Sargon of Akkad is a popular YouTuber secularist, skeptic and critic of some popular movements. Although he can be highly critical, he is generally liked even by some of his opponents, and his livestreams are always interesting. He convinces people to go on who would not usually appear on these platforms.
He has started a petition to address the problems with "Social Justice" courses in universities.
https://www.change.org/p/universities-s ... iversities
I wondered what you though of the petition?
I'm a strong believer of being critical of everything. I can agree with the sentiment, if not the method.
I think the idea could do with some refinement. Yes, there is a problem with the quality of some courses in Universities and also some people are teaching questionable stuff in an environment which is hostile to criticism an scrutiny. The biggest problem being promoting ideas the undermine all of our freedoms. Definitely there are some academics and student bodies that don't deserve their position and maybe others who have been too pampered.
Maybe this petition is merely to draw attention to the issue. However I'm quite literal, so I'm going to take the words literally.
People are going to call me a fence sitter but I don't care, that is the sort of thing you would expect from SJWs. I'd want a better petition ideally.
The issue is most of the problem courses aren't actually called "social justice". The "suspend everything to figure it out" is a bit Trump like in approach. A more intelligent approach is needed. These types of courses are in all sort of faculties history, health, sports, sociology, psychology, arts and media, journalism, etc.
If anything it has been more the case that an innocuous subject gets hijacked by extreme or draconian views, or they try to push a curriculum across the board, in some cases as as a compulsory requirement. There are examples of how they have shaped departments into something other than what they started out as, even defying the relevance of subject within the faculty.
Also social issues should be discussed, but they need to be discussed openly with multiple positions and narratives. Rather then social theories being taught as truth. I think the petition fails to address this so it is destined to repeat.
I would say it it would bet better to urge universities to review all the courses they have to improve the the standard of learning in general, point out the real examples of activism being used to erode right and create division.
Activism istelf is not the problem, however SJWs have some questionable methods and objectives.
A lot of the people feel a need for control and they try to monopolise their platform to push a narrative. This has been in various ways:
- By exploiting social taboos/guilt and political correctness to create barriers to scrutiny.
- The most deplorable technique was misrepresenting mental illness and its treatment, to try and create reasons why certain subjects couldn't be discussed openly, especially through certain weaponised phrases like 'trigger warnings' Then using sensitivity agendas as a form of re-education.
- Using the the old "you couldn't possibly understand" / "my opinion is more important due to my stature" and privilege based pigeon holing, whilst claiming to be intersectional.
- The usual protest techniques of disruption causing financial pressure, and embarrassment. It also helps if the demands can't actually be met so there is maximum effect.
The best way to counter this is to create a more open and transparent learning environment, not fall for the above techniques and make sure there is a marketplace of ideas.
Even a report into extremism in universities and the UK government own 'prevent' program said that universities that were scared of offending certain groups were failing to tackle extremism, and those that were vulnerable to indoctrination, weren't getting exposure to counter narratives. This is why I'm not big on "no platforming".
Yes some course and people need to go and some courses, however how this is decided is important. I'm reluctant to suspend everything with a social justice label even if that may be tempting.