There's a video making the rounds on Twitter today in which a bunch of men, in turn, say to the camera, "I
respect women."
Whenever someone makes a public statement like that -- completely uncontroversial, and along the lines of "I'm against cancer" -- and considers himself brave and worthy of applause, I wonder.
What kind of person is this?
Two kinds, for the most part.
(1) Men who strike out with women, and who foolishly expect an anodyne statement like this to make women finally notice and appreciate them.
(2) Genuine predators, who use and discard women, but who think they can cover themselves with a costless, ostentatious display like this.
These things have a way of taking on lives of their own -- as when, years ago, some people in the Libertarian Party demanded that we all sign a letter indicating that we opposed fascism.
Ridiculous, you say? Of course.
I told them to pound sand. I believe in the nonaggression principle. It's obvious I'm against fascism. All this letter will do is associate "fascism" and "libertarianism" in the public mind.
When a bunch of libertarians moved left and went for Bernie, nobody demanded we sign a letter. So the whole thing was the usual double-standard theater, pleading for acceptance from people who will despise us no matter what we do.
Chuck all of this stuff.
Chuck the videos saying things everyone believes and expecting applause. Stop thinking that people who don't even care enough about you to hold you in contempt are dying to read your official statement explaining how reasonable and mainstream you are.
The world has plenty of this drearily predictable pap already. Don't add to it.
The way to avoid "cancel culture" isn't to abase yourself proactively.
At the same time:
There really are people out to get you if you say or think the wrong thing.
But you know who isn't?
My circle of good folks.
I have a private group called TWS Bloggers where we help each other -- with tech questions, or how to build an audience, or whatever people need to know.
Wouldn't it be nice to have hundreds of people who are eager to help you _and_ who won't assume you're a terrible person because you hold dissident views?
Well, when you're ready to start your website or blog -- and at the link below I have a five-minute video that will have you up and running immediately -- make sure to use my link for your hosting, and if you want, you'll be added to that group for free.
Among other bonuses that will give you an unfair advantage.
No abasement required.
Tom Woods