Censorship, was Re: Reasonable deal for pre-ordering Ubuntu tablets

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Tomas - and others - may be interested in this which turned up on twitter.
I couldn't copy and paste the tweet so here's what it linked to:

www.bitebackpublishing.com/books/i-find-that-offensive

=E2=80=98I Find That Offensive!=E2=80=99(Provocations Series)

By Claire Fox <https://www.bitebackpublishing.com/authors/claire-fox>

When you hear that now ubiquitous phrase =E2=80=98I find that offensive=E2=
=80=99, you know
you=E2=80=99re being told to shut up. While the terrible murder of the *Cha=
rlie
Hebdo*cartoonists demonstrated that those who offend can face the most
brutal form of censorship, it also served only to intensify the
pre-existing climate that dictates we all have to walk on eggshells to
avoid saying anything offensive =E2=80=93 or else.

Indeed, competitive offence-claiming is ratcheting up well beyond religious
sensibilities. So, while Islamists and feminists may seem to have little in
common, they are both united in demanding retribution in the form of bans,
penalties and censorship of those who hurt their feelings.

But how did we become so thin-skinned? In *=E2=80=98I Find That Offensive!=
=E2=80=99 *Claire
Fox addresses the possible causes of what is fast becoming known as
=E2=80=98Generation Snowflake=E2=80=99 head-on (no =E2=80=98safe spaces=E2=
=80=99 here) in a call to toughen
up, become more robust and make a virtue of the right to be offensive.

*PROVOCATIONS <https://www.bitebackpublishing.com/picks/provocations> is a
groundbreaking new series of short polemics composed by some of the most
intriguing voices in contemporary culture and edited by Yasmin
Alibhai-Brown. Sharp, intelligent and controversial, Provocations provides
insightful contributions to the most vital discussions in society today.*
------------------------------
REVIEWS

=E2=80=9CAn ambitious new series that tackles the controversy of the topics
explored with a mixture of intelligence and forthright argument from some
excellent writers.=E2=80=9D
The Observer


On 2 April 2016 at 18:15, Kathinka <[email protected]> wrote:

> Oh Tomas!  "Coming from abroad, I find New Zealand politeness sometimes
> paralysing a healthy argument. In my opinion people here could learn a bi=
t
> more of the raw honesty, for example from Germans."  Oh yes!
> I don't know many Germans, and not well enough to comment.  But I do know
> Dutch people and find them fabulously easy to get along with - such
> straightforward people, no culture of being socially rewarded for taking
> offence I suppose, so no need to be quiveringly tentative and wrap every
> remark in cotton wool.
>
> Kathinka.
>
>
> On 2 April 2016 at 17:49, Tomas Sobek <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> I tend to passively watch what is discussed on DunLUG. I found this
>> discussion thread between Kathinka and Reece very informative. On one ha=
nd
>> I am curious how it works out with Ubuntu tablets and I am even consider=
ing
>> ordering one. I can also relate to Kathinka's sentiments about user
>> interface evolution as I generally prefer old and tried. The comments ab=
out
>> blind and handicapped people however were the most eye opening to me, as=
 I
>> never contemplated them before. This could turn into a useful feedback t=
o
>> all user interface designers indeed - do they want to exclude or include
>> such users? By discussing it we can make it an informed choice.
>>
>> I would like to offer my observation about the use of language. Coming
>> from abroad, I find New Zealand politeness sometimes paralysing a health=
y
>> argument. In my opinion people here could learn a bit more of the raw
>> honesty, for example from Germans. Ability to deal with a disagreement
>> without taking it personally or as an offence, is a part of emotional
>> maturity. Sugar coating every word makes a communication unnecessarily
>> complicated. Though I understand that direct communication requires mutu=
al
>> trust.
>> Tomas
>>
>
=E2=80=8BKathinka.=E2=80=8B

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<div dir=3D"ltr"><div class=3D"gmail_default" style=3D"font-family:georgia,=
serif">Tomas - and others - may be interested in this which turned up on tw=
itter.=C2=A0 I couldn&#39;t copy and paste the tweet so here&#39;s what it =
linked to:</div><div class=3D"gmail_default" style=3D"font-family:georgia,s=
erif"><br></div><div class=3D"gmail_default" style=3D""><font face=3D"georg=
ia, serif"><a href=3D"http://www.bitebackpublishing.com/books/i-find-that-o=
ffensive">www.bitebackpublishing.com/books/i-find-that-offensive</a></font>=
<br></div><div class=3D"gmail_default" style=3D""><font face=3D"georgia, se=
rif"><br></font></div><div class=3D"gmail_default" style=3D"font-family:geo=
rgia,serif"><div class=3D"" style=3D"padding-bottom:10.5px;margin:0px 0px 2=
1px;border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-color:r=
gb(234,237,238);padding-top:0px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Roboto,sans=
-serif;font-size:15px;line-height:14.2857px"><h1 style=3D"font-size:39px;ma=
rgin:0px 0px 10.5px;font-family:vinyl,sans-serif;font-weight:400;line-heigh=
t:1.1;color:inherit">=E2=80=98I Find That Offensive!=E2=80=99<small style=
=3D"font-size:25.35px;line-height:1;color:rgb(206,213,215)">(Provocations S=
eries)</small></h1><p style=3D"margin:0px 0px 10.5px">By=C2=A0<a href=3D"ht=
tps://www.bitebackpublishing.com/authors/claire-fox" style=3D"color:rgb(243=
,156,18);text-decoration:none;background-color:transparent">Claire Fox</a><=
/p></div><p style=3D"margin:0px 0px 10.5px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:=
Roboto,sans-serif;font-size:15px;line-height:14.2857px">When you hear that =
now ubiquitous phrase =E2=80=98I find that offensive=E2=80=99, you know you=
=E2=80=99re being told to shut up. While the terrible murder of the=C2=A0<e=
m>Charlie Hebdo</em>cartoonists demonstrated that those who offend can face=
 the most brutal form of censorship, it also served only to intensify the p=
re-existing climate that dictates we all have to walk on eggshells to avoid=
 saying anything offensive =E2=80=93 or else.</p><p style=3D"margin:0px 0px=
 10.5px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-size:15px;li=
ne-height:14.2857px">Indeed, competitive offence-claiming is ratcheting up =
well beyond religious sensibilities. So, while Islamists and feminists may =
seem to have little in common, they are both united in demanding retributio=
n in the form of bans, penalties and censorship of those who hurt their fee=
lings.</p><p style=3D"margin:0px 0px 10.5px;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family=
:Roboto,sans-serif;font-size:15px;line-height:14.2857px">But how did we bec=
ome so thin-skinned? In=C2=A0<em>=E2=80=98I Find That Offensive!=E2=80=99=
=C2=A0</em>Claire Fox addresses the possible causes of what is fast becomin=
g known as =E2=80=98Generation Snowflake=E2=80=99 head-on (no =E2=80=98safe=
 spaces=E2=80=99 here) in a call to toughen up, become more robust and make=
 a virtue of the right to be offensive.</p><p style=3D"margin:0px 0px 10.5p=
x;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-size:15px;line-hei=
ght:14.2857px"><strong><a href=3D"https://www.bitebackpublishing.com/picks/=
provocations" style=3D"color:rgb(243,156,18);text-decoration:none;backgroun=
d-color:transparent">PROVOCATIONS</a>=C2=A0is a groundbreaking new series o=
f short polemics composed by some of the most intriguing voices in contempo=
rary culture and edited by Yasmin Alibhai-Brown. Sharp, intelligent and=C2=
=A0controversial, Provocations provides insightful contributions to the mos=
t vital discussions in society today.</strong></p><hr style=3D"height:0px;m=
argin-top:21px;margin-bottom:21px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-widt=
h:0px;border-left-width:0px;border-top-style:solid;border-top-color:rgb(234=
,237,238);color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-size:15px;=
line-height:14.2857px"><h3 class=3D"" style=3D"font-family:vinyl,sans-serif=
;font-weight:400;line-height:1.1;color:rgb(51,51,51);margin-top:21px;margin=
-bottom:10.5px;font-size:26px;text-transform:uppercase">REVIEWS</h3><blockq=
uote style=3D"padding:10.5px 21px;margin:0px 0px 21px;font-size:18.75px;bor=
der-left-width:5px;border-left-style:solid;border-left-color:rgb(234,237,23=
8);color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Roboto,sans-serif"><p style=3D"margin:0p=
x 0px 10.5px">=E2=80=9CAn ambitious new series that tackles the controversy=
 of the topics explored with a mixture of intelligence and forthright argum=
ent from some excellent writers.=E2=80=9D</p><small style=3D"font-size:15px=
;display:block;line-height:1.42857;color:rgb(119,119,119)">The Observer</sm=
all><div><br></div></blockquote></div><div class=3D"gmail_extra"><br><div c=
lass=3D"gmail_quote">On 2 April 2016 at 18:15, Kathinka <span dir=3D"ltr">&=
lt;<a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" target=3D"_blank">kath=
[email protected]</a>&gt;</span> wrote:<br><blockquote class=3D"gm=
ail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-le=
ft:1ex"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div style=3D"font-family:georgia,serif">Oh Tomas!=
 =C2=A0&quot;Coming from abroad, I find New Zealand politeness sometimes pa=
ralysing a healthy argument. In my opinion people here could learn a bit mo=
re of the raw honesty, for example from Germans.&quot; =C2=A0Oh yes!</div><=
div style=3D"font-family:georgia,serif">I don&#39;t know many Germans, and =
not well enough to comment.=C2=A0 But I do know Dutch people and find them =
fabulously easy to get along with - such straightforward people, no culture=
 of being socially rewarded for taking offence I suppose, so no need to be =
quiveringly tentative and wrap every remark in cotton wool.=C2=A0</div><spa=
n class=3D"HOEnZb"><font color=3D"#888888"><div style=3D"font-family:georgi=
a,serif"><br></div><div style=3D"font-family:georgia,serif">Kathinka.</div>=
<div style=3D"font-family:georgia,serif"><br></div></font></span></div><div=
 class=3D"HOEnZb"><div class=3D"h5"><div class=3D"gmail_extra"><br><div cla=
ss=3D"gmail_quote">On 2 April 2016 at 17:49, Tomas Sobek <span dir=3D"ltr">=
&lt;<a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" target=3D"_blank">sankalpo@seznam=
.cz</a>&gt;</span> wrote:<br><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"mar=
gin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div>I tend to =
passively watch what is discussed on DunLUG. I found this discussion thread=
 between Kathinka and Reece very informative. On one hand I am curious how =
it works out with Ubuntu tablets and I am even considering ordering one. I =
can also relate to Kathinka&#39;s sentiments about user interface evolution=
 as I generally prefer old and tried. The comments about blind and handicap=
ped people however were the most eye opening to me, as I never contemplated=
 them before. This could turn into a useful feedback to all user interface =
designers indeed - do they want to exclude or include such users? By discus=
sing it we can make it an informed choice.<br><br>I would like to offer my =
observation about the use of language. Coming from abroad, I find New Zeala=
nd politeness sometimes paralysing a healthy argument. In my opinion people=
 here could learn a bit more of the raw honesty, for example from Germans. =
Ability to deal with a disagreement without taking it personally or as an o=
ffence, is a part of emotional maturity. Sugar coating every word makes a c=
ommunication unnecessarily complicated. Though I understand that direct com=
munication requires mutual trust.<br>Tomas<br></div></blockquote></div></di=
v></div></div></blockquote><div>=C2=A0</div></div><span style=3D"font-famil=
y:georgia,serif">=E2=80=8BKathinka.=E2=80=8B</span><br></div></div>

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