Today this letter from @Harpers came out with a fairly innocuous message on defending the free exchange of ideas. I signed it because anything that encourages discussion over diatribe, and debate over violence is something I wholeheartedly subscribe to. https://harpers.org/a-letter-on-justice-and-open-debate/">https://harpers.org/a-letter-...
Unsurprisingly the attacks have come fast and furious on the message, the messengers, and the medium. I want to address some of these because they& #39;re all part of this desire of the #blobmob to silence and drown out real conversation. It is a detriment to a world on the brink
The first attack is: Everyone is over 40.

That& #39;s not true. From myself to @Olivianuzzi to @jessesingal and countless others, that& #39;s not true. Not that it matters.
The second attack is: This is just the establishment already large audiences disappointed no one is listening to them. The blue checks.

I& #39;m not a blue check. I don& #39;t have a large audience. And I& #39;ve been living most of my adult life in places of legal censorship.
The third attack is: There& #39;s a bunch of nobodys on the list.

Um. Nobodys. Elites. People already with audiences. People without audiences. The critiques are already contradictory.
The fourth attack is: People on the list are pro-Israel (probably because @bariweiss is on it).

There& #39;s a number of people of Arab origin on it (like @shadihamid) and Noam Chomsky who likely isn& #39;t the most pro- #Israel voice out there.

Also who cares?
The fifth attack is: & #39;Read the room& #39; this is a moment about confronting white supremacy not defending free speech.

This attacks falls flat on its face and is the reason that there is this coalescence around #WhiteFragility nonsense. The right answers require rigorous debate.
The sixth attack is: Why an & #39;Open Letter& #39;? It& #39;s kind of pathetic.

Twitter is a medium for destructive discussion and inhibits a clear exchange of ideas. Maybe the Open Letter is & #39;pathetic& #39;. But you read it, didn& #39;t you? So it was effective.
The seventh attack (from @AnandWrites) is: What about structural limitations on free speech?

Yes, this is a great point BUT it is a simultaneous discussion. How much speech is currently limited to the platforms controlled by very few people?
The eight attack is from the right (and people like @RubinReport):

This is just a liberal fest that excludes #Trump voices. I would say the spirit of the letter is to encourage all voices into a discussion. Let& #39;s debate.
Finally, the last attack is: How can you sign a letter with people like @jk_rowling (who apparently is now evil incarnate)?

I hate everything @davidfrum stands for. But I have no problem saying I have no problem debating and defeating all his pernicious ideas.

That& #39;s all.
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