People just seem unwlling to engage in reasoned debate these days, no matter how highly-charged the topic.
And the shut-down of communication and open dialogue can only end up being a bad thing for society.
doesnt mean it isnt worth talking about. On the points he was initially making:
Males shouldnt compete in female sports, makes shouldnt be in female prisons or refuges, we should be very careful about medical interventions for kids.
I mostly agree with all of that, the last one is more complicated so Im less sure there.
So Id say they were all legit to raise, he has time been more more extreme and hateful than that, but that were Id argue the hate he got added to that.
Its a bit like brexit, most of us were sort of in the middle, as demonstrated by lots of undecideds in the run up to the vote. Fast forward and two years of shouting at and abusing the other side on social media had turned those same people into rabid EU lovers who thought it couldnt do any wrong or on the other side mad conspiracy theorists who thought the entire world was trying to thwart brexit.
The internet and the nature of debates on it, quickly turns a moderately held view into a messianic mission.
(while I don't profess to be an expert on his views or the journey that got him where he is) I would agree that the internet has a big part to play in his downfall.
You state that his original points were valid, that may be and could well be fact. BUT it could be argued that the Internet increases and amplified the focus on these very uncommon extremes used as examples. Yes these things do happen but not to the extent that the hard wringers want us to believe. That some of the progress or change in the laws and attitudes in society just quietly benefit a silent majority, even with these high profile consequences.
So radicalized by the internet Yes, but the hate must of already been there in part to have this unhealthy focus on those particular outcomes.
His original points and the ones he makes to this day are valid. Males in female safe spaces and sport, hormone blockers for kids and some (a small minority) of pervs that claim trans as a sort of fetish, are all real issues. Its now more mainstream, but when he started talking about them it wasnt and he was vilified for it. He got an awful lot of abuse and at times fought back in what became an increasingly transphobic way. He was basically radicalized by the hate he got for what were originally valid concerns. He then dug in more and more to the point were he has lost his family, his work and lots of friends.
His social timelines show a really unhealthy obsession he is clearly not well, but still a lot of what he says isnt particularly extreme.
... you have possibly the finest comedy series ever aired to look forward to.
Shame about Graham Linehan tho...
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