As much as I would love to provide specifics about this particular situation, I can't, because the student in question is extremely paranoid -- for good reason -- about going on the record. These creepy, institutionally-backed snitching protocols are disturbingly effective
The latest update from UC San Diego, which now classifies mask-wearing as a "psychological" safeguard. Raises the question of when a "pandemic" of emotionally-driven paranoia could ever actually end
At UNC Chapel Hill, professors received a template to include in their course syllabi this semester, threatening overwhelmingly vaccinated students with automatic disenrollment if they exhibit improper mask-wearing techniques
One slight frustration in reporting on this issue is the (understandable) reluctance of so many people to go on the record. Particularly if you've been subject to one of these Kangaroo Court disciplinary schemes, please get in touch and consider the value of attaching your name!
But of course if you wish to remain anonymous for whatever reason, I respect that
Here is a column published today by @VPrasadMDMPH which draws on the reporting I've done on this subject. He concludes that extreme college COVID policies "aren't based in compelling evidence" and seem more catered to the sensibilities of "elite parents" medpagetoday.com/opinion/vinay-…
A question I posed to a Substack reader regarding snitch culture
Doing a livestream on the permanent bureaucratization of COVID snitching culture later today at 4pm EST
Here's my full stream with @MattBinder of the "Majority Report" on whether it's evidence of a "creepy infatuation" -- as was alleged on a recent @SamSeder segment -- for me to cover COVID surveillance policies
We both agreed it was a constructive convo 👍
In case you missed it (and I wouldn't blame you) here is what prompted the discussion -- the allegation that I'd only take an interest in covering extreme and arbitrary college COVID policies because of some "creepily" deep-seated psychological compulsion
After we dispelled with all the "meta" issues around my allegedly corrupt motivations, the substantive portion generated an instructive insight: @MattBinder rejects that "returning to normalcy" is a valid aspiration. I profoundly disagree. So that's a big philosophical difference
To his credit @MattBinder has accepted my offer to discuss the contention that I am "creepily infatuated" with college campuses because I have covered COVID surveillance policies recently
I think if anyone's "creepily infatuated," it's these weirdo YouTube pundits who choose to spend their time constantly gossiping about me
I also never mentioned "indoctrination by liberal professors," you weirdos. I've been covering the instatement of a permanent surveillance bureaucracy on a false premise of "safety," analogous to what was instated after 9/11. But I guess that's "right-wing" now 🙄
I've explained countless times -- in articles, tweets, videos -- that I'm covering this issue due to the wider societal implications. But @MattBinder & co. just ignore these explanations and claim I've suddenly developed some suspicious "infatuation" with college campuses. Creeps
Turns out one of the most nasty and bitter journalists on Twitter has cut off personal friends -- all of whom are fellow left-wing residents of Western MA -- for allegedly being "anti-vax." Now he's bragging about it in The Atlantic. Not surprising theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/…
Not long ago, this person launched into a raging tirade because I pointed out that a GOP-leaning county in KY had a higher vaccination rate than Berkshire County, MA. Now he's filing Atlantic dispatches on left-wing anti-vax sentiment in the Berkshires? 🤔
And as many have pointed out, it's hardly "anti-vax" to recognize that natural immunity generated by contracting COVID confers significant protection. Unless the Washington Post is now a heinously "anti-vax" publication: washingtonpost.com/outlook/2021/0…
Academia Is Establishing A Permanent Surveillance Bureaucracy That Will Soon Govern The Rest Of The Country mtracey.substack.com/p/academia-is-…
Wait, you mean the online left allowed their petty personal grievances and gossipy, snark-infused performance art to cloud their judgment again? I'm flabbergasted
Yeah, it's so "edgy" to suggest schoolchildren not be permanently surveilled for a virus from which they face astronomically low risk, and hauled off into isolation if they cough, even though everyone they might "transmit" to has universal vaccine access