Comment by jhp123
5 days ago
I didn't mean to imply that pg was saying that these incidents were unjustified or performative. I just think it's telling that the actual real-world events he discusses are not examples of the supposed overwhelming trend he's trying to diagnose.
I think if he tried to actually discuss the main events of cancel culture, it would give the game away, because it would be a lot of penny-ante whining about minor setbacks in people's professional lives. Like, who is the most prominent example of an unjustly cancelled person? Larry Summers, who had to leave his job at Harvard almost 20 years ago, and later served a prominent role in the Obama administration? I'm inclined to take Summers' side in the controversy, but if that is a historically significant injustice in your worldview then you might be suffering an advanced case of brainrot.
I'm in general agreement with you. And <<-- I think he's right to complain about US Universities on this. There was a period quite recently where literal invitations to self-criticism were required at some of the US' top schools. I cannot believe this increased the diversity of opinion and thought at those schools. To me, Summers is a stand-in for a lot of academics in the essay, and most interesting because he was a powerful person who was not as powerful as the social movement of the time.
Anyway, as you say, Mr. Summers will be fine.