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posted by martyb on Friday August 26 2016, @10:37PM   Printer-friendly
from the beware-Roy-Rogers'-horse? dept.

Recent reporting and discussions here about "trolls" and the "culture of hate" (both con and pro) have repeatedly broached the topic of what appropriate limits to free expression might be.

Dean of Students John Ellison at the University of Chicago has taken a stand on the issue in a letter welcoming new students. He writes:

Once here you will discover that one of the University of Chicago's defining characteristics is our commitment to freedom of inquiry and expression. [...] Members of our community are encouraged to speak, write, listen, challenge, and learn, without fear of censorship. Civility and mutual respect are vital to all of us, and freedom of expression does not mean the freedom to harass or threaten others. You will find that we expect members of our community to be engaged in rigorous debate, discussion, and even disagreement. At times this may challenge you and even cause discomfort.

Our commitment to academic freedom means that we do not support so called 'trigger warnings,' we do not cancel invited speakers because their topics might prove controversial, and we do not condone the creation of intellectual 'safe spaces' where individuals can retreat from ideas and perspectives at odds with their own.

While some have voiced support for Ellison's commitment to free expression (with Robby Soave at Reason encouraging readers to give the dean "a round of applause"), others are concerned about the implications of his message. L.V. Anderson at Slate agrees with much of the letter's content promoting "civility and mutual respect," but finds the last paragraph quoted above to be "weird" and unsettling:

By deriding "safe spaces" and "trigger warnings" before students arrive on campus, the University of Chicago is inadvertently sending a message that certain students—the ones who have never been traumatized, and the ones who have historically felt welcome on college campuses (i.e., white men)—are more welcome than others, and that students who feel marginalized are unlikely to have their claims taken seriously. Adults who decry "the coddling of the American mind" will likely celebrate U. Chicago's preemptive strike against political correctness, but students who have experienced violence, LGBTQ students, and students of color likely will not.


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  • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 26 2016, @11:24PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 26 2016, @11:24PM (#393737)

    The U is not a safe space for anyone when the dean arbitrarily decides who is acting threateningly.

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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 26 2016, @11:30PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 26 2016, @11:30PM (#393743)

    Your scenario would be nearly universally considered threatening.
    Particularly by the speaker themselves.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 26 2016, @11:35PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 26 2016, @11:35PM (#393746)

      Well now that all depends on the intent of the speaker. There's additional context to consider also. What if the speaker is laughing? What if the speaker is dressed like a clown?

      NOPE. Nigger is nigger, It's a trigger, no warning, go directly to jail, to preserve THE SAFE SPACE.

      The dean is a lying hypocritical sack of shit.

      • (Score: 2) by Entropy on Friday August 26 2016, @11:56PM

        by Entropy (4228) on Friday August 26 2016, @11:56PM (#393758)

        So black people can't say that word either? Gosh there will be a lot of people expelled.

        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 27 2016, @12:03AM

          by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 27 2016, @12:03AM (#393762)

          All 5% of the student body who happen to be black people hate niggers too.

        • (Score: 2) by edIII on Saturday August 27 2016, @01:11AM

          by edIII (791) on Saturday August 27 2016, @01:11AM (#393798)

          Oh, no. Remember, nigga is completely different than nigger.

          For instance:

          Acceptable (Even for Caucasian persuasions): "Yo, my nigga! How's it hanging?"

          Not Acceptable (Dead Honkey): "Yo, nigger! Wanna hang?"

          It's subtle, but trust me, there is a difference. Apparently.

          --
          Technically, lunchtime is at any moment. It's just a wave function.
          • (Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 27 2016, @02:09AM

            by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 27 2016, @02:09AM (#393831)

            > Acceptable (Even for Caucasian persuasions): "Yo, my nigga! How's it hanging?"

            Nope

            • (Score: 2) by edIII on Saturday August 27 2016, @05:36AM

              by edIII (791) on Saturday August 27 2016, @05:36AM (#393866)

              Say that to movies, television, and real life.

              I didn't say I agreed with it, only that is what I see.

              --
              Technically, lunchtime is at any moment. It's just a wave function.
              • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 27 2016, @08:14AM

                by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 27 2016, @08:14AM (#393884)

                Sadly true, theft of black culture includes 'nigga' and people are too polite to chastize the culprits. Teens get it a lot in music so they drop it like other phrases that are heard in music a lot, to sound cool. Same goes for other degrees/topics of insult, eg. speaking in ebonics without realizing it is akin to making "flied lice" Chinese food jokes; or how women are commonly referred to as 'bitches' from man to man, on the surface in a lighthearted tone. Lots of other examples.

                Source: in my third year back as an undergrad. Wow.

                • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 27 2016, @03:30PM

                  by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 27 2016, @03:30PM (#393946)

                  theft of black culture

                  That's utterly nonsensical. People copying culture is how culture spreads in the first place, and it's a completely natural occurrence. There is no "theft" of culture.

            • (Score: 2) by janrinok on Saturday August 27 2016, @07:22PM

              by janrinok (52) Subscriber Badge on Saturday August 27 2016, @07:22PM (#394013) Journal

              In America. Depending on context and intent, people in other countries can still use the word 'nigger'.

          • (Score: 2) by Entropy on Saturday August 27 2016, @06:31AM

            by Entropy (4228) on Saturday August 27 2016, @06:31AM (#393867)

            Yeah, I'm sure a white person saying that wouldn't be immediately attacked.

      • (Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 27 2016, @12:11AM

        by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 27 2016, @12:11AM (#393764)

        > Well now that all depends on the intent of the speaker. There's additional context to consider also.
        > What if the speaker is laughing? What if the speaker is dressed like a clown?

        Its funny how racists think they are so clever when they are only fooling themselves.

        shout "fuck you nigger"

        That's all the context needed.

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 27 2016, @12:33AM

        by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 27 2016, @12:33AM (#393775)
        What if the speaker is black, speaking to another black?
        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 27 2016, @12:43AM

          by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 27 2016, @12:43AM (#393783)

          Still clearly threatening.