Wednesday 10 June 2009

Recommended Reading List #27

Internet psychologist Graham Jones introduces the subject of free speech, relevant to whether 'undesirable' opinions should be repressed through use of 'no platform' tactics.

This raises some interesting questions: does the person or party who shouts loudest win? Do they need to maintain media domination through an unexpressed insecurity that a better perspective may come along?

1 comment:

  1. Anonymous10 June 2009 at 17:56

    Thanks for pointing us in the direction of this interesting article.

    I actually wrote about the exact same subject with the same conclusions as Graham Jones around 10 months ago albeit a bit more political- it was for a book about student activism and my contribution was regarding student apathy and how to use it to your advantage. I'll get in touch with the author and see if i am allowed to stick it on my blog for all to see.

    In terms of 'no platform', i am still stuck in the middle as whether i support it or not. On one shoulder the angel is saying to provide a platform that allows you to properly challenge and scrutinise (also means you can't be accussed of oppressing the voice of 'the majority'), on the other side, the devil is telling me that these views have no place in society and should not be given the time or place to be expressed. Before anyone claims that a 'no platform' is denying them freedom of speech consider two things: 1) article 30 of the UDHM; and 2) just because you don't provide a platform for those opinions does not mean they cannot go somewhere else and express them- so you are not repressing their freedom of speech. If you ban someone completely from expressing their views (i.e. no meetings, no website or blog, prision if you say anything) then you are.

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