1/ THREAD. Today I published this post on my Substack, "The Latest (Ridiculous) Controversy At Yale Law School."
It hasn't been up long, but it has already generated more (supportive) reader mail than any other post of mine.
bit.ly/3DKcWl4
It hasn't been up long, but it has already generated more (supportive) reader mail than any other post of mine.
bit.ly/3DKcWl4
2/ The post is doing excellent traffic, getting tons of reads, and I'm getting many new sign-ups for my Substack, Original Jurisdiction.
After 8 hours or so, the post has gotten more than 10,000 views—which, for Original Jurisdiction, is huge.
After 8 hours or so, the post has gotten more than 10,000 views—which, for Original Jurisdiction, is huge.
3/ But here's what I find most interesting: the post is getting little traction on social media, especially Twitter. Very few links, mentions, retweets, etc.
4/ What does this gap between high private engagement with my story but low public engagement reflect?
Not to go all @sullydish @bariweiss @wesyang @jessesingal on you, but folks are scared.
Scared of being attacked, declared A Bad Person, or yes, canceled.
Not to go all @sullydish @bariweiss @wesyang @jessesingal on you, but folks are scared.
Scared of being attacked, declared A Bad Person, or yes, canceled.
5/ My post is about cancel culture and the serious threats faced by free speech and intellectual diversity, at Yale Law and in higher education more generally.
Many have messaged me privately to express support and agreement.
Few have done so publicly.
Many have messaged me privately to express support and agreement.
Few have done so publicly.
6/ Why? Because to express concern publicly over cancel culture is to put yourself at risk of cancellation.
7/ I can hardly fault folks for inveighing against cancel culture privately—in emails or DMs or group texts, over dinner and drinks with friends—but not publicly.
Yes, it's a form of cowardice—but one that I have practiced myself for years.
Yes, it's a form of cowardice—but one that I have practiced myself for years.
8/ Like pretty much everyone for the past few years, I have lived in fear of being canceled.
I have censored myself—especially on Twitter.
I have read draft tweets ten times over for possible offensiveness.
I have censored myself—especially on Twitter.
I have read draft tweets ten times over for possible offensiveness.
9/ I have refrained from expressing views that are extremely mainstream and eminently sensible (outside of Twitter).
I have virtue-signaled, liking and retweeting posts that I know will find favor with the right people.
I have played the game.
I have virtue-signaled, liking and retweeting posts that I know will find favor with the right people.
I have played the game.
10/ But you know what? I'm tired.
Walking this tightrope, day after day, is exhausting.
(And as the Yale Law email controversy demonstrates, I'll probably fall off anyway; it's just a matter of time.)
Walking this tightrope, day after day, is exhausting.
(And as the Yale Law email controversy demonstrates, I'll probably fall off anyway; it's just a matter of time.)
https://twitter.com/DavidLat/status/1448356120175783942
11/ Monday was National Coming Out Day. So I'm "coming out"—as someone who thinks that cancel culture might be a problem and free speech might be in danger.
(Before folks accuse me of insensitivity to LGBTQ+ people, I should mention I'm gay.)
(Before folks accuse me of insensitivity to LGBTQ+ people, I should mention I'm gay.)
12/ Why am I taking a stand now? As I explain in my Yale Law post, this latest ridiculousness is what's leading me to speak out.
It's simply too absurd. It's clear evidence that things have spiraled out of control. It would be funny if it weren't so awful.
It's simply too absurd. It's clear evidence that things have spiraled out of control. It would be funny if it weren't so awful.
13/ Read this great article about the Yale Law brouhaha by @aaronterr1 of @TheFIREorg, who interviewed the law student who sent the supposedly offensively email.
Can you honestly tell me you're not concerned?
bit.ly/3p5blSM
Can you honestly tell me you're not concerned?
bit.ly/3p5blSM
14/ So there. I've said it. You can add my name to the "Letter on Justice and Open Debate" from @Harpers.
Reread the letter if you haven't done so recently. It's more true than ever.
bit.ly/3DI3qid
Reread the letter if you haven't done so recently. It's more true than ever.
bit.ly/3DI3qid
15/ But let me add caveats; my position is far from extreme.
As I write in my Yale Law post (excerpt below), I admit that not all complaints about cancel culture are valid. And crying "cancel culture" can itself be a form of weaponized victimhood.
As I write in my Yale Law post (excerpt below), I admit that not all complaints about cancel culture are valid. And crying "cancel culture" can itself be a form of weaponized victimhood.
16/ But right now, at least, the dangers posed by illiberalism and political correctness outweigh those posed by excessive focus on cancel culture.
We must not take freedom of speech and thought for granted. Instead, we must stand up for these values.
We must not take freedom of speech and thought for granted. Instead, we must stand up for these values.
17/ My family is originally from the Philippines, where a brave journalist named @MariaRessa just won the Nobel Peace Prize.
Read about her work if you're not familiar with it—and be thankful for our First Amendment.
nyti.ms/3aL45Tn
Read about her work if you're not familiar with it—and be thankful for our First Amendment.
nyti.ms/3aL45Tn
18/ What can we do about creeping illiberalism—in our schools, on social media, and elsewhere?
For starters, we should condemn—publicly—all threats to free speech, from the left or right.
I was a coward on this for years. No longer.
bit.ly/3DKcWl4
For starters, we should condemn—publicly—all threats to free speech, from the left or right.
I was a coward on this for years. No longer.
bit.ly/3DKcWl4
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