The hottest Cancel Culture Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Education Topics

critical mass in the echo chamber

bad cattitude • 170 implied HN points • 18 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political Ideology Cognitive dissonance Social Behavior Cancel Culture Authoritarianism
  1. People often find it hard to accept new information that contradicts their existing beliefs. They usually choose to ignore or reject this new data instead of changing their minds.
  2. When someone ties their self-worth to their beliefs, they can react strongly to any disagreement. This makes changes in opinion hard because it feels like a personal attack on their identity.
  3. Cancel culture can create a very homogeneous group where differing opinions are not tolerated. This leads to more extreme views and a lack of understanding of reality.

Were You 'Cancelled'? Or Are You a Sheltered Elite Who Faced Consequences for the First Time In Your Priviledged Life?

JoeWrote • 107 implied HN points • 20 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Cancel Culture Political critique Media Analysis Cultural Commentary Social Issues
  1. People often claim they face 'cancel culture' when they actually just face consequences for their actions. It's not about censorship, but about accountability.
  2. Cancel culture discussions mostly come from wealthy individuals who want to avoid facing the same social standards that impact ordinary people. They fear losing their privilege.
  3. The media often exaggerates cancel culture as a threat, diverting attention from real issues like political corruption and social injustices. This creates a false narrative to avoid addressing deeper problems.

Canceled AGAIN

Disaffected Newsletter • 1218 implied HN points • 28 Jul 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Cancel Culture Media influence Conservative Politics Political Commentary Current Events
  1. Digital cancellation is affecting jobs in the news industry, especially for conservative voices. Many writers have lost their jobs due to this trend.
  2. The government and media are working hard to change public perception of unpopular leaders. They are trying to convince people to like the vice president, despite her low approval ratings.
  3. There is increasing tension and vandalism related to political protests, with some groups targeting historical monuments and individuals in provocative ways.

How Should We Think About Race And "Lived Experience"?

Astral Codex Ten • 25672 implied HN points • 07 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Race Identity Ethnicity Community Cancel Culture
  1. Race is often defined not just by genetics, but by a combination of formative experiences and cultural identity.
  2. The concept of race and identity can have significant implications, such as in cases of cultural appropriation and affirmative action.
  3. Judgments on race and identity can be complex and can have real-life consequences, highlighting the need for balanced considerations in such discussions.

Baby's first PR crisis

Sasha's 'Newsletter' • 4017 implied HN points • 21 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Cancel Culture Social media Political Discourse Public Relations Friendship
  1. Cancel culture can quickly turn a person's life upside down. It often feels more like bullying than actual justice.
  2. People can change their opinions and turn against someone really fast to fit in or make themselves look better. This back-and-forth can hurt businesses and reputations.
  3. It's important to stick by friends during tough times. Real support means standing strong together, even when facing mob mentality.
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Sall Grover gets cancelled in New Zealand, as entirely expected.

A B’Old Woman • 1059 implied HN points • 26 Jun 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Free speech Cancel Culture Political Activism Civil Rights Public Policy
  1. Sall Grover's speaking event in New Zealand was canceled by a taxpayer-funded venue. This shows how some organizations can be influenced by public opinion.
  2. The Women's Rights Party is looking for alternate venues for the event and has a backup plan in place. They believe in standing up for free speech.
  3. Complaints were made against the event, but it's unclear how many were legitimate. It raises questions about how venues handle bookings based on public sentiment.

The last four years were the most repressive of my lifetime

Unsafe Science • 907 implied HN points • 17 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Free speech Cancel Culture Political Ideologies Higher education Social movements
  1. Over the last few years, many people have felt pressured to censor themselves due to fear of backlash from others. This fear often came from their peers, rather than any single leader or group.
  2. The culture of intolerance has created an environment where speaking out against popular opinions can lead to serious personal and professional consequences, making many people afraid to express their true thoughts.
  3. This situation has led to what some term a 'spiral of silence,' where the majority of people feel they can't speak up because they believe they are alone in their views, even when they actually share those views with many others.

How Rupert Murdoch and Fox News Blew the Voting Machine Lawsuit

Peter Navarro's Taking Back Trump's America • 2417 implied HN points • 17 Apr 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media Free speech Lawsuits Cancel Culture First Amendment
  1. The lawsuit against Fox News had a chilling effect on free speech by intimidating people from speaking out.
  2. Fox News failed to investigate voting machine tampering allegations, which may have weakened their defense.
  3. The lawsuit may lead Fox to settle, setting a precedent that lawsuits can silence news organizations.

The Manhattan Institute Deleted This Article

Karlstack • 472 implied HN points • 26 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Cancel Culture Online Harassment Academic Freedom Media influence Political Extremism
  1. A man named Oliver D. Smith has been targeting academics in the field of intelligence research, using online trolling and legal threats to disrupt their careers.
  2. The Manhattan Institute removed an article critical of Smith after he reached a private settlement with them, raising questions about his influence and tactics.
  3. Smith's actions have led to real harm for academics, including job losses, by promoting misinformation about their work on platforms like RationalWiki.

The Canceling of the American Mind Explains the Silence of University Leaders Last Week

After Babel • 2868 implied HN points • 17 Oct 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Higher education Cancel Culture Free speech
  1. The book 'The Canceling of the American Mind' by Greg Lukianoff and Rikki Schlott explores the impact of cancel culture in various fields.
  2. The silence of university leaders after recent events raises questions about fear and self-censorship.
  3. American higher education institutions need to address the challenges posed by cancel culture and prioritize free speech to regain trust.

Universiteten välkomnar en viss sorts politisk aktivism

Rak höger med Ivar Arpi • 707 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Academic Freedom Cancel Culture Political Activism Freedom of Speech Higher education
  1. Universities are selective in addressing challenges to academic freedom, with instances of cancel culture being omitted in responses.
  2. There is a discrepancy between how universities present academic freedom and the actual management of challenges and controversies within academic institutions.
  3. Some universities tend to prioritize certain ideologies and political activism, creating tensions around issues like cancel culture and academic freedom.

Samiska aktivister försöker tvinga bort Jonny Hjelm

Rak höger med Ivar Arpi • 589 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Academic Freedom Colonialism Cancel Culture Research Ethics
  1. Samiska aktivister kritiserar Umeå universitet för kursinnehållet som handlar om samer, och anser att en icke-same som Jonny Hjelm inte borde studera detta.
  2. Akademisk frihet och öppen debatt är viktiga värden på universitet enligt fördrag som Umeå universitet har skrivit under.
  3. Det finns oro kring hur aktivister och media porträtterar en kurs om samer vid Umeå universitet, och det finns frågor kring varför det inte finns offentligt stöd från institutionen eller forskarkollegor för den kursansvarige.

Is cancel culture a panic? A review of The Cancel Culture Panic by Adrian Daub

The Path Not Taken • 176 implied HN points • 22 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Cancel Culture Freedom of Speech Academic Freedom
  1. Cancel culture is sometimes seen as overhyped, mainly by conservatives, who use it to avoid discussing deeper issues like job security and accountability. This suggests that some debates may be more about politics than actual problems.
  2. The book points out that while there are real cases of people being canceled, these examples might be getting too much attention compared to the bigger picture. The significance of individual cases needs to be carefully assessed.
  3. Self-censorship is an important part of the free speech debate, but some critiques downplay its seriousness. This means we should consider how people might silence themselves in discussions, especially in academic settings.

Woody Allen thinks cancel culture is “silly”

The Shift With Sam Baker • 519 implied HN points • 07 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Cancel Culture Film Industry Sexual misconduct Patriarchy
  1. Cancel culture is seen as 'silly' by Woody Allen, especially for powerful white middle-aged/elderly men who often escape being canceled.
  2. At the Venice Film Festival, directors accused of sexual misconduct have been given platforms and even standing ovations, raising questions about who gets multiple chances in the industry.
  3. The industry's treatment of powerful middle-aged/elderly white men accused of wrongdoings highlights disparities in who receives forgiveness or opportunities for redemption.

Curator

Castalia • 239 implied HN points • 03 Jul 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Cancel Culture Political Ideologies Free speech Economic Policies
  1. Cancel culture is a hot topic, and opinions about it vary widely. Some say it doesn't exist or is blown out of proportion, while others argue it's a real issue affecting free speech.
  2. The left needs to refresh its focus on core economic equality issues instead of getting stuck on cultural fights. People are moving towards the right because the left isn't addressing these important topics.
  3. AI is changing how we work and making jobs more tedious. While it can produce impressive results, it often hides the hard labor of many people who help make it possible.

Canceling the American Mind

Holodoxa • 179 implied HN points • 20 Oct 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Free speech Cancel Culture Academic Freedom Political Discourse
  1. Issues related to freedom of expression are prominent in American public discourse, especially in the current era.
  2. Cancel Culture has spread widely, impacting discourse and leading to consequences for freedom of expression.
  3. Strategies like defining Cancel Culture, examining rhetorical fortresses, and proposing changes in education can help mitigate the impacts of censorious attitudes.

Odds and ends

Disaffected Newsletter • 639 implied HN points • 05 Oct 22
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political issues Culture Wars Cancel Culture Personal narrative
  1. The author resigned from a long-term job because they feel they are being cancelled for their views on social issues. It highlights the impact of cultural conversations on personal and professional lives.
  2. They emphasize the importance of a nonprofit they worked for that helps families with funeral planning and costs. The organization continues to do good work despite the author's departure.
  3. The author is focusing on a podcast project called Disaffected and is seeking paid subscriptions to support their work. They mention the collaborative effort with a friend to improve their show.

Cancel Culture Datapalooza

Dreams in the Which House • 117 implied HN points • 28 Jun 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Cancel Culture Free speech Academic Freedom Political Narrative Statistics
  1. The numbers around 'Cancel Culture' incidents are a topic of debate, especially in academia.
  2. In evaluating these numbers, it's crucial to consider the context of the data and how it's presented.
  3. Comparing modern 'Cancel Culture' scenarios with historical events like McCarthyism reveals nuances and complexities.

Cancel Culture Questions, Part 1

Dreams in the Which House • 98 implied HN points • 20 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Cancel Culture Public Discourse Media Academia Literature
  1. Cancel culture cases aren't just about celebrities, but also impact many less known individuals
  2. The fear of self-censorship due to cancel culture is not well-supported, especially as it often stems from prominent figures and lacks widespread factual basis
  3. Criticism of cancel culture narratives should involve more thorough fact-checking and not rely solely on anecdotes for evidence

The Rise of the Right Wing Woke

Random Minds by Katherine Brodsky • 163 implied HN points • 10 May 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Cancel Culture Symbols Identity politics Echo Chambers
  1. The rise of the right wing 'woke' has led to a shift in identity politics, victimhood culture, and cancel culture tactics towards the conservative side.
  2. The 'woke right' mirrors the behavior of the 'woke left' by adopting symbols, engaging in book bans, and suppressing freedom of expression.
  3. Echo chambers and intolerance are prevalent among the 'woke right,' leading to a reluctance to engage with opposing viewpoints and an increase in ideological polarization.

The True Darkness of Cancel Culture

American Dreaming • 123 implied HN points • 28 Apr 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Cancel Culture Political violence Authoritarianism
  1. Cancel culture is more than just public figures losing jobs, it's a mentality that can lead to extreme consequences.
  2. Turning disagreements into attacks on a person rather than their arguments can lead down a dark path.
  3. The cancel culture mentality is part of a broader authoritarian mindset, and can ultimately result in violence and even assassination attempts.

Who is Cancel Culture Discourse For?

Dreams in the Which House • 39 implied HN points • 20 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Cancel Culture Discourse Culture Wars
  1. The discourse around cancel culture is well-established and transfers easily across different contexts.
  2. For certain audiences, the fear of cancel culture can dissolve democratic antinomies in a temporary and aesthetic way.
  3. The discourse on cancel culture hovers between incompatible poles, claiming both simultaneously by constructing an opposing 'culture' that few affirmatively identify with.

Problematic readers

The Leftovers • 39 implied HN points • 06 Sep 22
🎭️ Culture Literary Criticism Cancel Culture
  1. Author discusses the idea of categorizing "problematic" readers as opposed to authors, reflecting on the nature of online discourse and cancel culture.
  2. The author expresses discomfort with the practice of creating blacklists, even for individuals deserving of criticism, highlighting a broader concern around the impact of such actions.
  3. The post explores the concept of classifying readers based on problematic behavior, suggesting a shift in focus towards understanding reader behavior in online literary circles.