'No-platforming' at Trinity College.

political analyst

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/trinity-college-historical-society-rescind-richard-dawkins-invitation-over-authors-stance-on-islam-and-sexual-assault-39568028.html

The Hist - or the College Historical Society of Trinity College Dublin - have rescinded their invitation to Richard Dawkins to address the society next year.

Bríd O’Donnell, auditor of the society confirmed they would not be moving ahead with the controversial author and speaker’s planned address, citing his stance on the religion of Islam and sexual assault as reasoning for their cancellation.

She added the society “will not be moving ahead with his address as we value our members comfort above all else”.

The auditor said the decision to invite Dawkins to speak to the society was made by her predecessor and that she was initially proceeding with the invitation only due to the limited knowledge she had of Dawkins.

If the auditor of the Hist had only limited knowledge of Dawkins then how is she in that position in the first place?

People who work at university societies are supposed to know a lot about these philosophers, aren't they?

Outlaw Pete

Liberals love diversity. Just not diversity of thought.

Dawkins, it would appear, is guilty of wrongthink.

Another frantic backpedal. Students refusing to entertain opinions contrary to their own, talk about being ill-equipped to enter the real world. Their delicate feelings might be hurt, and we can't have that. Society is going soft.

Snickers Man

This is ridiculous. I personally don't like Dawkins. I think some of his ideas are downright dangerous. But not so dangerous that he shouldn't be allowed to promote them and to have them questioned and challenged in a leading university.

Who do they propose to invite in his place?

osarusan

This bit made me laugh: " I followed up the invitation with limited knowledge of Mr. Dawkins. I had read his Wikipedia page and researched him briefly. "


Firstly, that she would not know much about him. Secondly, that she would head to wikipedia, and thirdly, as his comments about Islam that caused the society to cancel his lecture are right there on his wikipedia page anyway.

nj27

I went to tcd and my comments on the institution mirror those of Richard Nixon’s regarding Bohemian grove.

Aongus Von Bismarck

As a graduate of TCD, and a former member of the Hist, I must say I'm extremely disappointed with this decision. Robust debate is the lifeblood of the Hist. It's the sort of decision by committee thinking I'd associate with The Phil to be honest.

nolivesmatter

She added the society “will not be moving ahead with his address as we value our members comfort above all else”.

That quote says it all really. Embarrassing to read.

Dravokivich

political analyst wrote: »

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/trinity-college-historical-society-rescind-richard-dawkins-invitation-over-authors-stance-on-islam-and-sexual-assault-39568028.html



If the auditor of the Hist had only limited knowledge of Dawkins then how is she in that position in the first place?

People who work at university societies are supposed to know a lot about these philosophers, aren't they?

What are we expecting her to know about him and why would it be significant to her position?

AdrianBalboa

Who said any college society has to fulfil the obligations made by a previous administration? The current heads of the society have determined that Dawkins’ views aren’t suitable for their audience and they cancelled his appearance accordingly.

I say this as a Trinity graduate.

nolivesmatter

AdrianBalboa wrote: »

Who said any college society has to fulfil the obligations made by a previous administration? The current heads of the society have determined that Dawkins’ views aren’t suitable for their audience and they cancelled his appearance accordingly.

I say this as a Trinity graduate.

That honestly sounds like the parental guidance crap you'd read on the back of a PG dvd.

"Parental Guidance: some material may be inappropriate for children under 13"

Quantum Erasure

Thread here, ...

www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2058117338

EmmetSpiceland

How do you know someone went to Trinity?
They tell you!

CalamariFritti

Whats so bad about his wikipedia page anyway? He seems fairly clean shaven and scientific, no?
Someone mentioned Islam. Is he a racist or something? Or is it the atheist thing?

Whats so bad about him that it would cause students discomfort? (Btw the comfort statement is the worst I've read in a while)

Feisar

Passing exams, work, women, gym and beer were my priorities in college. Discomfort over some lads views? Sorry I had more pressing (busty) matters to attend to.
What is wrong with people today?

Quantum Erasure

From my reading it seems to be more about him 'victim blaming' victims of rape, or saying if you want do have a reliable testimony, dont be so drunk that you can't remember what happened...

Snickers Man

Snickers Man wrote: »

This is ridiculous. I personally don't like Dawkins. I think some of his ideas are downright dangerous. But not so dangerous that he shouldn't be allowed to promote them and to have them questioned and challenged in a leading university.

Who do they propose to invite in his place?

Barney the dinosaur is free but im sure someone there will find a tweet that theyre offended by:)

Quantum Erasure

Absoluvely

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

As a graduate of TCD, and a former member of the Hist, I must say I'm extremely disappointed with this decision. Robust debate is the lifeblood of the Hist. It's the sort of decision by committee thinking I'd associate with The Phil to be honest.

The Phil's "flagship event" in 2013 was a speech by Richard Dawkins in the GMB so I don't know what you mean. I wasn't aware of any moves to have the event cancelled at the time, and it went ahead without issue, except that it was particularly rainy that evening.

Maybe your comment was just a rivalrous jibe at The Phil. The Phil and The Hist were basically the same anyway.

Absoluvely

Quantum Erasure wrote: »

So woke that they misspelled Caribbean. Nice.

Proper spelling is racist anyway.

MEGA BRO WOLF 5000

Quantum Erasure wrote: »

Racist Irish, so racist they can't even be represented.

Ebun Joseph
Claudia Hoareau
Gillian Wylie
Florence Nwajei

nolivesmatter

Quantum Erasure wrote: »

Let the self-flagellation commence.

Manach

I find myself for perhaps the first time on the same side as Dawkins, in that blocking a speaker ( or a group ) for views that are not part of the mainstream does not serve the ethos of an educational establishment, or Trinity College.

Dante

Cancel the Hist.

ronivek

https://twitter.com/RichardDawkins/status/1310945424648343552

Personally I never found that the Phil or the Hist were actually representative of the majority of students who attend TCD. It is however representative of a certain type who tend to populate the elected positions within such societies.

Eduard Khil

Mindless sheep being herded into the abyss, this is truly the age of unenlightenment.

Absoluvely

Absoluvely wrote: »

So woke that they misspelled Caribbean. Nice.

Proper spelling is racist anyway.

Ribena not sponsoring this

Amirani

Dravokivich wrote: »

What are we expecting her to know about him and why would it be significant to her position?

It's a debating society, one that I spent a good bit of time viewing and participating in debates in during the past decade (albeit not the past couple of years). I'm fairly surprised she doesn't know who Dawkins is, he comes up quite a lot in that sphere - or at least The God Delusion does.

You'd typically have a few debates per session in the GMB involving atheism, Islam, role of religion etc. Some of his arguments are fairly well rehearsed there.

the purple tin

nj27 wrote: »

I went to tcd and my comments on the institution mirror those of Richard Nixon’s regarding Bohemian grove.

'The faggiest damn place you've ever seen'?


Why don't they let the students vote whether they want Dawkins to appear or not?
They could do a poll on their website or something.
It shouldn't be down to Bríd to decide what will make them uncomfortable.

1o059k7ewrqj3n

It’s a bit like burning books by the Nazis in the 1930s. We disagree with your ideas and won’t entertain their existence.

Would it not be better to tackle someone they disagree with head on in debate and at least attempt to highlight, expose or defeat their viewpoints?

4068ac1elhodqr

Assume they're doing that jazz hands thing instead of any actual applause?
The kinetic action of a clapping hand is far too upsetting, and a sensory overload for many a student these days.

IAMAMORON

At least give students the opportunity to listen to his crap and then instigate some sort of feedback?

Prematurely invigilating who visits them is counterproductive, students do not need to be helicoptered by their faculty over what they can or cannot read, listen or learn?

Not giving a voice to someone is a surefire way of amplifying their opinion, particularly with 20 year old academics. If they were hoping to silence Dawkins by disinviting him they have failed dramatically.

Had they bit their lip he would have turned up and spoke to a room full of freshers ( probably less than 20 people ). Now the poor phuckers have to attend a lecture on Afro Caribbean culture? Can they not just listen to Bob Marley like everyone else did? At least more than 20 might turn up then.

the purple tin

Donald Noisy Shelf wrote: »

Assume they're doing that jazz hands thing instead of any actual applause?
The kinetic action of a clapping hand is far too upsetting, and a sensory overload for many a student these days.

You mean the same Jazz Hands popularised by Al Jolson :eek:

normanoffside

Is a debating society about debate?
Isn't the whole point about debate being able to critique an opposing argument and win out with reason and logic?

I also always thought that a skilled debater is one who is able to make an argument that he/she is personally opposed to and win out against those who actually forward their own beliefs.

If we are not allowed to even hear opinions that we may oppose then I guess by definition debate is dead.

nj27

the purple tin wrote: »

'The faggiest damn place you've ever seen'?


Why don't they let the students vote whether they want Dawkins to appear or not?
They could do a poll on their website or something.
It shouldn't be down to Bríd to decide what will make them uncomfortable.

Why couldn't they let me fight them? The merits of ideas seem to be irrelevant, so why don't they let me fight their best representative in the ring tonight? Me rubbing my willy all over the face of an unconscious gentleman would be just as valid an argument as anything they have presented thus far.

Quantum Erasure

David Quinn was meant to be discussing this with Ebun on TodayFM's The Last Word

https://twitter.com/DavQuinn/status/1310989829388283904


Edit, David Quinn would be in favour of letting the debate go ahead, I wonder what arguments Ebun will bring to the table...

normanoffside

Quantum Erasure wrote: »

David Quinn was meant to be discussing this with Ebun on TodayFM's The Last Word

https://twitter.com/DavQuinn/status/1310989829388283904

The Irony is that as an Atheist Dawkins is opposed to everything Quinn stands for.

Tombo2001

So often there is a herd view on Boards that seems to be predominantly male, but who knows - as its anonymous.

There certainly is on this thread - poor old Richard......those damn liberals.

I would love to know the gender balance of the people on this thread who feel The Hist should give this guy a platform, given his victim blaming proclamations on sexual assault.

normanoffside

Tombo2001 wrote: »

So often there is a herd view on Boards that seems to be predominantly male, but who knows - as its anonymous.

There certainly is on this thread - poor old Richard......those damn liberals.

I would love to know the gender balance of the people on this thread who feel The Hist should give this guy a platform, given his victim blaming proclamations on sexual assault.

But Dawkins is the quintessential Liberal?

TheValeyard

normanoffside wrote: »

The Irony is that as an Atheist Dawkins is opposed to everything Quinn stands for.

They can both be in complete disagreement with each other's point of view but still know the benefits of and enjoy healthy debate.

Tombo2001

Outlaw Pete wrote: »

Liberals love diversity. Just not diversity of thought.

Dawkins, it would appear, is guilty of wrongthink.

Ah yes, the quintessential liberal.....except just different to the type of liberal we like to sneer at.

normanoffside

TheValeyard wrote: »

They can both be in complete disagreement with each other's point of view but still know the benefits of and enjoy healthy debate.

Yeah, that's my point.

normanoffside

Tombo2001 wrote: »

Ah yes, the quintessential liberal.....except just different to the type of liberal we like to sneer at.

What is a Liberal any more?
Dawkins was always an Atheist.
He believed in allowing abortion, same sex marriage etc, long before it was trendy.
He was an old school 1970's labour man.

Now that's not liberal enough for the modern day liberals.

I just don't know anymore.

ExoPolitic

They do love to wrap themselves in cotton wool in their own ideas nowadays don't they?! University is about challenging your ideas and to write about it, not run away and hide in a dark corner...

Quantum Erasure

Tombo2001 wrote: »

So often there is a herd view on Boards that seems to be predominantly male, but who knows - as its anonymous.

There certainly is on this thread - poor old Richard......those damn liberals.

I would love to know the gender balance of the people on this thread who feel The Hist should give this guy a platform, given his victim blaming proclamations on sexual assault.

Which proclamations are those?

Parabellum9

ExoPolitic wrote: »

They do love to wrap themselves in cotton wool in their own ideas nowadays don't they?! University is about challenging your ideas and to write about it, not run away and hide in a dark corner...

Can’t be having people speak who go against the hive mentality or might cause them to think outside the bubble - safer to ban them so the ****ing pussies can have their milk cookie and blankie time in peace without being “triggered”. Wait till these cosseted clowns enter the real world, the shock will be something else.

Donald Trump

EmmetSpiceland wrote: »

How do you know someone went to Trinity?
They tell you whether they actually would like fries with that!

Fixed your oul' post there

Augme

Steyr 556 wrote: »

It’s a bit like burning books by the Nazis in the 1930s. We disagree with your ideas and won’t entertain their existence.

Would it not be better to tackle someone they disagree with head on in debate and at least attempt to highlight, expose or defeat their viewpoints?

Well they tried that with the nazi party and look how well that turned out...

nolivesmatter

Tombo2001 wrote: »

So often there is a herd view on Boards that seems to be predominantly male, but who knows - as its anonymous.

There certainly is on this thread - poor old Richard......those damn liberals.

I would love to know the gender balance of the people on this thread who feel The Hist should give this guy a platform, given his victim blaming proclamations on sexual assault.

He shouldn't be de-platformed. If you don't think he's worthy of a platform then don't provide him an audience. Don't attend.

Donald Trump

nolivesmatter wrote: »

He shouldn't be de-platformed. If you don't think he's worthy of a platform then don't provide him an audience. Don't attend.

They can ask who they want. They can't simply run it as "anyone in the world who wants to come and talk shite can come and sure if people don't like that person then they can just not attend"

Feisar

Tombo2001 wrote: »

So often there is a herd view on Boards that seems to be predominantly male, but who knows - as its anonymous.

There certainly is on this thread - poor old Richard......those damn liberals.

I would love to know the gender balance of the people on this thread who feel The Hist should give this guy a platform, given his victim blaming proclamations on sexual assault.

What a lot of people call victim blaming is just cold logic. If blue and yellow get together and the outcome is green who is at fault? If I leave my car window down in a dodgy area and my laptop gets nicked and I not part of the result? The emotive one now, a girl staggering home drunk gets raped. The rapist is the 100% wrong doer however had she not been there it couldn’t have happened. Causation and effect. But that’s victim blaming.