Comments on: How dare you read that book! http://musefree.wordpress.com/2008/03/06/how-dare-you-read-that-book/ Musings, dreams, thoughtcrimes. Sun, 12 Oct 2008 19:20:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU hourly 1 By: On political correctness and pseudo-politeness « Muse Free http://musefree.wordpress.com/2008/03/06/how-dare-you-read-that-book/#comment-574 On political correctness and pseudo-politeness « Muse Free Tue, 15 Jul 2008 23:11:59 +0000 http://musefree.wordpress.com/?p=129#comment-574 [...] political correctness often takes precedence over accuracy or truth, or where it is deemed right to suppress free expression simply to avoid hurting certain people. Or, it leads to situations like you mention, where certain [...] [...] political correctness often takes precedence over accuracy or truth, or where it is deemed right to suppress free expression simply to avoid hurting certain people. Or, it leads to situations like you mention, where certain [...]

]]> By: Keith Sampson round-up « Muse Free http://musefree.wordpress.com/2008/03/06/how-dare-you-read-that-book/#comment-438 Keith Sampson round-up « Muse Free Fri, 02 May 2008 00:10:40 +0000 http://musefree.wordpress.com/?p=129#comment-438 [...] 2, 2008 by Abhishek A couple of months ago, I blogged about the Keith Sampson case. The Volokh Conspiracy has an update about the [...] [...] 2, 2008 by Abhishek A couple of months ago, I blogged about the Keith Sampson case. The Volokh Conspiracy has an update about the [...]

]]> By: Abhishek http://musefree.wordpress.com/2008/03/06/how-dare-you-read-that-book/#comment-259 Abhishek Sun, 09 Mar 2008 22:28:20 +0000 http://musefree.wordpress.com/?p=129#comment-259 Aristotle: The reason I called it a 'retreat' is that compared to their earlier position, it is. I completely agree with your other remarks. Aristotle: The reason I called it a ‘retreat’ is that compared to their earlier position, it is.

I completely agree with your other remarks.

]]> By: aristotlethegeek http://musefree.wordpress.com/2008/03/06/how-dare-you-read-that-book/#comment-258 aristotlethegeek Sun, 09 Mar 2008 22:23:52 +0000 http://musefree.wordpress.com/?p=129#comment-258 It does not read like a retreat. Sounds more like an muted warning, as some people on the site you have previously linked to say. Justice is not an unambiguous term. You only make it ambiguous when you concede to stupid demands which unfortunately wear legal armour. The coworker had a choice. Even if Keith Sampson were racist (he is definitely not from what I have read), the co-worker could have simply ignored his reading of the book. Or could have moved on to another job. Forcing Keith to stop reading a book because he didn't like it shows that he is either ignorant or conceited. I don't support any law, banning hate crimes or otherwise, that punishes non-coercive actions. If Keith Sampson had beat up the co-worker, or had threatened him, or done something similar, then I can understand the university taking action or even the police coming into the picture. But that is hardly the case. Who would have thought reading a book can brand you as a bigot. Maybe Keith should move on instead of working in a university that supports such nonsense. I hope there are enough sensible people on both sides of the colour divide who understand the immense damage such incidents can cause to the idea of freedom. For if there aren't, this will move on to other countries as it already has in many cases. What America does today, the world will most probably do tomorrow. And giving preference to minority demands instead of treating everyone at the same level will mean that we will have to continue playing the stupid game of mirror mirror on the wall, who is the smallest minority of them all. For those who don't know the answer to that question, the smallest minority of them all is - the individual. It does not read like a retreat. Sounds more like an muted warning, as some people on the site you have previously linked to say.

Justice is not an unambiguous term. You only make it ambiguous when you concede to stupid demands which unfortunately wear legal armour. The coworker had a choice. Even if Keith Sampson were racist (he is definitely not from what I have read), the co-worker could have simply ignored his reading of the book. Or could have moved on to another job. Forcing Keith to stop reading a book because he didn’t like it shows that he is either ignorant or conceited.

I don’t support any law, banning hate crimes or otherwise, that punishes non-coercive actions. If Keith Sampson had beat up the co-worker, or had threatened him, or done something similar, then I can understand the university taking action or even the police coming into the picture. But that is hardly the case. Who would have thought reading a book can brand you as a bigot. Maybe Keith should move on instead of working in a university that supports such nonsense.

I hope there are enough sensible people on both sides of the colour divide who understand the immense damage such incidents can cause to the idea of freedom. For if there aren’t, this will move on to other countries as it already has in many cases. What America does today, the world will most probably do tomorrow.

And giving preference to minority demands instead of treating everyone at the same level will mean that we will have to continue playing the stupid game of mirror mirror on the wall, who is the smallest minority of them all. For those who don’t know the answer to that question, the smallest minority of them all is - the individual.

]]> By: Mr. Roach http://musefree.wordpress.com/2008/03/06/how-dare-you-read-that-book/#comment-257 Mr. Roach Sun, 09 Mar 2008 18:08:34 +0000 http://musefree.wordpress.com/?p=129#comment-257 Protected minorities are so used to hootin' and hollerin' and raising a stink everytime their feelings are hurt, and the affirmative action monitors are so used to jumping when they say jump, that there is absolutely no restraint among these people once they realize they can have a little fun at the expense of a decent white man. Protected minorities are so used to hootin’ and hollerin’ and raising a stink everytime their feelings are hurt, and the affirmative action monitors are so used to jumping when they say jump, that there is absolutely no restraint among these people once they realize they can have a little fun at the expense of a decent white man.

]]> By: Abhishek http://musefree.wordpress.com/2008/03/06/how-dare-you-read-that-book/#comment-256 Abhishek Sun, 09 Mar 2008 18:01:55 +0000 http://musefree.wordpress.com/?p=129#comment-256 I have updated the post above following new developments: the affirmative action office has made a complete retreat from its previous position. Yay! But yes, it is extremely depressing that so many laws take away individual freedom in the name of 'justice' or 'fairness'. The silver lining is the presence of several organizations that fight for freedom and raise public opinion against such laws, litigate to prevent coercive actions by the government, or just talk about libertarianism in general. Maybe we will see a better day! www.reason.com http://www.ij.org www.cato-at-liberty.org www.fff.org I have updated the post above following new developments: the affirmative action office has made a complete retreat from its previous position. Yay!

But yes, it is extremely depressing that so many laws take away individual freedom in the name of ‘justice’ or ‘fairness’. The silver lining is the presence of several organizations that fight for freedom and raise public opinion against such laws, litigate to prevent coercive actions by the government, or just talk about libertarianism in general. Maybe we will see a better day!

http://www.reason.com
http://www.ij.org
http://www.cato-at-liberty.org
http://www.fff.org

]]> By: aristotlethegeek http://musefree.wordpress.com/2008/03/06/how-dare-you-read-that-book/#comment-255 aristotlethegeek Sun, 09 Mar 2008 16:57:20 +0000 http://musefree.wordpress.com/?p=129#comment-255 Political correctness bordering on the insane. If the co-worker is so offended, he should probably look for another job. Unless every law is defined on the basis of coercion, things are only going to get worse in the future. Its the same thing everywhere - affirmative action, quotas - children being punished for the acts of their father. Justice? What does that mean? Political correctness bordering on the insane. If the co-worker is so offended, he should probably look for another job. Unless every law is defined on the basis of coercion, things are only going to get worse in the future.

Its the same thing everywhere - affirmative action, quotas - children being punished for the acts of their father. Justice? What does that mean?

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