i thought he would win. yes Ukraine is probably fucked. Taiwan likely too ( Read more... )

and now a response to the Harper's letter. from 160 journalists and academics. content is very predictable and could be used as a teaching material in a debate class - "how many logical fallacies can you count in this piece. can you identify them all?"

Read more... )

there is a big piece on detransitioning in The Sunday Times, with interviews with several people who decided to detransition ( Read more... )

good analysis of tricks

http://esr.ibiblio.org/?p=2122&fbclid=IwAR1zT-CYKGXX4kDPZfDV-a5mSd0ltPhiJN-Lfrc-wMZlHkZgoiJiG42z9pM

"One very notable pathology is a form of argument that, reduced to essence, runs like this: “Your refusal to acknowledge that you are guilty of {sin,racism,sexism, homophobia,oppression…} confirms that you are guilty of {sin ( Read more... )

The Reaction to the Harper's Letter on Cancel Culture Proves Why It Was Necessary
https://reason.com/2020/07/08/the-reaction-to-the-harpers-letter-on-cancel-culture-proves-why-it-was-necessary

а товарищам справа не угодишь :)
cancel culture - хихи какие идиоты
stop cancel culture! - хихи какие идиоты

it is tempting to try to make the people you disagree with to disappear and go away, and debate can be tiring and frustrating, but no one changed their mind and saw the light by being fired, especially if it is for an honest mistake or for nothing at all just because mob demands it ( Read more... )

this is more to collect my own thoughts in one place. but happy to engage in a discussion.
some of this may seem contradictory, but who said it was easy to think?

1. trans people exist. i will believe current medical point of view that gives go-ahead to sex change operations after a rigorous process of examination and to weed out those for whom it ( Read more... )

seems there is no place for a civil discussion any more. with either left or right. if i point out something i think silly to a right wing person they ll immediately accuse me of being heart bleeding liberal who wants to abolish guns and loves abortion, and if i disagree with something a liberal said - apparently that makes me a Trump-loving ( Read more... )

new scandal.
JK Rowling is new public enemy number 1
and here (BBC) and here (in Italian)
in short - burn the witch! and her books!

what bothers me the most however about this "scandal" is that Rowling in general is quite a progressive person, pro women rights, pro gay rights etc. Say, she is misinformed or even wrong on this one. i do not agree ( Read more... )

one can read "Black lives matter" as "only Black lives matter ( Read more... )