I think the whole idea of a "community alert" about a supposed group of panelists supposed belief systems and the idea that the community should be "protected" is absolutely ridiculous and is taking the paternalistic tendencies of certain groups FAR too far.
Guess what - every adult is capable of deciding who or what they want to listen to, and it's serious panty-in-a-knot nonsense like this that leads to people demanding that the government remove their rights to protect them from the big bad "alternative beliefs".
For goodness sakes - why can't some of these groups be adults, acknowledge that different people have different beliefs, that the "far right" is far more nebulous and non-existent across most of society than the leftist panty-wringing sky-is-falling chicken littles want to believe, and move on.
We are no more likely to implode as a society from "far right" beliefs than we are from "far left" beliefs. Are both possible? yes. Is one more dangerous than the other? no. How do we prevent extreme beliefs from taking root and destroying society? By shining light on them, speaking truth, and ensuring the centrist majority isn't painted in to a corner of being "far right" or "far left" - because at some point, if someone gets called a bad guy enough times, they're going to just join the bad guys because what difference does it make? (I'm sure many lefties would call me far right - I'm not. But it seems to be the favorite insult hurled at people who a leftie disagrees with.)
I'm sorry that you're likely out the expenses and have this drama to deal with.
These people don't actually care about the exchange of ideas. These "community alerts" are just a bat signal to their tribe in the battle of us vs them.
We've already seen it - anyone who is wearing any type of mask with an N95 over top of it has failed the most basic of common sense tests. (I don't care whether someone is up to date on mask literature or not - putting a mask that requires a proper seal on top of a mask that is unable to seal is just insane.)
People can shrug off insults easily enough, especially when they come from individuals whose judgment they've never been given reason to value to begin with. When people find their legitimate interests and concerns are being ignored or trivialized by government, though, they become far more susceptible to siren voices from the extreme ends of the political spectrum. Hence, fascism and communism both.
The Press Progress article talked to several local restaurants and vendors who were out not-insubstantial amounts of money (for a small business) due to this fiasco, those guys I really feel sorry for.
I look forward to Community Solidarity Ottawa's counter-event, featuring debate topics like, "Should right wingers be allowed to host book fairs, visit public libraries, own cell phones, use the internet, etc.?"
checking around to be sure it's a legit event is fine. and expecting to be paid/be reimbursed is more than fine. But inquiring about fellow panellists with an idea you might pull out smacks of contamination theory. 'yuck that guy has the cooties' is how we got into exacerbated polarities.
That’s fair. I actually cut a paragraph explaining this bit because of space. It’s more because I was interested in something with a bit more ideological diversity. All of us were roughly on the same side of the issue, which wasn’t as much of interest to me.
Seems to show how extreme the various actors have become. I think most people might agree with 60% of either sides specific initiatives on any given day, but that is reason alone to be rejected by the self-appointed gatekeepers. Shibboleths abound. I'm sorry Mr. Lawton got caught up with these people.
Wrong town to even try something like this. If this was put on in Calgary, Saskatoon or even Red Deer, it would have been decently attended. I've seen lesser events be successful in Alberta.
I briefly thought about musing on how someone could be so insulated from real problems that any speaker at a book fair prompts a community alert, and that they should stop wasting such privilege.
But really, this whole scenario is better summed up simply as adventures in the wonderful world of freelancing and self-promotion, which, in my experience, is more often than not filled with an array of eccentric personalities and unexpected events.
I suppose that what happened at the fair in question was unfortunate, I am not sure that it deserves coverage. The organization of the fair was botched, the running of it was botched, and there were some questionable practices. Okay, but what about it warranted a column in The Line?
I'm gonna clear my calendar for next year's fair.
See if you were there it wouldn’t have been so unfortunate.
I think the whole idea of a "community alert" about a supposed group of panelists supposed belief systems and the idea that the community should be "protected" is absolutely ridiculous and is taking the paternalistic tendencies of certain groups FAR too far.
Guess what - every adult is capable of deciding who or what they want to listen to, and it's serious panty-in-a-knot nonsense like this that leads to people demanding that the government remove their rights to protect them from the big bad "alternative beliefs".
For goodness sakes - why can't some of these groups be adults, acknowledge that different people have different beliefs, that the "far right" is far more nebulous and non-existent across most of society than the leftist panty-wringing sky-is-falling chicken littles want to believe, and move on.
We are no more likely to implode as a society from "far right" beliefs than we are from "far left" beliefs. Are both possible? yes. Is one more dangerous than the other? no. How do we prevent extreme beliefs from taking root and destroying society? By shining light on them, speaking truth, and ensuring the centrist majority isn't painted in to a corner of being "far right" or "far left" - because at some point, if someone gets called a bad guy enough times, they're going to just join the bad guys because what difference does it make? (I'm sure many lefties would call me far right - I'm not. But it seems to be the favorite insult hurled at people who a leftie disagrees with.)
I'm sorry that you're likely out the expenses and have this drama to deal with.
These people don't actually care about the exchange of ideas. These "community alerts" are just a bat signal to their tribe in the battle of us vs them.
I think there is a bright future for anyone who invents a type of PPE for weak, atrophied minds. I just wonder what that would look like?
We've already seen it - anyone who is wearing any type of mask with an N95 over top of it has failed the most basic of common sense tests. (I don't care whether someone is up to date on mask literature or not - putting a mask that requires a proper seal on top of a mask that is unable to seal is just insane.)
People can shrug off insults easily enough, especially when they come from individuals whose judgment they've never been given reason to value to begin with. When people find their legitimate interests and concerns are being ignored or trivialized by government, though, they become far more susceptible to siren voices from the extreme ends of the political spectrum. Hence, fascism and communism both.
Moral:
Definitely Do Due Diligence.
Also.
We are not a serious country.
Hope you get paid.
The thing about the political extremists is that they give everyone a bad name ("just another bunch of stupid political partisans").
At least Andrew Lawton was able to make an intriguing report of it (for the rest of us). Thank you for that.
The Press Progress article talked to several local restaurants and vendors who were out not-insubstantial amounts of money (for a small business) due to this fiasco, those guys I really feel sorry for.
It sounds more like a money making scam than anything else.
Nora Loreto staying in her echo chamber is typical.
I look forward to Community Solidarity Ottawa's counter-event, featuring debate topics like, "Should right wingers be allowed to host book fairs, visit public libraries, own cell phones, use the internet, etc.?"
checking around to be sure it's a legit event is fine. and expecting to be paid/be reimbursed is more than fine. But inquiring about fellow panellists with an idea you might pull out smacks of contamination theory. 'yuck that guy has the cooties' is how we got into exacerbated polarities.
(again, sincerely sorry you didn't get paid)
That’s fair. I actually cut a paragraph explaining this bit because of space. It’s more because I was interested in something with a bit more ideological diversity. All of us were roughly on the same side of the issue, which wasn’t as much of interest to me.
Wow
Seems to show how extreme the various actors have become. I think most people might agree with 60% of either sides specific initiatives on any given day, but that is reason alone to be rejected by the self-appointed gatekeepers. Shibboleths abound. I'm sorry Mr. Lawton got caught up with these people.
I am going to issue a Community Alert for Torontonians to hunker down every time Trudeau or Freeland are about to make announcements in Toronto.
Wrong town to even try something like this. If this was put on in Calgary, Saskatoon or even Red Deer, it would have been decently attended. I've seen lesser events be successful in Alberta.
What a crazy story!
I briefly thought about musing on how someone could be so insulated from real problems that any speaker at a book fair prompts a community alert, and that they should stop wasting such privilege.
But really, this whole scenario is better summed up simply as adventures in the wonderful world of freelancing and self-promotion, which, in my experience, is more often than not filled with an array of eccentric personalities and unexpected events.
It is Ottawa, civil servants and the contractor ecosystem, after all
I suppose that what happened at the fair in question was unfortunate, I am not sure that it deserves coverage. The organization of the fair was botched, the running of it was botched, and there were some questionable practices. Okay, but what about it warranted a column in The Line?
Andrew, as my grandpa used to say, "lie down with dogs get up with fleas", but I do see below that Paul Wells may have a flea collar for you :-)