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b_b  ·  3061 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: The New Intolerance of Student Activism

I think many people have been taught that they have to be offended to be taken seriously. Offense, then, becomes a form of social currency, especially for the upper crust leftist who may feel "left out" of the suffering of their forebears in some way. Remarkable that these are our future leaders. I suppose that's a good thing for anyone with some fortitude, as social skills are equally as important as intellectual and technical acumen in getting ahead in life.

I've been impressed by the action of the students at Mizzou in the last week, but I was hugely disappointed to read a story this morning about them being abusive to a student reporter who was trying to document their activities. Shameful, especially because at least one professor was involved. It really knocked down the moral standing of the whole movement, IMO. Free speech is what facilitates movements of this sort, and free press is a part of the first amendment, too. I don't think college kids are any dumber now that in the past, but I think that social media has put big pressure on kids to act out a role in their lives that lives up to what they perceive expectation to be.