[Air-l] AOIR on AUT?

[Paula]

Ellis -- I think you have to take on board that many people don't go
along with the assertion that liberalism isn't political. To a socialist
(like myself) it surely *is* political. Not only political, but hegemonic.

People whose position is different from yours are equally likely to feel
passionate about their beliefs and their sense of what is appropriate or
inappropriate.

I think this is a practical demonstration of the difficulties of
managing global internet interactions. We *have* to accept multiplicity
of perspective to avoid excluding specific groups and, I think, accept
that there is value in a "talking shop" which does not commit itself to
(institutionalise) any specific perspective. Of course, any social
environment will have to define what it considers outright abusive. I
have to say that murder and harassment (in defence of a breach of
international law, what's more) would definitely be in that category . .
. from my point of view . . .

To answer your question about who could possibly feel excluded by a
liberal hegemony -- I would. To make the assumption that no [sensible]
person could possibly disagree with you is a form of pressure in itself.
In an institutional or privileged setting which validates such an
assumption, this begins to border on compulsion. Given that this list
has apparently decided to acknowledge multiple points of view on this
issue, pressure to conform to a liberal world-view with which I actually
disagree is removed. To my huge relief!  ;-)

Paula

Ellis Godard wrote:

>Jeremy wrote:
>  
>
>>it is not this topic that alienates, it is the tendency to begin to  
>>make political statements, which will eventually alienate. We don't  
>>do any political statements, against anyone, or for anyone, at least  
>>under our current bylaws and incorporation .
>>    
>>
>
>Opposing the AUT blacklist is not a political statement, but a defense
>of free inquiry *against* political statements.
>
>  
>
>>Other organizations may have more socially active or policy-oriented  
>>bylaws.
>>    
>>
>
>How about academically active? And how is a defense of inquiry, and
>opposition to blacklisting academics, socially active? 
>
>-eg
>
>
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