Philosophers on Twitter getting push back about The Letter: here are some candidate actions, and some evaluations (by me) of those actions (thread):
i) Say nothing, refuse to engage
Evaluation: You have made a public stand: this makes you publicly accountable.
i) Say nothing, refuse to engage
Evaluation: You have made a public stand: this makes you publicly accountable.
ii) Try to laugh it off.
Evaluation: This is a serious matter (you accept). Please don't ridicule those who disagree with you. You want to be taken seriously: take your interlocutors seriously.
Evaluation: This is a serious matter (you accept). Please don't ridicule those who disagree with you. You want to be taken seriously: take your interlocutors seriously.
iii) Straw-man your critics.
Some people will tweet that you are an effing misogynist. But other people will make polite and serious objections to the text of your letter: address the strongest objections to your claims, not the weakest.
Some people will tweet that you are an effing misogynist. But other people will make polite and serious objections to the text of your letter: address the strongest objections to your claims, not the weakest.
iv) Fail to answer the questions posed.
I would like an answer to my question: what is the difference between a view being trans-exclusive and a view being transphobic?
I would like an answer to my question: what is the difference between a view being trans-exclusive and a view being transphobic?
v) Say 'I'm tired, I've got a lot on my plate'.
We are all tired, we all have a lot on our plate. But you have made public statements, to which you have lent your reputation, and you have an obligation to respond to polite critics.
(& join the union, ofc.)
We are all tired, we all have a lot on our plate. But you have made public statements, to which you have lent your reputation, and you have an obligation to respond to polite critics.
(& join the union, ofc.)
vi) Make vague claims without evidential support or good reasons. Fail to specify concepts clearly. (Here, concepts like 'trans-exclusive' and 'transphobic', both of which appear in The Letter)
Please don't do this. It's not good. People are watching.
Please don't do this. It's not good. People are watching.
If items (i)-(vi) look familiar, from your first year teaching (if you still do any) from 'how to write a philosophy essay', then that's not completely unintended, and not completely coincidental.
And in response to the inevitable comic strip, when it comes to sea creatures, I much prefer Stingrays to Sealions. (see bio if necessary, but I bet you'll get the reference)
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