Read on Twitter
I am disappointed with @mcgillu's decision to invite Steven Pinker to deliver the 2020 Beatty Lecture.
I'm disappointed for the usual reasons: they got another white, rich, cis, straight, old male to give the lecture
But I also take issue with this old white dude in particular
I'm disappointed for the usual reasons: they got another white, rich, cis, straight, old male to give the lecture
But I also take issue with this old white dude in particular
Steven Pinker has had a problematic career. It's so far beyond the scope of my Monday morning to cover it all, but here are some of the reasons I'm unhappy with him coming back to McGill.
He provided guidance to Alan Dershowitz on the linguistic meaning of a law that was used to get Jeffrey Epstein off from his child trafficking charges https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/peteraldhous/jeffrey-epstein-alan-dershowitz-steven-pinker
Now, Pinker says he was not aware that Dershowitz would use these comments to defend Epstein.
That's fine and all, but a) I don't buy that he didn't know that, but...
That's fine and all, but a) I don't buy that he didn't know that, but...
b) even if he really didn't, he knew that he was providing a linguistic technicality via which someone could avoid being charged with child trafficking. Even if it wasn't Epstein, it was someone problematic that he helped.
But fine, Pinker claims that besides this court case, and a couple lunches, that he never had contact with Epstein.
Which seems weird because Pinker was once listed on the flight logs for the Lolita Express (Epstein's plane) https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2019/07/17/steven-pinkers-aid-jeffrey-epsteins-legal-defense-renews-criticism-increasingly
Which seems weird because Pinker was once listed on the flight logs for the Lolita Express (Epstein's plane) https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2019/07/17/steven-pinkers-aid-jeffrey-epsteins-legal-defense-renews-criticism-increasingly
Even if Pinker has no relationship with Epstein, he's called Dershowitz "a friend and colleague".
quick reminder for those who don't know, Dershowitz defended:
-O.J. Simpson
-Harvey Weinstein
-Donald Trump
So he's not exactly awesome either
quick reminder for those who don't know, Dershowitz defended:
-O.J. Simpson
-Harvey Weinstein
-Donald Trump
So he's not exactly awesome either
Enough about Epstein though, Pinker is problematic outside his connections too.
Pinker's brand is to deny today's inequalities and injustices by looking at long term data trends and saying that even though things might suck right now, they're better than they used to me.
Pinker's brand is to deny today's inequalities and injustices by looking at long term data trends and saying that even though things might suck right now, they're better than they used to me.
A lot of talented people have written about the problems with Pinker's arguments, so I'll let their writing do the talking.
https://medium.com/the-sensible-soapbox/racism-sexism-and-homophobia-a-response-to-steven-pinker-ebb448bd69ed
https://medium.com/the-sensible-soapbox/racism-sexism-and-homophobia-a-response-to-steven-pinker-ebb448bd69ed
This is a long but excellent critique of Pinker that features this comic strip that really sums up my problems with him
https://www.currentaffairs.org/2019/05/the-worlds-most-annoying-man
https://www.currentaffairs.org/2019/05/the-worlds-most-annoying-man
This is something that Pinker wrote. Yeah really.
He presents it like it's a fact. Obviously, if progress has happened (and statistics show us that it has) then the damn liberal university students are just yelling about nothing.
That's right Mr Pinker, just because we've made some progress all other social issues are erased!
That's right Mr Pinker, just because we've made some progress all other social issues are erased!
Ironically, I know of another person who likes to look at the overall improving trends of the world and talk about it
@johngreen
But unlike Pinker he doesn't use this trend to ignore the many issues still persisting, to silence those facing discrimination
@johngreen
But unlike Pinker he doesn't use this trend to ignore the many issues still persisting, to silence those facing discrimination
You can watch one of John Green's videos here:
There are a lot of reasons why I think this take is better than Pinker's, not the least of which is because he only makes these videos once a year
There are a lot of reasons why I think this take is better than Pinker's, not the least of which is because he only makes these videos once a year
John Green, and the Green Brothers and all of their associated companies and channels have proven themselves an ally to marginalized communities time and time again. Steven Pinker has not.
Anyways all of this is to say that Steven Pinker is a patronizing dude obsessed with scientism who may or may not be connected to a known pedophile.
I hoped for better from McGill. I especially hoped for better given the recent #BLM and #MeToo
movements. But alas.
I hoped for better from McGill. I especially hoped for better given the recent #BLM and #MeToo
movements. But alas.
Here is McGill's announcement: https://reporter.mcgill.ca/mcgill-alumnus-steven-pinker-to-deliver-the-2020-beatty-lecture/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=wn_June%2025_unknown&utm_source=whatsnewstaff&utm_term=Nine-McGill-COVID-19-projects-&fbclid=IwAR0IuGkQIW4G3EkDdIUv4hdArjinEaGJBvC-FZruQojw33pupRBW7Rc9jrY
