Have You Met A "stepford Student"?

[Kromovaracun]

http://www.spectator.co.uk/features/9376232/free-speech-is-so-last-century-todays-students-want-the-right-to-be-comfortable/

I've often said on AB that I didn't think "political correctness" was a real thing.

I would like to say that I was wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong. In the above article (and the audio discussion near the top), a trend is described that is becoming increasingly evident among students where ideas they find the least bit sordid or offensive are dogpiled and shunted off campuses rather than properly critiqued. If we cannot achieve open spaces in universities where all ideas are open to criticism, what hope do we have of achieving it elsewhere?

[jim360]

I stayed well clear of student politics at University. Glad I did. It sucks. Full of bright young people who are beginning to find their voice, but haven't figured out what to say yet; and some struggle to listen. I'd say I saw only the fringes of this movement, but it did happen.

[Old_Geezer]

It's for practicing/honing debating skills. We all start somewhere. But if controversial stuff is not debated then one loses a lot of good experience. In real life they don't have that sort of control, and will find themselves ill prepared to form counter arguments properly.

[Svejk]

It's the price paid for 20 years of PC. If we can't 'roll it back' it's going to be a scary world 20 years hence. To me, anyway. You see people on this site who would probably think it was great. (until they found themselves on the receiving end)

[youngmafbog]

We have free speech? really?

Students are influenced by trendy lefty liberal teachers so it's hardly surprising.

The way the left work is to silence it's critics. Just look on here when you get lefties baying for someone to be suspended when they disagree with them!

[Old_Geezer]

Free speech is rarely completely free in a society.
There are slander laws to start with, and not deliberately causing panic.

[jim360]

I think the concept of "lefty teachers" is probably very outdated. And anyway if you think students learn their politics from teachers, you have another think coming...

[Tilly2]

I have only ever met one trendy, lefty liberal teacher, youngmafbog. The pupils thought he was a wally. Most teachers are actually very conservative.......small 'c'. Don't base your idea of teachers on the NUT conference.

[Tilly2]

Snap, James. (sort of)

[Kromovaracun]

"I have never killed anyone – but my character has been assassinated by KCLSU. I was found guilty of being Israeli. For these bigoted students who seek to shut down free speech, my existence is a crime."

http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/dont-let-this-murderer-speak-at-kings-college/