Senate Has Cancel Culture Gone Too Far?

if radical feminist critique of trans culture is wrongheaded, and it very well may be, does that mean that you wholeheartedly endorse cancel tactics to silence that critique and also if possible capsize the career of any person who makes that critique? I'm just asking, because I don't endorse the critique, but I really like the art of this particular person and I dislike that she has suffered professionally for making the critique. Maybe she really deserves it. I don't know.

 

TERF ideology isn't a "critique" of a "culture" - it's hate speech.

 

Yeah, I see transphobia as really no different than racism, homophobia etc.

I had such high hopes in the 1980s when leaving school...

 

Transphobia within cisgender women circles is one of the worst forms of hypocrisy - these cisgender women do not want to face gender-based discrimination in society (and they shouldn't!) but then turn around and contribute to the oppression against one of the most vulnerable groups in society.
Everyone should be free to express their gender identity in any way they see fit without the fear of ridicule, discrimination, harassment, or facing physical violence as a result, period.
And yeah, some cisgender butch lesbians sometimes also experience bad treatment in heteronormative spaces, it's not just affecting TGNC-identified individuals.

Here's a great op-ed on how feminists and trans people can and should work together to fight systems of patriarchal/heteronormative oppression.

 

I can see why no meaningful discourse occurs. People who view each other as existential threats aren't going to iron out their differences. The analogy to racism and homophobia seems fair. If you're convinced that you're trying to stamp out hate speech, then why would you think that any particular tactic to stomp it would be out of bounds? I get it.

 

I think those responses miss the substance of his question.

In the first place, it depends a lot on what's being said, as none of us but him actually know what this person has said. In the second, I think the question is more whether is the best way to deal with these attitudes. A boycott makes a lot of sense for large corporations or nations who are so remote from the community that you can't grab their attention except by threatening their income stream. I'm not as confident it's the most effective tactic for one's literal neighbor whom you could just talk to.

 

As indicated in the previous post, there is no reason that feminists and trans people can't work together towards a common goal. Cisgender feminists can and should try to be good allys to the TGNC community - more can be achieved when working together to take down the patriarchy

Addendum: in the US the government can't stop you from saying controversial things (with a few limitations on protected speech) but you also have to deal with the consequences. So exercise your right to freedom of speech responsibly.

Look at the CEO of Goya Foods, he thought it was a good idea to praise a person who is absolutely anti-Latino and now there's a nationwide boycott of Goya products....
#Goyaway

 

That’s totally separate from what he’s asking.

He’s not asking to explain how people should behave. He’s not saying it should be illegal to criticize someone if you think they’ve misbehaved. He asked what the ideal response should be.

 

It's a difficult question without more specifics. I don't know a thing about this friend of his, can't Google her, can't get a firm grasp on just how problematic her stance might be, how hurtful her comments may have been to those who felt targeted by her, etc.

Since we can't go into specifics, we can only speak about generalities. And, generally speaking, I think if people are fighting back against systems of oppression, they should do so to the fullest extent allowed by the First Amendment. Just, you know, keep it a peaceful, lawful protest.

 

If a TERF is your personal friend, MAYBE you can pull them back from the ledge and get them to change their ways. Maybe. But that won't be happening over social media.

If a TERF is a famous author who is using her platform to bully trans people unabashedly, and is influencing others to do the same.... A boycott of that person seems a totally reasonable response.

 

I think a good rule of thumb is, don't hate on people who are less privileged than you are. That always looks bad.

Look at Trump, I mean, he's a rich white cisgender guy, so pretty much everyone he's ever attacked publicly (with the possible exception of, say, Jeff Bezos) is by definition less privileged than he is, and that's what makes his attacks so mendacious and odious. He will take on women, people of color, LGBT folks, immigrants, etc.

 

This person is an artist who thinks copyright is an evil capitalist tool of the patriarchy (and she's right!), so naturally she's almost penniless.

 

Well, why doesn't she want to be an ally to people who are less privileged than she is? Why attack or criticize a whole group of people publicly when that just adds to the oppression that this group already faces?

Edited to add:
Looks like a lot of people complain about "suppression of speech" when they get called out for saying hurtful and offensive things....

 

By stimulating and rationalizing discrimination, TERFs hurt trans people. This is the main reason why a severe backlash is needed against them. It's not about not handling disagreement, but rather that they are hurtful, and this cannot be tolerated.

 

It's absurd to blame what is still a very tiny minority for perpetuating gender stereotypes anyway.

 

And, on another subject, looks like someone has declared war on "cancel culture"

 

Daryl Davis

I think this is a decent argument against cancel culture.

 

The thing is, he met those people in-person. As I said, changing an individual's mind that way is one thing. But there's also a difference between some regular poor white KKK member and, say, someone with power and influence who is a dedicated racist spreading that sentiment online.

Just because it is great to change a KKK member's opinion offline, for instance, doesn't mean that Twitter shouldn't ban KKK hate speech.

 

Good for them, it sounds like your friend is a TERF and I get why they didn't want her speaking.

 

Somebody plug a dynamo on Voltaire's grave, please.

 

What a weird post from you.

"My friend is being accused of being a TERF"
"The points your friend tries to make are definitely terfy"
"OH YOU'RE SAYING I SHOULD BULLY HER TOO???"

Also what is "trans culture."

 

Must be something that was created in response to "cisgender culture"

 

I don't ****ing care. I'm not interested in defending her position. That was not the point.

 

Why are you so angry wtf