TRIGGERnometry Brendan O'Neill: "2020 Has Been a Disaster for Freedom"
Dec 13, 2020
Brendan O'Neill, Editor of Spiked magazine, offers a critical take on the erosion of freedom in 2020. He discusses how the pandemic has deepened societal divisions and weakened community bonds, as outrage culture rises. The conversation reveals tensions between the Black Lives Matter movement and football, critiquing virtue signaling in sports. O'Neill also highlights the disillusionment of working-class voters with traditional parties, the shift in Eton College's ideology, and the complex issues surrounding gender identity and medical ethics.
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Erosion of Freedom
- 2020 severely damaged civil liberties, but the deeper issue is the erosion of the culture of freedom.
- Constant micromanagement corrodes individual confidence and responsibility.
Conformism vs. Solidarity
- Demanding conformism under the guise of social responsibility undermines true solidarity.
- Authoritarianism breeds distrust, hindering communities' ability to handle crises effectively.
Social Media's Role
- Social media amplified division and distrust during the pandemic.
- Initial solidarity quickly devolved into finger-pointing and public shaming.