DickSwiveller wrote: » And if students want him to come?
joe40 wrote: » When was this glorious era where free speech was an absolute right and all views were publicly expressed. There may be protests sometimes but I think there has never been a time in history when so many diverse views are heard. I'm no expert though so open to correction
DickSwiveller wrote: » Irrelevant. Sensitive students shouldn't be allowed censor speakers who have been invited. It doesn't matter how long it's been happening.
Brian? wrote: » But they’re not censoring anyone. They are expressing opposition to the speakers.
DickSwiveller wrote: » Are you talking about a specific case?
Brian? wrote: » No. Students objecting to a speaker is not censorship.
DickSwiveller wrote: » Objecting is fine. Trying to shut down a speaker, whether explicitly -Shouting down a speaker and interrupting a talk - or implicitly - requiring speakers to sign forms prior to speaking - is censorship, and should be condemned.
ancapailldorcha wrote: » That's not censorship, it's protesting which is supposed to be disruptive.
DickSwiveller wrote: » Same thing. There's no difference.
ancapailldorcha wrote: » Yes there is. Protesting is expressing an opinion which is a core tenet of a free society.
DickSwiveller wrote: » So if I invite a speaker to my university, and a crowd turn up and start barking and roaring, that's an acceptable form of protest?
Professor Moriarty wrote: » Within the law.
ancapailldorcha wrote: » Of course it is. If you issue an invitation you should have campus security on hand to remove disruptive presences.
ancapailldorcha wrote: » Thought that was implied. Making noise is fine. Smacking someone you disagree with is assault.
DickSwiveller wrote: » It's not an acceptable form of protest. It's not even protesting. It's just trying to silence an alternative opinion. Once a person is given permission to speak he should be allowed speak without a mob interrupting them.
ancapailldorcha wrote: » Of course it's acceptable. If it weren't surely all these students would be sanctioned and/or arrested. You've just repeated your point without adding anything.
DickSwiveller wrote: » They are not sanctioned because the University authorities don't want to get involved. But they should be. Just because they aren't doesn't mean it's a legitimate form of protest.
VonZan wrote: » Why would you be against people protesting? The problem is that these college students aren’t intelligent enough to tell the difference between Ben Shapiro and Richard Spencer. Any non-postmodernist is treated as a Nazi. The problem isn’t the people protesting with placards it’s the people shouting and interrupting speeches becuase they simply can’t process a different viewpoint to their own. It’s quite hypocritical and dangerously stupid that these people are the same people speaking about intolerance in society too. Protesting is a basic democratic right but I don’t believe in the right to silence others simply becuase you disagree with them.
VonZan wrote: Protesting is a basic democratic right but I don’t believe in the right to silence others simply becuase you disagree with them.
Overheal wrote: » Do what Trump does: don't hold any public event unless its billeted as a Campaign Rally. That way, you can decide who to let in. The University could have it as a ticketed event, but good luck with that going over well with the fee-paying student body.They aren't being silenced, the simply share the same airspace and earspace as other people. They can try and talk louder if they wish. Where free speech ends is threats of violence.
20Cent wrote: » So sick of these right wing blowhards, making a career out of being "controversial" whinging about being "silenced" and censored. If some students with placards scare you maybe the marketplace of ideas isn't for you.
DickSwiveller wrote: » For Christ sake, if a person is so weak minded and sensitive that they can't bear the idea that someone with differing views should be allowed to speak then they don't have to turn up. It's very simple. If they don't approve of a person speaking they don't have to attend the event. What is this rubbish about space? A university is a big place. Just do something else while the talk is on. It's very simple
DickSwiveller wrote: » "Right Wing Blowhards" You mean you disagree with us. If students interrupt a talk by shouting down the speaker there is no marketplace of ideas - it's a marketplace of one idea, and all others are silenced.
Overheal wrote: » That's hardly silence, if it's being shouted down.
