UK academics ‘discriminate against political opposites’ – survey

The results clearly show that expressing any view leaning away from the increasingly far-left academy is a big problem. The fact the article headline suggests the problem is proportionate to both sides of the spectrum is further evidence of the problem, and of the pervasive denial. As someone who’s views have always been centre-left, I find the idea that my putting forth left-leaning view would be as problematic as putting forth a right-leaning or even centrist view laughable. The article would be more honest if it framed the story along those lines.

Being brought up in a RED Communist household now softened by years of 'real world' experience holding predominately a centre-left position, I view the increasingly crazy behaviours of the University sector Maoist's and Neo-Marxist's and their ideologies with great concern. Silencing even those who are left of centre has become the norm, this has several dangers: 1. Those on the extreme right hide and plot, this includes those to whom the lefts identarian ideology gifts power in exchange for votes/short term support (this short-sightedness is I suspect due to target fixation, beating the tories/right at the ballot box, and the mistaken belief of many on the left that once in power they will be able to control them). 2. Once revolutions occur the 'intellectual's' are usually one of the first groups sent for re-education, or 'disposal' to the gulags, the left as ever seem unable to discuss the mass slaughter Communism has wrought over the last century, how many of the extreme left think they will be the ones who consign 'others' but not themselves to such a fate? Hearing those to the right of centre and debating with them is essential, to understand them and grow your own abilities, screaming at them, silencing them or even cancelling them proves simply intellectual weakness and an inability to reason, the constant appeal to emotion without reason of many on the left doesn't 'win' the argument. Investigation and Study "It is necessary to investigate both the facts and the history of a problem in order to study and understand it" Quotation from Chairman Mao Tse-tung's "Little Red Book".

This unwillingness to express ideas is an unwelcome reminder of the rise of social media, in particular Twitter, where it's viewed as acceptable to scream personal abuse and harass anyone who expresses an opinion that differs in the slightest from your own, rather than actually go to the effort of entering into debate. It's very sad to see these attitudes intruding into the academy, which ought to be all about expressing ideas and arguing their merits in the light of supporting evidence.