There’s an strange form of parasitism in biology called “predatory brood parasitism” where one animal inserts its eggs or other offspring into the brood of another, convincing the host that the eggs or offspring are their own via mimicry. Then the parasite does its best to eject the other eggs or kill the offspring while taking their attention and nurturing.
In birds there are a few options - abandon the nest, kill the eggs or tolerate the parasite. In academia, the social cost is usually too high to remove the parasitic mimic, so it is tolerated.
A interestingly-named “Mafia Theory” also finds that if birds defend the brood, sometimes the parasite egg-layer will attack the host and destroy the nest and eggs.
This is precisely the game theory model of behavior now in “academia”, trans has displaced a legitimate focus for any number of disciplines, and fighting it can come at very high cost. The parasitic “toleration” response is the most common, but it is entirely at the cost of free speech.
Until academia evolves an effective response, it will remain completely compromised with parasitism.
In order to convince a generation that the earth is flat, the teachers must first be conned into believing. Then it is necessary to suspend free discussion so reality is obscured and critical thought is minimized. Reality is demonized by declaring anyone who believes the world is round is an “ist”. Marketing makes it “cool” and/or “compassionate” to believe the earth is flat. Humans being humans, they jump on board and ignore their doubts. The question that must be asked is why. How is easy to see as described above but why was this movement started in the first place. Until we start asking and answering “why” loudly and often, the efforts to divorce people from reality and suppress free speech will continue.
Tons of money from autogynophile billionaires buying their way into school curricula and politics. E.g., James Pritzker, cousin of the Governor of Illinois, a man who now claims to be a woman named “Jennifer”.
Yes big money was and is behind the transing of America. It is staggering to me people don’t notice what an incredible campaign it’s been and how easy it was to capture the institutions and a good part of the citizenry.
Folks seem to be waking up but the proponents are doubling down in the areas they control.
Thank your for writing and publishing this article.
At the Australians for Science & Freedom (ASF) conference held in Sydney, Australia on Nov. 22-23, there was a session titled "Crisis of the Modern University: Ideology, Intimidation, and the End of Academic Freedom." A couple of us presented our academic cancellation stories in the session, and our presentations were followed by a panel discussion on academic freedom. The conference was fantastic. It was nothing like what Holly described here.
Here is a summary of the academic freedom session by The Epoch Times:
Holly, thank you for the update on an utterly debased event. Your objective detail analyzing this complete sham is the refreshment so sought after by an ever growing global community.
The level of bile such fetid gatherings induce, only serves to hasten a resurgence of reality, albeit slow to take root in the shall consciousness of classic academic deniers.
Such bilious babble invokes the vision of Mr. Creosote (Meaning of Life) in all of us, as the audience is force-fed one last rancid talking point.
One hopes you had a few stiff drinks after that 'event'
I don't think cancellation means as much as it did seven years ago. First of all, Twitter was a major vector of cancellation, and the influence of that platform has, I think, diminished. Second, gender ideology doesn't have the same power as before; the Cass Review did much to embolden opponents, as did the recent HHS report out of the US, and similar work from Finland and Norway.
I'm not saying that the social justice set has lost all influence, but I think that influence has its limits. And we're hitting them.
Well it's good news anyway. At the high water mark, surely Prof. LS wouldn't have been permitted to attend such a religious service, she being a heretic. Indeed, one can never be quite sure when the tide has turned, it's like WWII -- there's those middle years when it wasn't quite clear who was winning, you win a few but you also lose a few. But sanity is holding, and even advancing on a few fronts. I attended a public event a few nights ago an there was no Ak! -- the ritual acknowledgement that we are all illegal squatters on indigenous land.
Thank you, Professor Lawford-Smith and Colin for this excellent article. Academic freedom is under assault across the globe. I am very dismayed to read of this meeting; some solace in James Nuzzo's comment below. We keep up the fight.
There’s an strange form of parasitism in biology called “predatory brood parasitism” where one animal inserts its eggs or other offspring into the brood of another, convincing the host that the eggs or offspring are their own via mimicry. Then the parasite does its best to eject the other eggs or kill the offspring while taking their attention and nurturing.
In birds there are a few options - abandon the nest, kill the eggs or tolerate the parasite. In academia, the social cost is usually too high to remove the parasitic mimic, so it is tolerated.
A interestingly-named “Mafia Theory” also finds that if birds defend the brood, sometimes the parasite egg-layer will attack the host and destroy the nest and eggs.
This is precisely the game theory model of behavior now in “academia”, trans has displaced a legitimate focus for any number of disciplines, and fighting it can come at very high cost. The parasitic “toleration” response is the most common, but it is entirely at the cost of free speech.
Until academia evolves an effective response, it will remain completely compromised with parasitism.
Interesting thesis, sounds right to me.
In order to convince a generation that the earth is flat, the teachers must first be conned into believing. Then it is necessary to suspend free discussion so reality is obscured and critical thought is minimized. Reality is demonized by declaring anyone who believes the world is round is an “ist”. Marketing makes it “cool” and/or “compassionate” to believe the earth is flat. Humans being humans, they jump on board and ignore their doubts. The question that must be asked is why. How is easy to see as described above but why was this movement started in the first place. Until we start asking and answering “why” loudly and often, the efforts to divorce people from reality and suppress free speech will continue.
Tons of money from autogynophile billionaires buying their way into school curricula and politics. E.g., James Pritzker, cousin of the Governor of Illinois, a man who now claims to be a woman named “Jennifer”.
Yes big money was and is behind the transing of America. It is staggering to me people don’t notice what an incredible campaign it’s been and how easy it was to capture the institutions and a good part of the citizenry.
Folks seem to be waking up but the proponents are doubling down in the areas they control.
Holly and Colin,
Thank your for writing and publishing this article.
At the Australians for Science & Freedom (ASF) conference held in Sydney, Australia on Nov. 22-23, there was a session titled "Crisis of the Modern University: Ideology, Intimidation, and the End of Academic Freedom." A couple of us presented our academic cancellation stories in the session, and our presentations were followed by a panel discussion on academic freedom. The conference was fantastic. It was nothing like what Holly described here.
Here is a summary of the academic freedom session by The Epoch Times:
https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/3-academics-cancelled-for-dissenting-views-warn-intellectual-freedom-still-at-risk-5948699
Here is my summary of the conference:
https://jameslnuzzo.substack.com/p/asf-conference
Here is the program for the conference:
https://www.scienceandfreedom.org/event/third-progress-through-science-and-freedom-conference/
Holly, thank you for the update on an utterly debased event. Your objective detail analyzing this complete sham is the refreshment so sought after by an ever growing global community.
The level of bile such fetid gatherings induce, only serves to hasten a resurgence of reality, albeit slow to take root in the shall consciousness of classic academic deniers.
Such bilious babble invokes the vision of Mr. Creosote (Meaning of Life) in all of us, as the audience is force-fed one last rancid talking point.
One hopes you had a few stiff drinks after that 'event'
Why has Prof. LS not been cancelled? She is surely a flaming heretic.
I don't think cancellation means as much as it did seven years ago. First of all, Twitter was a major vector of cancellation, and the influence of that platform has, I think, diminished. Second, gender ideology doesn't have the same power as before; the Cass Review did much to embolden opponents, as did the recent HHS report out of the US, and similar work from Finland and Norway.
I'm not saying that the social justice set has lost all influence, but I think that influence has its limits. And we're hitting them.
Well it's good news anyway. At the high water mark, surely Prof. LS wouldn't have been permitted to attend such a religious service, she being a heretic. Indeed, one can never be quite sure when the tide has turned, it's like WWII -- there's those middle years when it wasn't quite clear who was winning, you win a few but you also lose a few. But sanity is holding, and even advancing on a few fronts. I attended a public event a few nights ago an there was no Ak! -- the ritual acknowledgement that we are all illegal squatters on indigenous land.
Thank you, Professor Lawford-Smith and Colin for this excellent article. Academic freedom is under assault across the globe. I am very dismayed to read of this meeting; some solace in James Nuzzo's comment below. We keep up the fight.