Our changing times: which side will the right and left take about this free speech documentary?

"Sharyl Attkisson, who famously left CBS News and wrote a best-selling book alleging liberal bias in journalism, will make her film debut in No Safe Spaces, a humorous documentary about political correctness at universities.

Also joining the movie are liberal activist Cornel West and Van Jones, the CNN contributor who was President Obama's special adviser for green jobs. In fact, judging from a two-minute teaser trailer, filmmakers Adam Carolla and Dennis Prager assembled stars from the right and the left to speak their piece about free speech."

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sharyl-attkisson-make-film-debut-doc-free-speech-1105497

My guess based on debates I've been involved in here?

Conservatives will agree that our 1A rights are under attack; the left, I'm not so sure.

I often use 'liberal/progressive/socialist' to describe leftists, not as a derogatory slur but rather to point out that many who describe themselves as 'liberal' are anything but.

Cornell West and Van Jones? They are liberals.

The leftists who support suppression of free speech on college campuses?

Not even close...

 

Waiting for my AntiFa-defending leftist friends to jump in and debate me here.

I know you're out there...

 

Funny, cuz I've just seen a couple threads by conservatives here clamoring for the head of a university professor for expressing her views about the Bushes.

 

Seems to me you'll be waiting a long time to come for some imaginary unicorn to debate you.

 

That's the problem with free speech innit? You can just bet that someone will come along and say something you (the general, not the specific "you") disagree with.

 

She was free to express her vile opinion just like those that found it vile. You got something against free speech?

 

Thanks for sharing your opinion. Did someone elect you to speak for conservatives?

 

I hope Conservatives don't forget helmets and face shields.

 

I voted for him, he's cool.

 

I see. And who elected you to speak for conservatives?

 

Did they say she shouldn't be allowed to let the garbage flow freely from her over-used pie hole?

 

The other conservatives. Of course, if they feel I'm not representing their beliefs they're welcome to speak up.

I won't smash them over the head with a bike lock and run like a little ***** like some limp-wristed commie leftist.

 

It's not the disagreeing part that is wrong.

Disagreeing is fine. Cracking someone's head open is not.

 

Sure thing.

 

I take that as a yes.

 

Now that we got that out of the way, did you have anything of any importance to say or would you like to continue with this line of nonsense?

 

When it comes to free speech it seems they don't have much to say.

It's kind of like asking a group of liberals out protesting what their stance is and all they do is slobber and scream incoherently while breaking stuff.

 

An excellent point.

Yet leftists forced a Yale professor (a liberal herself, apparently) to resign when she said students shouldn't be afraid to offend others with their choice of Halloween costumes. The infamous screaming by the leftist student about university life – “It is not about creating an intellectual space! It is not!” – was very insightful into the minds of leftists, at least the younger ones?

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/yale-teacher-resigns-over-halloween-costume-controversy/

So while I agree with you that some conservatives are foolish in asking the Fresno professor to be fired, would you agree the Yale professor should not have been attacked so viciously by leftists?

 

No, there's many reasonable leftwing people here who don't get their panties in a bind over discussions of the issue of free speech.

I suppose now you want to report me for my 'panties in a bind" hate speech?

 

Yep

 

Umm, so you're not going to debate? Just came here to complain a bit, is that it?

Or do you have an opinion you'd like to share about my assertion that many leftists detest the idea of free speech on college campuses, using the excuse of 'hate speech' as they call it?

 

How many is "many"?

You can make that assertion all you want, but it doesn't mean a thing. I do not deny there is a wave of political correctness that has festered at some universities for some time now, but that does not lend any credence to your statement of "many leftists". You're creating a strawman argument.

 

I find Adam Corolla and Dennis Prager to be idiots, Prager actively spreads misinformation and propaganda, Corolla is a comedian that I find funny at times but disagree with his politics.

As someone who people would label ‘far left’ I disagree with antifa and the college protests. This documentry comes off as trying to capitalize on something that has already passed. Probably won’t make much of a splash.

 

OK, fair enough; but why does it seem it's only the right that is concerned about the loss of 1A rights at college campuses?

Where is the opposition from "many leftists" regarding the "wave of political correctness that has festered at some universities for some time now."?

While I don't agree on many issues with someone like Van Jones or Cornell West, I respect and admire them for joining conservative voices about the dangers inherent in the leftist movement to quash speech at universities.

I would expect every American to be concerned with this, but 'many' on the left remain silent; why do you think this is?

 

From the 2018 FIRE Speech Code report:

"Despite the critical importance of free speech on campus, too many universities — in policy and in practice — chill, censor, and punish students’ and faculty members’ expressive activity. One way that universities do this is through the use of speech codes: policies prohibiting speech that, outside the bounds of campus, would be protected by the First Amendment."

But, you bring up an excellent point: while 1A suppression movement on campuses is still present on thousands of college campuses, the situation is beginning to improve slightly:

"Thirty-five institutions earned FIRE’s highest, green light rating for free speech. Since this year’s report was written, two more universities have earned green light status, bringing the total to 37. Only eight institutions earned this rating in the 2009 report."

https://www.thefire.org/spotlight-on-speech-codes-2018/