Meghan, I really enjoyed your recent convo with Lionel Shriver where she describes the woke forces as utterly humorless and joyless. (I personally think that there are lots of people who are humorless - normally they don’t have much of a fan base but now they have their time in the sun.). My point is: your writing is really joyful and always funny even when talking about your own problematization. It’s one reason I think you’re so cool and inspirational.
Makes me think of being in a discussion (online) with a bunch of ultra liberal types. New to a lot of this, I said the word "problematic" seems to be just a way of saying "bad." They vigorously denied it. That's the lovely thing about the word. It totally means "bad, to be shunned" but it can pretend to be more nuanced.
You're great just as you are! You speak the truth and ponder the complexities of the times we find ourselves in now, as do many of us. I keep hoping I'll wake up tomorrow and things will have turned in another direction...that of reason and productive debate.
If you put yourself out there, you’re bound to be problematized, unless by doing so you’re simply pandering to the latest popular narrative, virtue signaling, highlighting your victimhood status, or joining the chorus of complaints against the cancelled and problematized. You are a truth-seeker, Meghan. It’s a dangerous game these days!
You wrote: “That’s the worst part of this whole mean-girl, gaslight-y racket. You’re never quite sure if you’re just imagining things.”
A few years ago, I was blackballed (is that still a term or has that also been censored?) by a prominent online Leftist mean-girl clique who is very much a part of academia, publishing (magazines and books) industry and who also happened to be involved in my area of expertise.
This was in 2014, I was friends on Facebook because we shared a common interest and then all of a sudden I wasn’t Friends. One by one, they unfriended me. I don’t even know what I did. There is this weird insidiousness about “white feminism” that feels like gaslighting and for a few years, it really fucked me up. Because I didn’t have any proof it was really happening, and even though I knew it was happening, nobody else could see what I was seeing.
There needs to be more written about how there is a certain brand of affluent academic women (and certain gay men) who take great pleasure in being the Queen Bee who surrounds herself with the wanna Bees and then proceeds to take down anyone they don’t like. To this day, I am still blackballed from this particular group of New York Times bestseller authors and their most wretched Agent, who I might add, is thee Agent who has populated bookstores with her white feminism authors. She was even a proud member of The Wing.
Only women do this weird sonar mind game bullshit to other women, and other women knows it’s happening even though there is zero proof. Anyway.
Sorry to hear this. It's gross. Sarah Haider and I have talked on the other podcast about how cancel culture is a form of mean girl culture. Join The Unspeakeasy online community!
I am currently being cancelled by a neighbor. It’s precipitated a crisis such that I am walking to the emergency room with a psychiatric situation, and yes I listened to that episode, twice.
You can be nobody and they will come for you for what you listen to in your own nyc bedroom. I shit you not. (Sorry Meghan it was John mcwhorter)
Additionally, the nurses have developed a defensive culture of bullying and petit tyrant syndrome. I saw a man get strapped to a bed for literally nothing, just a door slam. Food brought by visitors for patients interdicted and consumed. Being denied my “street clothes” (how dare they throw shade at my couture lol) after the doctor ordered them returned. Every short cut through the human dignity of their patients they can conceivably get away with.
I was a voluntary commitment, at Bellevue, and I had to get sprung by a judge today. The doctor was insisting my neighbors were pure delusion (they are not, there are corroborating witnesses). I’ve had quite a misadventure but “the system” actually worked. Definitely saw some things I can’t unsee, these wards are cray-craygenic if I may coin a phrase.
At the risk of using a cliche, I appreciate your nuanced take on the subtle difference between cancellation and being labeled as problematic.
Like most cultural phenomena, the term cancellation is certainly susceptible to misuse and/or overuse. I suppose the only people who can truly describe themselves as cancelled are those whose primary livelihood was snatched away for thoughtcrime. I intentionally use the term "primary" because the fact that they can still produce content on smaller, less prestigious platforms does not necessarily mitigate their cancellation. Could Bari Weiss ever get another job at a legacy MSM outlet? Megyn Kelly? James Bennett? Donald McNeil?
I've noticed some on the social justice left assert that someone has not been "cancelled" simply because that person is still visible on alternative platforms. But what is the reach of those platforms?
I would urge your readers to Google "Joshua Katz", a tenured professor drummed out of Princeton on highly dubious charges of intellectual racism. No disrespect to outlets such as Quillette, the City Journal, and Substack, (Katz publishes on these platforms) but none of them are on the same level as "tenured Ivy League professor" a title to which Katz can never again aspire (he's in his early 50's so not yet ready for emeritus status).
Question for Meghan: do you think that the views you've expressed the last 5-6 years have foreclosed you from ever having full-time gig equivalent to what you had at the Los Angeles Times? If the answer is yes, then maybe cancellation is indeed an appropriate term.
@Tyler Also to your point, yes, I have also worried about a certain amount of reach an author or journalist has as these quick, deep cultural shifts have happened.
I think there are a lot of people, readers and/or viewers, who still do want to see diversity and diversity viewpoint perspectives they may or may not agree with at all moments. They don’t see it as a bad thing. Plenty of people know the world is complicated!
But there seems to be loud sects of people who are obsessed with making everything very “pure” for one side or the other and many readers/viewers tire of this. They beat that drum very loudly, whether that’s for fame or popularity. It’s an insufferable bunch of folks who want to preach to people about what they want them to think. They don’t seem to want people to think for themselves. I think some of these people are actually afraid of people thinking deeply for fear they will think the “wrong” thing. (This is where are that cancellation of speakers comes in -- just my opinion).
@Tyler I think those are good points to think about. Although I’m glad there are smart individuals who find audiences and outlets to embrace their writings, reportings (you know, smart people who understand the complexities and nuances that life brings who have the will and ability to put it in their work) I am also worried that there may be less of an appetite for it than their used to be. (Perhaps pre-Trump era, 2015ish).
I’m also worried about how a multitude of media sectors either don’t want to explore as much complexity into an issue or worry about exploring it. *Or* they’re in this hard far-left sector or hard far-right sector of media and they don’t want to explore much complexity at all.
This is a much larger topic of course, and plenty has been said about it. I just get so exhausted by it all. I wish people would chill and just let people ask questions, talk, make some jokes here and there, fight, and be human. It’s so tiresome and stressful! I become so frustrated by the amount of side stepping everyone feels they have to do sometimes.
I'm guessing that a majority of Meghan's audience is old enough to remember when there were only 4 broadcast networks (3 majors and PBS), no round the clock cable news, and no internet. So our consumption was limited to essentially what everyone else was seeing.
But now thanks to technology there's a plethora of choices, especially ones that will gladly reinforce your particular world view. Since I lean libertarian, I'm inclined to let a thousand flower bloom, so to speak. Want to sit and watch Newsmax all day? knock yourself out. Want to sit and watch MSNBC all day? again knock yourself out. In a free society, we don't get to decide which news sources are acceptable for consumption and the content of that news (fortunately, we are not in North Korea, Venezuela, Cuba, Russia or China).
I know there's a lot of concern about polarization but is that level of polarization anywhere near 1861? Far from it - I sometimes think the handwringing is a bit overwrought.
This is such a great piece, and sadly, I really relate to it! I think many people who ask questions of the sudden transformation of what used to be left wing spaces find themselves in the same situation. Thank you for putting words to it so well! (And I hope you had fun at the book event!)
At least where I live (Seattle), I assumed bookstores were the ones who usually set up local interviewers for touring authors because the I can't yet allow myself to believe two out of every three authors with events in town request to share the stage with Angela Garbes.
"People are drawn to those who embody the complications they can’t untangle in themselves. That’s why we read novels." Amen!
Meghan, I really enjoyed your recent convo with Lionel Shriver where she describes the woke forces as utterly humorless and joyless. (I personally think that there are lots of people who are humorless - normally they don’t have much of a fan base but now they have their time in the sun.). My point is: your writing is really joyful and always funny even when talking about your own problematization. It’s one reason I think you’re so cool and inspirational.
Problematized = the nuanced AF version of canceled.
I look forward to you adding "Problematized" as a new line of merch. Wear it proudly.
Something like “I’ve got 99 problems and Meghan is one of them”?
I have been and continue to be a HUGE admirer of you and your reputational aura.
Makes me think of being in a discussion (online) with a bunch of ultra liberal types. New to a lot of this, I said the word "problematic" seems to be just a way of saying "bad." They vigorously denied it. That's the lovely thing about the word. It totally means "bad, to be shunned" but it can pretend to be more nuanced.
You're great just as you are! You speak the truth and ponder the complexities of the times we find ourselves in now, as do many of us. I keep hoping I'll wake up tomorrow and things will have turned in another direction...that of reason and productive debate.
God, I love this article. So well put.
If you put yourself out there, you’re bound to be problematized, unless by doing so you’re simply pandering to the latest popular narrative, virtue signaling, highlighting your victimhood status, or joining the chorus of complaints against the cancelled and problematized. You are a truth-seeker, Meghan. It’s a dangerous game these days!
You’ve never been canceled or problematic to me Meghan, up until a year ago or so, I didn’t even know who you were!
You wrote: “That’s the worst part of this whole mean-girl, gaslight-y racket. You’re never quite sure if you’re just imagining things.”
A few years ago, I was blackballed (is that still a term or has that also been censored?) by a prominent online Leftist mean-girl clique who is very much a part of academia, publishing (magazines and books) industry and who also happened to be involved in my area of expertise.
This was in 2014, I was friends on Facebook because we shared a common interest and then all of a sudden I wasn’t Friends. One by one, they unfriended me. I don’t even know what I did. There is this weird insidiousness about “white feminism” that feels like gaslighting and for a few years, it really fucked me up. Because I didn’t have any proof it was really happening, and even though I knew it was happening, nobody else could see what I was seeing.
There needs to be more written about how there is a certain brand of affluent academic women (and certain gay men) who take great pleasure in being the Queen Bee who surrounds herself with the wanna Bees and then proceeds to take down anyone they don’t like. To this day, I am still blackballed from this particular group of New York Times bestseller authors and their most wretched Agent, who I might add, is thee Agent who has populated bookstores with her white feminism authors. She was even a proud member of The Wing.
Only women do this weird sonar mind game bullshit to other women, and other women knows it’s happening even though there is zero proof. Anyway.
Sorry to hear this. It's gross. Sarah Haider and I have talked on the other podcast about how cancel culture is a form of mean girl culture. Join The Unspeakeasy online community!
I am currently being cancelled by a neighbor. It’s precipitated a crisis such that I am walking to the emergency room with a psychiatric situation, and yes I listened to that episode, twice.
You can be nobody and they will come for you for what you listen to in your own nyc bedroom. I shit you not. (Sorry Meghan it was John mcwhorter)
Oh my goodness. I hope you are okay.
Additionally, the nurses have developed a defensive culture of bullying and petit tyrant syndrome. I saw a man get strapped to a bed for literally nothing, just a door slam. Food brought by visitors for patients interdicted and consumed. Being denied my “street clothes” (how dare they throw shade at my couture lol) after the doctor ordered them returned. Every short cut through the human dignity of their patients they can conceivably get away with.
I was a voluntary commitment, at Bellevue, and I had to get sprung by a judge today. The doctor was insisting my neighbors were pure delusion (they are not, there are corroborating witnesses). I’ve had quite a misadventure but “the system” actually worked. Definitely saw some things I can’t unsee, these wards are cray-craygenic if I may coin a phrase.
At the risk of using a cliche, I appreciate your nuanced take on the subtle difference between cancellation and being labeled as problematic.
Like most cultural phenomena, the term cancellation is certainly susceptible to misuse and/or overuse. I suppose the only people who can truly describe themselves as cancelled are those whose primary livelihood was snatched away for thoughtcrime. I intentionally use the term "primary" because the fact that they can still produce content on smaller, less prestigious platforms does not necessarily mitigate their cancellation. Could Bari Weiss ever get another job at a legacy MSM outlet? Megyn Kelly? James Bennett? Donald McNeil?
I've noticed some on the social justice left assert that someone has not been "cancelled" simply because that person is still visible on alternative platforms. But what is the reach of those platforms?
I would urge your readers to Google "Joshua Katz", a tenured professor drummed out of Princeton on highly dubious charges of intellectual racism. No disrespect to outlets such as Quillette, the City Journal, and Substack, (Katz publishes on these platforms) but none of them are on the same level as "tenured Ivy League professor" a title to which Katz can never again aspire (he's in his early 50's so not yet ready for emeritus status).
Question for Meghan: do you think that the views you've expressed the last 5-6 years have foreclosed you from ever having full-time gig equivalent to what you had at the Los Angeles Times? If the answer is yes, then maybe cancellation is indeed an appropriate term.
I suspect so. But given that legacy media has neither the budget nor reach that it used to, I'm not sure it matters.
Haha. As soon as I hit "post" a similar thought occurred to me. The rapidly changing business model provided you a convenient dodge from my question.
@Tyler Also to your point, yes, I have also worried about a certain amount of reach an author or journalist has as these quick, deep cultural shifts have happened.
I think there are a lot of people, readers and/or viewers, who still do want to see diversity and diversity viewpoint perspectives they may or may not agree with at all moments. They don’t see it as a bad thing. Plenty of people know the world is complicated!
But there seems to be loud sects of people who are obsessed with making everything very “pure” for one side or the other and many readers/viewers tire of this. They beat that drum very loudly, whether that’s for fame or popularity. It’s an insufferable bunch of folks who want to preach to people about what they want them to think. They don’t seem to want people to think for themselves. I think some of these people are actually afraid of people thinking deeply for fear they will think the “wrong” thing. (This is where are that cancellation of speakers comes in -- just my opinion).
@Tyler I think those are good points to think about. Although I’m glad there are smart individuals who find audiences and outlets to embrace their writings, reportings (you know, smart people who understand the complexities and nuances that life brings who have the will and ability to put it in their work) I am also worried that there may be less of an appetite for it than their used to be. (Perhaps pre-Trump era, 2015ish).
I’m also worried about how a multitude of media sectors either don’t want to explore as much complexity into an issue or worry about exploring it. *Or* they’re in this hard far-left sector or hard far-right sector of media and they don’t want to explore much complexity at all.
This is a much larger topic of course, and plenty has been said about it. I just get so exhausted by it all. I wish people would chill and just let people ask questions, talk, make some jokes here and there, fight, and be human. It’s so tiresome and stressful! I become so frustrated by the amount of side stepping everyone feels they have to do sometimes.
I'm guessing that a majority of Meghan's audience is old enough to remember when there were only 4 broadcast networks (3 majors and PBS), no round the clock cable news, and no internet. So our consumption was limited to essentially what everyone else was seeing.
But now thanks to technology there's a plethora of choices, especially ones that will gladly reinforce your particular world view. Since I lean libertarian, I'm inclined to let a thousand flower bloom, so to speak. Want to sit and watch Newsmax all day? knock yourself out. Want to sit and watch MSNBC all day? again knock yourself out. In a free society, we don't get to decide which news sources are acceptable for consumption and the content of that news (fortunately, we are not in North Korea, Venezuela, Cuba, Russia or China).
I know there's a lot of concern about polarization but is that level of polarization anywhere near 1861? Far from it - I sometimes think the handwringing is a bit overwrought.
This is such a great piece, and sadly, I really relate to it! I think many people who ask questions of the sudden transformation of what used to be left wing spaces find themselves in the same situation. Thank you for putting words to it so well! (And I hope you had fun at the book event!)
Do I smell the name of a new book? (As always, appreciate you having the hard conversations)
God, no.
At least where I live (Seattle), I assumed bookstores were the ones who usually set up local interviewers for touring authors because the I can't yet allow myself to believe two out of every three authors with events in town request to share the stage with Angela Garbes.
I suppose it's possible the bookstore might suggest someone, but pretty much everything is on the author these days.