Free speech and opinion- not tolerated today?

Member 581642

It looks like the DoE advised the school of their responsibility. You can decide for yourself if that is "barring"

EarthRod

As you already know the content, could you give us an idea what the speaker was going to talk about?

Cliff

So there was interest to see him. I wouldn't but 220 people were interested.
This was denied by the state (counter-extremism task force) because I suppose he was considered an 'right wing' extremist.  He is a journalist- Greek/Jewish/ British oh, and gay.
This was his old school.

So hardly a 'skin head/ NeoNazi' from the eastern block.

krish

I've seen and read enough of Milo over the years to view him as an utter nobhead. I used to find his wind-up antics faintly amusing, as I enjoy seeing trustafarian SJWs making tits of themselves, but it ultimately got tiresome and much of it is not a joke but horrid and objectionable.

He always plays the I'm gay / free speech card when facing criticism of his latest nonsense. His Breitbart colleague and Farage mini-me Raheem does the same, but uses brown/Muslim instead of gay (although he's an atheist).

I heard a radio discussion on the topic yesterday, and had to laugh when the sixth form fanboy from his old school was just parroting Milo's own vernacular ... as soon as he used "special snowflake" to describe what he wasn't, it was pretty obvious he had a boner for him.

rancidpunk

Nothing that anyone could consider educational.

krish

^^ he was essentially invited by an adoring fan club of sixth-formers to preach to the converted
- not for a careers talk from a former pupil
- not for a debate

Cliff

I am sure you are right.

But it was a talk, as a famous old boy.  Being censored by the counter-extremism task force says more about our State than anything else.

rancidpunk

I think we'll have to agree to disagree on any motivations.

The way I see the DoE stepping in is as a result of some of the reaction to him on other school/university talks. Whether you agree with the security concerns being the actual motive, the potential security issues are at least genuine. Even then they only gave advice, the school ultimately made their own decision.

In fairness, the DoE should never have been in the position to step in; the school should never have offered him the platform to spout his nonsense in the first place.

Enki

His timing was suspect for me, with high profile murder case of an MP on going and just concluding as I write.
He is what he is, Katie Hopkins type shock jock personality.  
His ban, unintended consequences and lesson in, be careful what you wish for. Extremists come in many colours, many religions, political beliefs and ever increasing sexualities...

Cliff

Well the Guardian piece says that 'objection to our hosting Mr Yiannopoulos came almost entirely from people with no direct connection to the Langton. The staff and students of the school were overwhelmingly in favour.'

Milo Yiannopoulos talk at Kent school cancelled over security concerns

There are plenty of people that spout nonsense- Eddy Izzard springs to mind!
But of course this talk was cancelled not because of the content but security concerns.