Should people face facts and science or simply rely on opinion in order to gain knowledge and answer questions? Portland State University asked exactly this at a recent panel discussion on diversity.
Professor of philosophy, Peter Boghossian, led a discussion at PSU titled “We Need to Talk About Diversity”. Alongside Boghossian were writer Helen Pluckrose, biologist Heather E. Heying, and former Google engineer James DaMore. If you recall, DaMore was the man fired from Google for accusing the company of over-promoting diversity.
Boy did it get heated in that conference room.
For reference, fast forward to minute 19 of the video below. At this point during the panel, several audience members took it upon themselves to noisily stand up and storm out of the room.
What precipitated this commotion? The walkout came right after Heying said the following:
“Let’s look at differences between men and women that are explicitly anatomical and physiological. Are men taller than women on average? Does anyone take offense at that fact?”
Apparently, some did take offense. The “protesters” were even kind enough to destroy the sound system on their way out. Fine if you want to disagree with ideas and walk out of a discussion, but perhaps do so in a polite and quiet manner. Dissenting is never an excuse to damage public and expensive equipment or interrupt an entire panel.
After the walkout, several protesters were seen yelling profanity, giving power salutes, and being escorted off the premise by security. The women inside the conference room were “brainwashed” according to the students. As if research and scientifically-backed data are cause for delusion?
While it is certainly okay to have differing viewpoints about sexuality and gender the idea that men and women are anatomically and physiologically distinct is a fundamental idea with which it is hard to argue.
Another point of extreme – and uncomfortable – dissent comes from the protester who claims the panelists are fascists and Nazis. His point is not even relevant to the conference; it seems as though he is grasping at anything he can to be mad at the panel guests.
The protesters saw the panel’s title. If they knew what the discussion was about, why even go if it was going to cause them so much discontent? Here’s a suggestion: keep the wild accusations to yourselves, and come back when you can voice your opinions in a civilized manner.
Security at PSU handled the protesters well. But if you’re this guy you could, you know, just run protesters over with your car. Take a look here.
