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Comment by shockeychap | Hacker News Reader

Fair observation. But consider that proponents of "wokism" have busily engaged in censorship of thought and speech - showing no interest in a fair and open debate - while simultaneously demanding unquestioning fealty to its principles. For me, that speaks to an intrinsic and inherent moral and intellectual bankruptcy.

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Scott Alexander has an interesting post called Conflict vs Mistake which makes the point that fair and open debate might actually be a consequence of certain world views but not others.

There is a more vicious form of cancellation going on.

- For example, only in 2003 was gay sex legal throughout the US. Is that a form of cancelling?

- It’s still legal to fire or not hire gay people. Is that a form of cancelling?

- US conservatives also fight for the right of any public official to follow the calling of Jesus by refusing to sign marriage licenses. Or the constitutional right to refuse business.

- Does one not remember the Bush Jr presidential race where a US constitution ban on gay marriage was the get out to vote issue for Christian evangelicals?

- We have doctors who cannot follow the prescriptions of their professional societies, such as the American Pediatric Society, because they are banned by law from advising youths on transgender treatment.

- There is a race around the country to make it harder for those over 65 to vote, or to reduce voting locations.

What is Cancellation? At the core of cancellation is the freedom of association. But freedom of association doesn’t make it so TX can prosecute gay men for having sex in a bedroom. Freedom of association means people either like you or don’t like you, and they will either associate with you or they won’t.

Any discussion of harmony must account for a history of cruelty.

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