Thread by @James_Treadwell

Ok to hell with it. I have been told by my employer @StaffsUni albeit only verbally that I am being investigated for Transphobia after formal and official complaints about my Twitter conduct. Read my tweets. Go figure. It's a good job cancel culture is just a myth though, right.

https://twitter.com/James_Treadwell/status/1481280007246950402

I am angry and upset. Not only do I have no details of what it is alleged, I honestly have tried to be balanced and reasonable and promote fair debate. Lete be clear again, Trans people like all people deserve dignity and respect. Academics giving their personal views do too.

Such complaints, the third set. I have been complained about for denying the reality of Satanic Ritual Abuse, have a huge impact on family life and stress on those around me, some of whom today heard the call I was to face an "official investigation". They hear, might lose job.

This is where we are at in debates now. This is the landscape academics operate in. I am a pretty legally savvy one who tries to act respectfully and decently. Hell yes I can be brusk, opinionated and stubborn. But I respect anyone's right to disagree and hold a different view.

But we have entered a place where that isn't enough. Oddly literally nobody has approached me directly to debate my stance or views. They have clearly however gone to my employer wanting me sanctioned or sacked. Nice to know that this is how open and inclusive the politics is.

This is why I am gone from Twitter irrespective at the end of all this. I am only staying now and keeping this the account for now because I am anxious and fear a fight ahead, but I will not shut up and go down quietly. I've never backed away from bullies. I don't intend to now.

But a last thing, because this bit really matters #academics. If this can happen to me it can happen to any of you. It can certainly happen to younger ECRs and others at the start of their career. Universities want us on social media, but is your back covered? Who has it?