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[NullPointer]

As somebody who works at ground zero for the madness that would ensue, I'm glad it'll be a quiet day.

 

[The Kree]

"Fascist groups like antifa."

I can feel my own head caving in.

 

[Prism Sentence]

While I support free speech, including Coulter's appearance, the Berkeley College Republicans and Coulter herself were clearly trolling Cal. It was so damn obvious and her decision today makes it even more obvious.

Yup.

 

[Lord Frieza]

Heck, if she really believed it she could've still spoken on campus.

She just wasn't going to get paid for it.

Also, Fascists like Antifa is the best thing I've heard all day.

Also:

I feel like there's a lot of GAFers who need this shit printed and framed on their wall.

 

[jabuseika]

 

[Cybit]

I'm sorry, my man, but you are really, really falling into the hardcorest of false equivalency, and with your Obama/Trump thing is just assuming that Trump wouldn't use EOs no matter what, too.

I'm not sure how I'm using the false equivalency thing? Explain? (I might have this all wrong but not getting why I'm wrong, so genuine curiosity on the explanation) (EDIT: We can take it to PMs if you don't want to clutter up the thread)

I'm not saying what Obama did is bad at all - in fact, he was more or less forced into using EOs because Congress has done jack and shit, and he rightfully wanted to get good done. But precedence matters in government and legal rights; and when we opened that door, it would also open the door for assholes to abuse it. Maybe Trump ends up opening the door instead, maybe not. Maybe a liberal SCOTUS closes the doors for Trump. But once that line got breached, we got in trouble.

One of my genuine fears is that as we clump up into our own bubbles (I moved from rural IL to Seattle), we forget why free speech is important because we're not used to being in an area where our values are dominant. But if you're one of those folks who exist in an area (local) where you're not the dominant view (say, a liberal in rural IL) - those rights eroding has really dangerous consequences.

EDIT: Reminder - BERKELEY IS ACTUALLY THE GOVERNMENT SINCE IT IS A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY, NOT AN INTERNET COMMUNITY AS REFERENCED IN XKCD. But that would require reading the strip and delinieating the difference between Government (which BERKELEY IS) and everything else. If this were at a private university XKCD would absolutely apply. But it is at a public university.

 

[boiled goose]

Nyt shouldn't give her so much attention.

 

[TemplaerDude]

Sad day for free speech?

Who is stopping her from saying anything?

Just because no one wants you there doesn't mean you can't say dumb shit.

 

[radios shipping overview]

Maybe campus Republican groups will stop trolling everybody with their choices of money-chasing provocateur guests?

...Nah.

 

[Lord Frieza]

I'm not sure how I'm using the false equivalency thing? Explain? (I might have this all wrong but not getting why I'm wrong, so genuine curiosity on the explanation)

Because comparing the labeling of MLK as an extremist by the right to labeling actual Neo-Nazis and eugenic peddlers as extremists is not the same thing. At. All.

I'm not saying what Obama did is bad at all - in fact, he was more or less forced into using EOs because Congress has done jack and shit, and he rightfully wanted to get good done. But precedence matters in government and legal rights; and when we opened that door, it would also open the door for assholes to abuse it. Maybe Trump ends up opening the door instead, maybe not. Maybe a liberal SCOTUS closes the doors for Trump. But once that line got breached, we got in trouble.

But this is all speculation and assumption. We really don't know if it did or not, you're just assuming.

One of my genuine fears is that as we clump up into our own bubbles (I moved from rural IL to Seattle), we forget why free speech is important because we're not used to being in an area where our values are dominant. But if you're one of those folks who exist in an area (local) where you're not the dominant view (say, a liberal in rural IL) - those rights eroding has really dangerous consequences.

But again, letting extremist views go unchallenged is not the answer. I'm sorry, this isn't really about bubbles. And you know what also has really dangerous consequences? Legitimatizing extremist views and letting them go unchecked.

 

[Lord Frieza]

EDIT: Reminder - BERKELEY IS ACTUALLY THE GOVERNMENT SINCE IT IS A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY, NOT AN INTERNET COMMUNITY AS REFERENCED IN XKCD. But that would require reading the strip and delinieating the difference between Government (which BERKELEY IS) and everything else. If this were at a private university XKCD would absolutely apply. But it is at a public university.

And none of those rights were stripped. And, despite being a public university, you are not guaranteed a platform, as has been detailed multiple times throughout these threads. They can't stop you from coming on campus and saying whatever, so Coulter is free to go on the sidewalk and spew her bullshit.

But also, as the article states, she wasn't denied anyway. Her time was simply moved, and then her sponsers pulled support, and she left. You're falling into her nonsense of being censored when she wasn't.

 

[Slayven]

EDIT: Reminder - BERKELEY IS ACTUALLY THE GOVERNMENT SINCE IT IS A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY, NOT AN INTERNET COMMUNITY AS REFERENCED IN XKCD. But that would require reading the strip and delinieating the difference between Government (which BERKELEY IS) and everything else. If this were at a private university XKCD would absolutely apply. But it is at a public university.

But Berkley didn't cancel, she did

 

[Armaros]

But Berkley didn't cancel, she did

And it was because of money. She would have had to pay for everything instead of her inviters.

 

[Buckle]

Heck, if she really believed it she could've still spoken on campus.

She just wasn't going to get paid for it.

Also, Fascists like Antifa is the best thing I've heard all day.

Also:

Goddamn it is depressing that this comic has to be posted as much as it has been..

 

[Cybit]

Because comparing the labeling of MLK as an extremist by the right to labeling actual Neo-Nazis and eugenic peddlers as extremists is not the same thing. At. All.

Ok, I get that, and I think that's just me failing at separating personal views versus American legal views - my bad.

I guess I'm trying to explain the difference between how society (with 50 years of hindsight, mind you) sees them and how the law sees them. In the eyes of the law when it comes to rights, all people are (theoretically) equal. I don't see them as equal on a personal level, but the law does, and dumbass racist 1960s American government saw civil rights leaders as dangerous enough extremists that the FBI was sending letters trying to convince them to commit suicide FFS. So, as goddamn despicable as Coulter is, I think it is a legitimate worry that, at some point, "enlightened American government / people" will end up screwing over people trying to do good because we were being dumbasses. See below

Second, the "Nazi Exception" is not safe or principled because it's applied by humans, and humans are ridiculous and awful. Look, we already have exceptions to the First Amendment for dangerous speech: the doctrine of true threats (which allows punishing threats meant to cause fear and objectively reasonably causing fear) and incitement (which allows punishing speech aimed at provoking imminent lawless action). Those exceptions are narrow and well-defined and zealously monitored. There's a good reason for that: if you create a free speech exception, someone will always try to stretch it all to hell.

I mean, imagine the Trump folks being the ones who decide what is "good" or "bad".

But this is all speculation and assumption. We really don't know if it did or not, you're just assuming.

We do know that we have all of American history to show the concept of precedent and breaking precedent, though.

But again, letting extremist views go unchallenged is not the answer. I'm sorry, this isn't really about bubbles. And you know what also has really dangerous consequences? Legitimatizing extremist views and letting them go unchecked.

Showing up with a giant ass peaceful counter protest to remind America that this lady is a goddamn lunatic and isn't representative of America or good people is a fantastic way to check and challenge those views. I think there is a giant gap between "letting go unchallenged" and "threatening violence if it happens at all".

I guess my question is, do people believe that the only way to properly challenge extremist views is to do whatever it takes to make sure they are not given venue to speak their bullshit?

Anyway, LF, if you want to keep discussing I'm happy to take it to PMs.

EDIT:

And none of those rights were stripped. And, despite being a public university, you are not guaranteed a platform, as has been detailed multiple times throughout these threads. They can't stop you from coming on campus and saying whatever, so Coulter is free to go on the sidewalk and spew her bullshit.

But also, as the article states, she wasn't denied anyway. Her time was simply moved, and then her sponsers pulled support, and she left. You're falling into her nonsense of being censored when she wasn't.

Eh, I'm leery of that line of thinking, because they could say "well you can speak in this little corner at this time and etc etc" and functionally squash it. That's a dangerous loophole to try to use, because it is a functional suppression if not a technical suppression.

EDIT 2:

But Berkley didn't cancel, she did

I thought it was over the groups pulling out over safety concerns - hence the violence thing

And it was because of money. She would have had to pay for everything instead of her inviters.

The NYT article doesn't say anything about that - but if that's the case, then fuck her, it's just her being a pain in the ass and making everyone look like fools. I took "sponsorship" as "in order to be invited to speak at a college, you generally have to have a student group sponsor you to come, otherwise you have no university support." If sponsors at Berkeley mean "I ain't getting paid"; then she managed to turn it from a free speech issue into a "getting paid" issue, and screw her.

 

[Got]

Heck, if she really believed it she could've still spoken on campus.

She just wasn't going to get paid for it.

Also, Fascists like Antifa is the best thing I've heard all day.

Also:

This but watch how many in here trip up over themselves trying to say free speech is something else.

 

[Lord Frieza]

Ok, I get that, and I think that's just me failing at separating personal views versus American legal views - my bad.

I guess I'm trying to explain the difference between how society (with 50 years of hindsight, mind you) sees them and how the law sees them. In the eyes of the law when it comes to rights, all people are (theoretically) equal. I don't see them as equal on a personal level, but the law does, and dumbass racist 1960s American government saw civil rights leaders as dangerous enough extremists that the FBI was sending letters trying to convince them to commit suicide FFS. So, as goddamn despicable as Coulter is, I think it is a legitimate worry that, at some point, "enlightened American government / people" will end up screwing over people trying to do good because we were being dumbasses. See below

I mean, imagine the Trump folks being the ones who decide what is "good" or "bad".

I mean, it doesn't matter what Trump folks say, Neo-Nazis are bad. MLK was not. We have the moral high ground here, I promise

Showing up with a giant ass peaceful counter protest to remind America that this lady is a goddamn lunatic and isn't representative of America or good people is a fantastic way to check and challenge those views. I think there is a giant gap between "letting go unchallenged" and "threatening violence if it happens at all".

I guess my question is, do people believe that the only way to properly challenge extremist views is to do whatever it takes to make sure they are not given venue to speak their bullshit?

There were no actual threats of violence, as others said before. Protests were planned, and there was fear that they would become violent because of a previous incident where it did, and there was apparently talks of Pro-Trump/Coulter people coming in to incite violence as well, though I don't know much about this.

Eh, I'm leery of that line of thinking, because they could say "well you can speak in this little corner at this time and etc etc" and functionally squash it. That's a dangerous loophole to try to use, because it is a functional suppression if not a technical suppression.

Not all views are worth hearing and worth giving a platform, too. Racism is one of them. I mean, yeah, you're correct, it can and has been used for the wrong reasons, but that's when you have to be strong in your conviction that saying 'Equal right for everyone' is right, and saying, 'Maybe the genocide of black people wouldn't be that bad' isn't.

I thought it was over the groups pulling out over safety concerns - hence the violence thing

No, as stated, she pulled out herself. They rescheduled her time is all, she chose herself to leave

 

[LucidMomentum]

This but watch how many in here trip up over themselves trying to say free speech is something else.

We already got one using the PUBLIC UNIVERSITY trap card

Also to everyone using the "why not just peacefully protest it?" line:

Martin Luther King did that. Look where it got him. Look how people treat minorities nowadays.

Apparently there are people who don't give a fuck about you whether or not your protest is peaceful. So why cater to them?

People getting called out for their morally wrong opinions and for spewing racism and sexism and people are going "YEAH BUT WHY DON'T YOU JUST TELL THEM THEY'RE WRONG AND THEY'LL CHANGE!"

If they were willing to listen they'd find numerous facts and people to help them listen and learn. The ones that choose not to, either to get a paycheck or because they are well and fully sucked into whatever Alt-Right, Fascist, whatever they market it as at the moment bullshit need to be called out and protested against, aggressively.

Because that shit is not okay.

 

[EmiPrime]

Has somebody made a safe space joke yet?

 

[Got]

We already got one using the PUBLIC UNIVERSITY trap card

Also to everyone using the "why not just peacefully protest it?" line:

Martin Luther King did that. Look where it got him. Look how people treat minorities nowadays.

Apparently there are people who don't give a fuck about you whether or not your protest is peaceful. So why cater to them?

People getting called out for their morally wrong opinions and for spewing racism and sexism and people are going "YEAH BUT WHY DON'T YOU JUST TELL THEM THEY'RE WRONG AND THEY'LL CHANGE!"

If they were willing to listen they'd find numerous facts and people to help them listen and learn. The ones that choose not to, either to get a paycheck or because they are well and fully sucked into whatever Alt-Right, Fascist, whatever they market it as at the moment bullshit need to be called out and protested against, aggressively.

Because that shit is not okay.

Unfortunately it continue on. Ignorance is hard to get through a lot of the time.

 

[Frozenprince]

She isn't being censored. I expect better if you. She had the opportunity to move it back once single week and choose to not do so to get word of mouth.

You're all giving her what she wanted.

 

[Big Blue]

Ann Coulter says she is canceling her speech at Berkeley. Her sponsors pulled out, citing safety concerns. Damn didn't realize you need that much security for a speech







https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/26/us/ann-coulter-berkeley-speech.html

Sorry Ms. Coulter, that's not what free speech really means.

 

[SoCoRoBo]

We already got one using the PUBLIC UNIVERSITY trap card

Also to everyone using the "why not just peacefully protest it?" line:

Martin Luther King did that. Look where it got him. Look how people treat minorities nowadays.

He was extremely successful though? The metric of his success shouldn't be did he end all oppression of minorities in America because that would be absurd and impossible. But his work made life in America far, far better than it was before him. Is your argument then that violent protest is, on average, more successful than nonviolent protest? That's essentially an argument on the facts, and it's one that's not borne out on the evidence.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...in-toppling-dictators/?utm_term=.c2723403e83b

(Article is not exactly analogous but can provide similar studies) When people say that boring parliamentary politics are the best way of achieving permanent and effective change, they're by and large correct. The visceral appeal of 'it's good and necessary to threaten fascist speakers' lines of argument and the portrayal of non-violent/discursive change as flaccid and ineffective is a really pernicious idea and one that's seemingly extremely popular on this forum.

There's no really principled way to celebrate what has happened here and also champion free speech at the same time. Which is in no way an endorsement of Coulter or her arguments which are entirely without merit.

 

[Pathfinder]

Ann Coulter says she is canceling her speech at Berkeley. Her sponsors pulled out, citing safety concerns. Damn didn't realize you need that much security for a speech

You do when your followers are known for violent behavior.

 

[jack_package_200]

Obligatory cartoon by known fuckboi Ben Garrison.

 

[Nafai1123]

Antifa's new slogan should be "Fighting Fascism with Fascism." /s

 

[Pathfinder]

Obligatory cartoon by known fuckboi Ben Garrison.

The best part of that cartoon is how Milo and Ann are shown to be so sweet and innocent, like they weren't doing anything and suddenly BAM!

 

[EatinOlives]

Obligatory cartoon by known fuckboi Ben Garrison.

el oh el his limbs are shaped like swastikas he's so clever and convincing!!!!!! /s

 

[Massive Duck. C.M.]

Statue of Liberty represents free speech to weird conservatives huh

 

[DontBeThatGuy]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/857320812445085696

I see some of those MAGA groups had some plans. (Bay Area Proud Boys? LOL)

 

[Volimar]

Obligatory cartoon by known fuckboi Ben Garrison.

This is parody, right? Right guys?

 

[Pathfinder]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/857320812445085696

I see some of those MAGA groups had some plans. (Bay Area Proud Boys? LOL)

But... but... I was told it was the Libtard Leftist Snowflakes who incite the violence!

My world no longer makes sense.

 

[DontBeThatGuy]

This is parody, right? Right guys?

???

That's right-wing ART!

 

[MetroidPrimeRib]

If they both had the same art style, it would be 100% impossible to tell Ben Garrison and that dude from the Onion who draws the crying Statue of Liberty apart

 

[Tatsumaki Senpuukyaku!]

The best part of that cartoon is how Milo and Ann are shown to be so sweet and innocent, like they weren't doing anything and suddenly BAM!

He also forgot to draw Milo's Iron Cross necklace.

 

[Cipherr]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/857320812445085696

I see some of those MAGA groups had some plans. (Bay Area Proud Boys? LOL)

MmmmHmm. Fuck those assholes and Fuck Ann Coulters 'speech'. I hope these idiots seethe all week over its cancellation.

 

[Pathfinder]

He also forgot to draw Milo's Iron Cross necklace.

A purely innocent and accidental omission, I'm sure.

 

[LucidMomentum]

There's no really principled way to celebrate what has happened here and also champion free speech at the same time. Which is in no way an endorsement of Coulter or her arguments which are entirely without merit.

Can you please elaborate?

Because there was no violation of free speech here.

She was getting flak for her speech, who chose to sponsor her, and the school was getting flak from people protesting all of the above.

The school then says they won't deny her entry, but did have to reschedule her speech.

Then her sponsors dropped support as a result of all of the above and instead of continuing on her own, she chose to cancel and blamed it on free speech.

The funny thing is, the free speech of those protesting showed sponsors and the school they didn't really want this happening.

Also lol at that cartoon. Coulter and Milo are incredibly racist, one has even advocated for rape and abuse of children, yet it's the ones protesting that want to burn books and praise the swastika and iron cross.

You know, not the person who unironically wears an iron cross.

 

[Mercury Fred]

Wow, what a snowflake. She can't deal with people disagreeing with her.

Spoiler

am I doing it right?

 

[Pathfinder]

Wow, what a snowflake. She can't deal with people disagreeing with her.

Spoiler

am I doing it right?

You forgot to mention safe space.

 

[HStallion]

Obligatory cartoon by known fuckboi Ben Garrison.

I think this is funny because Milo looks like Trump

Antifa's new slogan should be "Fighting Fascism with Fascism." /s

A punch a day keeps the nazis at bay

 

[HStallion]

dp

 

[ViperVisor]

I don't get this let's bring in professional terrible human beings for a chat.

It has to be done just based on tradition from 20-200 years ago where you didn't have access to outside the box ideas because your local library couldn't carry something published on a wall written in shit.

 

[AnotherDayAnotherDollar]

Obligatory cartoon by known fuckboi Ben Garrison.

Seems accurate. If I were in the middle of a protest/riot right now, I would be more scared of antifa folks than I would be of the alt right.

 

[jack_package_200]

Seems accurate. If I were in the middle of a protest/riot right now, I would be more scared of antifa folks than I would be of the alt right.

O sweet summer child

 

[Timedog]

It's a sad day for the legion of conservatives that apparently don't actually understand what free speech is, but are constantly mad about it for arbitrary reasons.

 

[MattKeil]

Seems accurate. If I were in the middle of a protest/riot right now, I would be more scared of antifa folks than I would be of the alt right.

Your second sentence in no way backs up the first. Do you know that?

 

[jack_package_200]

Your second sentence in no way backs up the first. Do you know that?

The whole "feel safe around the Alt Right" is incredibly questionable as well.

 

[Gordon Shumway]

The whole "feel safe around the Alt Right" is incredibly questionable as well.

Yeah..my black ass ain't feeling safe with those alt fucks. Very odd statement.

 

[The Kree]

Seems accurate. If I were in the middle of a protest/riot right now, I would be more scared of antifa folks than I would be of the alt right.

Because the alt-right white supremacists are peaceful or because they're pussies?