Notwithstanding the comically intense online vitriol he often seems to provoke, Jesse Singal is a fairly laid-back guy. He also has a new book out this week, The Quick Fix, which I’ve read and can recommend. Upon its publication Singal has been greeted with a new wave of attempts to stigmatize both him and the book, primarily on the ground that he is allegedly “transphobic”—even though the book has nothing to do with Trans issues, and by no conceivable standard of reasonability could he be deemed “transphobic.” But that hasn’t stopped the LGBTQ advocacy organization “
Thanks, Michael. I think many of us are learning to recognize these toxic fads by osmosis. But it is encouraging that authors are out there, making the lessons explicit.
I like the audio discussions, btw. On Youtube, there's a pressure to glance at the screen frequently. During a workday, the distraction sometimes leads to shutting the discussion down and forgetting about it.
I'm sorry you are at the forefront of this Cancel Culture, with all of the vitriol ; but I'm glad that you stand out as one of the Honest Players.
I think the word "fad" is too weak. I prefer "mania," which comes closer to expressing the intensity and severe consequences of these recurring mass delusions.
We've had a series of these mass manias, at least going back to the 1983 child sexual abuse witch hunt in Jordan, Minnesota. The "trans" mania is just the latest example.
It appears that now there are those who know how to manufacture mass manias virtually at will. Their ongoing success forebodes destruction of our democracy. The only point for debate is whether they have already destroyed it.
I also recommend the book "Extraordinary Popular Delusions and Madness of Crowds," by Charles McKay.
I was interested in the fad psychotherapy idea, but at 12 minutes in you are still talking about trans stuff, which has been done to death and I am sick of in general, so I am logging out.
Thanks, Michael. I think many of us are learning to recognize these toxic fads by osmosis. But it is encouraging that authors are out there, making the lessons explicit.
I like the audio discussions, btw. On Youtube, there's a pressure to glance at the screen frequently. During a workday, the distraction sometimes leads to shutting the discussion down and forgetting about it.
I'm sorry you are at the forefront of this Cancel Culture, with all of the vitriol ; but I'm glad that you stand out as one of the Honest Players.
I think the word "fad" is too weak. I prefer "mania," which comes closer to expressing the intensity and severe consequences of these recurring mass delusions.
We've had a series of these mass manias, at least going back to the 1983 child sexual abuse witch hunt in Jordan, Minnesota. The "trans" mania is just the latest example.
It appears that now there are those who know how to manufacture mass manias virtually at will. Their ongoing success forebodes destruction of our democracy. The only point for debate is whether they have already destroyed it.
I also recommend the book "Extraordinary Popular Delusions and Madness of Crowds," by Charles McKay.
Singal is far from the first to be erroneously slandered as “transphobic” and then hounded in contexts having nothing to do with transgender issues. In fact, that’s generally how the anti-intellectual, civil-liberties-bashing trans mob works. Step 1: Question some aspect of transgender ideology, even if done politely and in good faith. Step 2: You are labeled “transphobic” by trans extremists. Step 3: Attempt to write, speak, work or participate in some other unrelated context and trans rights activists will attempt to have you dismissed and deplatformed. Why? Because by failing to completely toe the line on transgender issues, you are accused and presumed guilty of being toxic in ALL contexts. Antiwar activist Cindy Sheehan was disinvited from a peace event due to her earlier, mild criticism of gender ideology. A similar thing happened to environmental activist Helen Steel. (https://rdln.wordpress.com/2019/10/28/the-new-misogyny-targets-cindy-sheehan-and-helen-steel/) and to artist Rachel Ara. (https://www.christian.org.uk/news/artist-no-platformed-after-trans-activists-complain/) Countless men and women have been fired from jobs for comments made in their own name, on their own time on transgender issues. (See: Maya Forstater https://mforstater.medium.com/i-lost-my-job-for-speaking-up-about-womens-rights-2af2186ae84, Vanessa Vokey https://thepostmillennial.com/woman-fired-by-restaurant-after-posting-support-for-jk-rowling-on-facebook and numerous others.)
I was interested in the fad psychotherapy idea, but at 12 minutes in you are still talking about trans stuff, which has been done to death and I am sick of in general, so I am logging out.