Totally agree that people can do whatever they want!
But: suppose there were a big online discussion about the clothing choices of a public intellectual (and while slightly quirky and not super flattering, these obviously weren’t being chosen for the sake of being provocative). Then I think I’d feel like I cared about their privacy, and that it would be kinder for people to refrain from this discussion. Not that they wouldn’t have a right to have it—but that it might ultimately be more aligned with their values not to (even if they’re totally right about the clothes).
I feel kind of similarly here. Manifest made some choices. They seem to me like they may have been mistakes, but it’s important to me that they have the right to make their own choices (whether or not those are mistakes). Some of the discourse feels like it’s an ungraceful attempt to muscle in on their autonomy—like the vibe is “you shouldn’t have had the right to invite him”, even if people don’t actually say that—and thereby more likely to create an environment where people don’t actually feel free. (Not all of the criticism has felt to me like that. I actually support a certain amount of tactfully-done criticism in this case. And I’ve upvoted a number of contributions on both “sides” of this debate, where I felt like they were adding something useful.)
(It’s more plausible that Manifest’s choices are causing indirect harm than that the intellectual’s clothing choices are, so this analogy isn’t perfect, and I’m not trying to say it’s as clear-cut as that case, and it’s possible this value could be outweighed by other values, which is why I’m in favour of some of the criticism. But I do think it’s not a “non-argument”, and I’m giving an analogy where I think it’s clearer cut in order to demonstrate that it’s at least a legitimate consideration.)
Yep I agree with all of this nice one I like the way you put it. I haven’t noticed so many posts/comment which I see as trying to “Muscle” Manifest, but there is some of that sentiment I think for sure.
Totally agree that people can do whatever they want!
But: suppose there were a big online discussion about the clothing choices of a public intellectual (and while slightly quirky and not super flattering, these obviously weren’t being chosen for the sake of being provocative). Then I think I’d feel like I cared about their privacy, and that it would be kinder for people to refrain from this discussion. Not that they wouldn’t have a right to have it—but that it might ultimately be more aligned with their values not to (even if they’re totally right about the clothes).
I feel kind of similarly here. Manifest made some choices. They seem to me like they may have been mistakes, but it’s important to me that they have the right to make their own choices (whether or not those are mistakes). Some of the discourse feels like it’s an ungraceful attempt to muscle in on their autonomy—like the vibe is “you shouldn’t have had the right to invite him”, even if people don’t actually say that—and thereby more likely to create an environment where people don’t actually feel free. (Not all of the criticism has felt to me like that. I actually support a certain amount of tactfully-done criticism in this case. And I’ve upvoted a number of contributions on both “sides” of this debate, where I felt like they were adding something useful.)
(It’s more plausible that Manifest’s choices are causing indirect harm than that the intellectual’s clothing choices are, so this analogy isn’t perfect, and I’m not trying to say it’s as clear-cut as that case, and it’s possible this value could be outweighed by other values, which is why I’m in favour of some of the criticism. But I do think it’s not a “non-argument”, and I’m giving an analogy where I think it’s clearer cut in order to demonstrate that it’s at least a legitimate consideration.)
Yep I agree with all of this nice one I like the way you put it. I haven’t noticed so many posts/comment which I see as trying to “Muscle” Manifest, but there is some of that sentiment I think for sure.