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Anatomy of a Book Cancellation

compactmag.com

11–20 of 59 posts

Re: Anatomy of a Book Cancellation

#11
post #6

Cancel culture is modern day book burning.

> edit: chatGPT version of my posting: While I acknowledge that the spread of hateful messages online can lead to tragic consequences, such as suicide, it is difficult to determine which political side causes more harm through speech. The impact of speech on individuals varies greatly, and not all individuals are equally resilient to criticism. In my opinion, businesses with a monopoly must serve all customers regard…

Your comment is incoherent but it appears your argument is that right wing texts cause people to self harm, so self harm caused by leftist deplatforming is not wrong.

Perhaps you should take a moment to read the published article again. This is not the case of targeted harassment with the intent or even ability to cause self harm. It is a case of an academic, who’s job is to produce works that provide an accurate understanding of history so that better decisions can be made by leaders, having a book canceled due to political pressure from a privileged vocal elite. The facts of history do not conform to ideology, since history is an analysis of the past based on remnants left by it in the present.

The second part of your argument seems to be a neoliberal one that people should be free to do business with whomever they please. Of course the flaw with neoliberalism is it’s constant infiltration by political elements. As soon as a business decision is driven by political considerations rather than profit, the laws of neoliberal economics break down. Profit matters less than political salience, since political salience generates access to grant funding from state and non state actors.

Re: Anatomy of a Book Cancellation

#12
For those not reading the article, this is a tale of failed 'Cancellation' (if it can indeed be called as such).

The “Ethics and Empire” project continues and grows, and the book “Colonialism: A Moral Reckoning” was published despite the initial publisher exercising their option to withdraw and not publish.

Comments such as "research is only allowed to conclude .. " etc. are not supported here, just adages about twists and turns in the road that none of us anticipate.

Re: Anatomy of a Book Cancellation

#15
post #5

I will happily point out that pride in the former empire is exactly what's driving Russian aggression in the Ukraine at this moment.

Was the USSR an "empire" in the imperial sense (genuine question) ?

I had thought the revolution was to destroy all that, remove the czar, bring in autocratic states, etc.

I feel like there is a distinction here but I can't easily point to it. But they were very anti-empire afaik

Re: Anatomy of a Book Cancellation

#16

It's sort of extraordinary that the conclusion of the piece is that the book was published and he was paid in full Poor guy

It was successfully cancelled at one publisher, he was just lucky/famous enough to find another. How many people don't get a second chance?

Re: Anatomy of a Book Cancellation

#17

It's sort of extraordinary that the conclusion of the piece is that the book was published and he was paid in full Poor guy

It's worth it, we need to put hurdles in front of people. Really make sure everything is at least threatened a tiny bit, even if they do make it out the other end unscathed.

Then we can know that their work is superior, probably due to their privilege.

Or maybe it would've been better to destroy his work completely? Then the world will be better off for it.

Am I doing it right?

Re: Anatomy of a Book Cancellation

#19
post #5

I will happily point out that pride in the former empire is exactly what's driving Russian aggression in the Ukraine at this moment.

Was the USSR an "empire" in the imperial sense (genuine question) ? I had thought the revolution was to destroy all that, remove the czar, bring in autocratic states, etc. I feel like there is a distinction here but I can't easily point to it. But they were very anti-empire afaik

An empire is not defined by its internal form of government, but by having a poweful core state that keeps other territories (provinces, colonies, client states) in permanent subservience.

Re: Anatomy of a Book Cancellation

#20
post #5

I will happily point out that pride in the former empire is exactly what's driving Russian aggression in the Ukraine at this moment.

There was a much more pragmatic fundamental reason for the regime to start the war: siloviki don’t tolerate democratic governments on their borders, as they might inspire the repressed population to demand the same democracy. Pride in the empire is an ideological crutch to explain the war rather than a reason for it.

Also it’s just “Ukraine”, not “the Ukraine”.

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