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John Cleese: Political Correctness Can Lead to an Orwellian Nightmare (2016)

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Re: John Cleese: Political Correctness Can Lead to an Orwellian Nightmare (2016)

#21

Perhaps worth noting: This is the same John Cleese that has decried London becoming a multicultural city that is "no longer English." https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/news/john-cleese-is-cancel...

This is a little bit QED. If 'who said it' and 'what views do they hold' is more important than what they're actually saying, then we've become post-rational, and well on our way back to less open and enlightened culture.

It's not unreasonable to evaluate someone's comments in the context of their past statements on related matters.

Re: John Cleese: Political Correctness Can Lead to an Orwellian Nightmare (2016)

#22
post #10
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When the natives make up less than 50% of the population, he might have a point. What does it mean to be English? Nothing more than holding a passport?

Apart from the gross sentiment that could easily be read from this comment, "natives" do not in fact make up less than 50% of London's population. This whole story is a terrible fit for HN.

What's your definition of "native"?

Re: John Cleese: Political Correctness Can Lead to an Orwellian Nightmare (2016)

#23

Perhaps worth noting: This is the same John Cleese that has decried London becoming a multicultural city that is "no longer English." https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/news/john-cleese-is-cancel...

This is a little bit QED. If 'who said it' and 'what views do they hold' is more important than what they're actually saying, then we've become post-rational, and well on our way back to less open and enlightened culture.

Who said it and what views they hold is important for distinguishing between what they technically said and what they actually said.

Re: John Cleese: Political Correctness Can Lead to an Orwellian Nightmare (2016)

#24
post #11

Perhaps worth noting: This is the same John Cleese that has decried London becoming a multicultural city that is "no longer English." https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/news/john-cleese-is-cancel...

He's rather right about London and many parts of the EU, Europe has been losing its cultural identity for years.

I don't think immigration/multiculturalism is the cause of that (though maybe it’s an accelerator). The world is homogenizing. Travel to any city in the developed world and all coffee shops, fashion, etc look the same.

Re: John Cleese: Political Correctness Can Lead to an Orwellian Nightmare (2016)

#25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is a little bit QED. If 'who said it' and 'what views do they hold' is more important than what they're actually saying, then we've become post-rational, and well on our way back to less open and enlightened culture.

Who said it and what views they hold is important for distinguishing between what they technically said and what they actually said.

> Who said it and what views they hold is important for distinguishing between what they technically said and what they actually said.

Would you mind clarifying the difference between the two for me? It sounds an awful lot like we're talking about thought crimes.

Re: John Cleese: Political Correctness Can Lead to an Orwellian Nightmare (2016)

#26

Perhaps worth noting: This is the same John Cleese that has decried London becoming a multicultural city that is "no longer English." https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/news/john-cleese-is-cancel...

How is this worth noting at all? Either he's correct or he's not, ad hominem is fallacious.

Please engage with ideas on their merits rather than by reading through the author's tweets until you eventually find something unfashionable and unrelated.

Re: John Cleese: Political Correctness Can Lead to an Orwellian Nightmare (2016)

#28
post #10
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When the natives make up less than 50% of the population, he might have a point. What does it mean to be English? Nothing more than holding a passport?

Apart from the gross sentiment that could easily be read from this comment, "natives" do not in fact make up less than 50% of London's population. This whole story is a terrible fit for HN.

I dunno, what are the recent stats? The 2011 census apparently had 37% [0] of London being born outside the UK. It isn't unreasonable statement, particularly on a trend basis natives might be [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnic_groups_in_London#Ethnic...

Re: John Cleese: Political Correctness Can Lead to an Orwellian Nightmare (2016)

#29
post #22
post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apart from the gross sentiment that could easily be read from this comment, "natives" do not in fact make up less than 50% of London's population. This whole story is a terrible fit for HN.

What's your definition of "native"?

Obviously, born in the UK. What other definition could there be?

Re: John Cleese: Political Correctness Can Lead to an Orwellian Nightmare (2016)

#30
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He's rather right about London and many parts of the EU, Europe has been losing its cultural identity for years.

Cultural identity is never lost, but cultural identity is always changing.

Sure, I will have a shot at describing some change.

I am a blond male who has a bit of a feminine hairstyle, which imho matches my body type.

In the last month I have been called cancer whore ( Dutch: kankerhoer ) twice, this is new for me.

However, young females have been called cancer whore for years now, and it is the political correctness which supresses discussion about this.

Because that would be racist.

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