.

[NielsR]

“You, the brown boy. What’s the negro perspective on this engineering problem?”

That, but you've already documented the green shoots of strangler figs crawling all over that one:
http://davidthompson.typepad.com/davidthompson/2016/10/dont-oppress-my-people-with-your-white-devil-science.html

[David]

you’ve already documented the green shoots of strangler figs crawling all over that one

Heh. Yes, I’d forgotten about that one, somehow.

[Rafi]

Thanks for sharing this, David. I'm only an hour in and it's already one of the best interviews you've linked.

[R. Sherman]

And given the incentives in terms of admissions standards, hiring preferences and that all-important victim status, some students will play up to this farce, stressing whatever aspect of their identity grants them attention, exemption or leverage.

See, e.g. "Dolezal, Rachel."

[David]

I’m only an hour in and it’s already one of the best interviews you’ve linked.

Oh, it’s definitely worth making time to listen to the whole thing. It’s sometimes darkly funny, often disconcerting, and it certainly covers lots of ground - much of which should be of interest to regulars here. Everything from why “social justice” scolds tend to be female, toxic academia, and the counterproductive nature of HR “diversity” training, to how the left exploits malice, Marvel hero archetypes, and the flat-Earth theories of the Black Liberation Collective.

[R. Sherman]

And let's not forget that because identity is (sometimes, when convenient) a social construct and it is impermissible to question a person's self-proclaimed identity, the Left has now opened itself to all manner of hucksters and con men.

[David]

the Left has now opened itself to all manner of hucksters and con men.

I don’t think this is a new phenomenon. See, for instance, Mr Marx.

[Hedgehog]

the Left has now opened itself to all manner of hucksters and con men.

And absolutely inspired trolling.

[Lionel Ebb]

From current evidence it appears the greater the diversity of ethnic / gender / sexual-identification groups present in a university the more students and faculty members are to be moronically one-eyed and bovine (or 'impeccably liberal' as some would have it). http://bit.ly/28JffHd

[ac1]

Lorry Penny on Question Time tomorrow night apparently.

[Marko]

A brilliant interview and might I also suggest finding his podcast interview with Bryan Callen and Hunter Maats. It is a bit ironic how comedians seem to a) have the strongest sympathies with his viewpoints and b) seem to do a proper job of interviewing the good professor.

The fun will start in earnest in January; I doubt if the aggrieved will let him anywhere near his classroom to teach - surely "peaceful" protest will be on display, only to be ruined when those nefarious neo-Nazis show up. (refer to videos of his free speech rally at UoT)

[Joan]

toxic academia

OSU Diversity Officer Urges Compassion for Somali Terrorist Who Attacked Students. "Stephanie Clemons Thompson urged her followers to have compassion for Artan after he expressed a desire 'to kill a billion infidels' and then tried to kill as many as he could at OSU. She also urged people to 'think of the pain he must have been in,' and used the hashtags #BlackLivesMatter and #SayHisName (which BLM uses to denote victims of police brutality)."

https://pjmedia.com/trending/2016/11/29/osu-diversity-officer-urges-compassion-for-somali-terrorist-who-attacked-students/?singlepage=true

[David]

Incidentally, Nick Matte, the alleged “gender scholar” mentioned in the interview, can be seen sharing his wisdom here.

[dicentra]

Elfwick admits defeat: https://twitter.com/GodfreyElfwick/status/803245063983812609

[David]

Right, I’ve got the in-laws coming for dinner, so I’m leaving you heathens unsupervised. Play nicely.

[Geezer]

I’ve got the in-laws coming for dinner

Who does the cooking?

[Sporkatus]

@Joan: Also, in a fit of raging imbecility, Steffy Clowns Tossing urged people not to share the post. A public post. On the internet. With hashtags, which on another media platform than the one she used would be an aid to sharing.

As I believe the kids say, "Derp".

[David]

Who does the cooking?

Depends on the meal.

[Ted S., Catskill Mtns., NY, USA]

They order Chinese take-away. Because cultural appropriation.

[Hal]

And let's not forget that because identity is (sometimes, when convenient) a social construct and it is impermissible to question a person's self-proclaimed identity, the Left has now opened itself to all manner of hucksters and con men.

And, of course, the right wing just as much, with the same lack of logic and success . . . right wing islamists, right wing white power movements, right wing Hindi supporters of Trump 'cause he's going after the Muslims and equally right wing islamists . . . . . .

Happily there are the conservatives in between the right and left to at least call bullshit and keep the focus on how to best support all.

[Hal]

. . . or, as a quibble, and noting the discussions of Hitler being left wing . . .

A statement of We don't care who you are as long as you follow our version of Christianity/Hinduism/Islam/Pastafarianism/Cthuhlu and agree with us that everyone else must convert or die would definitely be right wing identity politics and just as much a failure as the left wing variety.

A statement of We don't care who you are as long as you are;
white
black
left handed
socialist
republican
immigrant of any kind
nazi
perceived as working class
---If you want a giggle or a headache, your mileage may vary, look up Hoxhaism some time . . . .
middle class
descended from parents and grandparents born in this country, whatever this country is
polka dotted
tattooed
under fifty years old
over thirty years old
and agree with us that everyone else must effectively be enslaved or die would definitely be left wing identity politics and just as much a failure as the right wing variety.

Being centered and balanced and bookended by the right and left wing still rather remains having the focus on what to do . . .

[Fred the Fourth]

I don't care who you are as long as
you leave me the hell alone unless 1) I ask you not to, or 2) it's a life-or-death emergency.
Oh: Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part.

[Hal]

Oh: Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part.

Oh, another bit from doing only in San Francisco things like going to talks at the Marines' Club;

Swapping admin war stories with a just retired Marine Colonel with my situational retort being that the building isn't collapsing and no one is rampaging through the offices with a shotgun, so we will quite calmly just stare at the current issue for a bit and equally calmly then get around to assessing what solution to apply.

His version: I'm not calling general quarters just because you spilled your latte.

[WTP]

Are classical liberals left or right?

[Hopp Singg]

When universities promote diversity, you know that something was lost on the way.

[Hopp Singg]

Are classical liberals left or right?

Classical liberals were right, but they've left.

[Hal]

Classical liberals were right, but they've left.

Heh!

Are classical liberals left or right?

Yes.

Or somewhat neither, depending on the actual focus of the moment, i.e. assessing what particularly needs to be done at one time or another. Or, when needed, not done.

[Fred the Fourth]

Hal,
Yes, SF and the greater Bay Area have an, uhm, interesting relationship with the Marines and Navy.
A bit like the folk in Puerto Rico who forced the closure of the naval gunnery range (which was their right to do) but were then SO UPSET when Rosy Roads basically shut down, tanking the local economy.
How about that. Actions have consequences.
Au revoir, NAS Alameda and NAS Moffett Field / NASA Ames Flight Research Center.

[David]

When an education in social work takes on Maoist overtones.

[Fred the Fourth]

"Hoist with his own petards" comes inevitably to mind.
Hold on a mo, I may be able to work up a tear or two...

[David]

They order Chinese take-away. Because cultural appropriation.

There’s also a very good Thai restaurant up the road. The ladies who run the place really hate it when we oppress them with our custom.

[Tim Newman]

When an education in social work takes on Maoist overtones.

Following the links...to here.

Lefties aren't big on brevity, are they? Jesus wept. Don't these idiots have editors?

[Spiny Norman]

Apparently, Professor Parada is learning what happens to the first one to stop applauding.

[David]

Don’t these idiots have editors?

Amid the self-flattery and pompous threats, what caught my eye was this:

The School teaches us to be critical, teaches us to practice resistance, teaches us to learn to know ourselves,

Somewhere, the gods of irony are pissing themselves.

[Farnsworth M Muldoon]

We write this letter after witnessing a violent act of anti-Blackness, misogyny and misogynoir...While this violence came from one individual and was directed at another [Microaggression]...

Right. "Misogynoir", and a "violent microaggression".

This letter serves as a kind invitation to take action and rectify the situation before we escalate.

Nice, a kind threat.

In rage, solidarity and kindness,

Kind rage to go with the kind threat, why isn't that a misogynalbic microaggression ?

[bgates]

I saw Rage, Solidarity and Kindness open for Hoist with His Own Petards in 92.

[Spiny Norman]

If it weren't for the likely collateral damage, we could all sit back and enjoy the spectacle of the Cultural Revolution devouring itself.

[Spiny Norman]

Ace in a fairly long-ish piece pretty much (warning: possible microaggression) hit the nail on the head this morning:

Those crying the loudest about "racism" are in fact racists looking, praying for any damn reason to think that their accomplishment-free lives are somehow superior to tens of millions of others due to the minor happenstance of their skin tone. And those crying the loudest about "sexism" are just attempting to prove that men are inferior, so that they can take their rightful, God-Promised place as the Superior Sex.

And frankly, they've made this all too obvious in recent years. The stealth, polite-company racism and sexism we've long tolerated from these hateful people has been emboldened and envenomed by the Cult of Identity Politics and Social Justice Warriorism to the point where they barely bother to hide the fact that they literally hate people of different races or genders and want them to either 1, assume the correct posture of deference and second-class citizenship as God has willed it or 2, simply die away and depart the planet forever.

And now people are saying what we frankly should have said 30 years ago:

I do not believe you must defer to me, but I'll be damned to Hell before I'm bullied into deferring to you. Go fuck yourselves in the heart with a knife, Racist. Sexist. Islamist. Whatever brand of hateful Other-hating I'm-superior-because-of-my-DNA-or-randomly-determined-cultural-baggage supremacist you are.

Have I mansplained this too harshly?

I'd say not.

[Spiny Norman]

Hmmm... David, I believe the spam filter has eaten my last comment. That's not happened to me in years. Literally.

[David]

Freed.

[David]

Somewhat related, Duke Pesta on how to transform education (and thereby transform the culture).

[Spiny Norman]

Thankee, good sir!

[ac1]

https://countrysquire.co.uk/2016/11/30/livingstone-staff-celebrated-911/

Livingstone Staff Celebrated 9/11

[champ]

"When an education in social work takes on Maoist overtones."

from the attached, "While this violence came from one individual and was directed at another [Microaggression],"

The "violence" referred to was the Professor walking out of the room after a black female student finished her talk!

[WTP]

I'll just leave this here...

UCF Police this week removed about 30 fliers that promoted white supremacy from the Student Union, parking garages and classroom buildings, a school spokeswoman said Wednesday.

"It is difficult to say how many were posted total, since others were likely taken down before UCFPD could recover them," spokeswoman Courtney Gilmartin wrote in an email, adding the police department is investigating the incident.

The fliers, shown on social media, depicted a white man and white woman above the heading "We have a right to exist" or a white man in handcuffs above the words "White guilt."

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/education/os-ucf-white-fliers-found-story.html

[Jonathan]

We have a right to exist

I'm literally shaking in fear right now at the arrogance of white people imagining they have a right to exist. Don't they know it's 2016?