Jonathan Kay: The main victims of progressive 'cancel culture' are progressives themselves

Supporters of the trans community protest outside the Palmerston Public Library in Toronto following a talk by controversial speaker Meghan Murphy on Oct. 29, 2019. Postmedia News

It has been said that what they really fear is the symbolic effect of a heretic who speaks freely in a space seen as traditionally controlled by dogmatics.

In the many complaints of opinion about the culture of cancellation that occurs, a common theme is that we have all become too quick to be offended. When the agony of a heretic develops in a public medium like Twitter, the show serves to warn other criminals of thought.

In this way, it could be said that this explains why the mobs of the culture of cancellation often channel tribal language and images of territorial warfare, with activists seeking to prevent the forces of “hate” from entering the secular sacred confines. from a campus, library, literary festival, public event or online discussion group. What they really fear is not the substantive content of the heretic’s message, but the symbolic effect of a heretic who speaks freely in a space seen as traditionally controlled by dogmatics.

The censorship that only works in fear of the mafia

Censorship of the mafia only works when the mafia is feared. Let a heretic go unpunished and the mafia loses its power.

Even so, types of freedom of expression often exaggerate the censorship powers of modern mobs of outrage. As Meghan McArdle wrote in the Washington Post this week, JK Rowling’s recent decision to be made public with commonsense views on gender and biology shows that we have reached a turning point in the culture of cancellation. Sury park Ricky Gervais have survived their own heresies.

It should be noted that canceling culture really stifles thinking and discussion only when it is rooted in closed subcultures such as academy, literature and artistic journalism, whose structures allow a small number of ideologically motivated players to monopolize power.

The mobs of the culture of cancellation often channel tribal language and images of territorial warfare

Ironically, this means that progressive cancellation culture enthusiasts now spend a lot of time attacking each other since their social and professional affiliations within activist, academic and artistic media make them especially vulnerable to mafia pressure.

Source: Jonathan Kay | National Post