The meaning of a word or phrase is how it’s used, and its use changes with the alacrity of the weather. Kleenex used to be a brand name, now it’s synonymous with facial tissue. Likewise to vacuum became to hoover…. Read More ›
Why My Colleagues Are Idiots
DIVERSE DOES NOT MEAN UNORTHODOX
Here’s a little known fact about human beings. They compete for resources, certainly, but also for higher positions in the social pecking order. That is, I could have made more money in the private sector – still could, in fact… Read More ›
THE OUTCOMES FALLACY
The way to test your argument for validity is what we might call the that’s-like-saying test. You give me your argument, I provide an analogous argument – analogous in the sense of sharing what we call your argument’s argument form… Read More ›
ONE DAY IN AN ESL CLASS
Teacher: Okay class, that’s it for today. Oh, and one last thing. Never use the n-word.Student: What’s the n-word?Teacher: I’m not allowed to say.Student: Huh?! Uh, can you at least tell us how it’s used?Teacher: Sure. It’s the offensive word… Read More ›
TAKING THE REVERSE OUT OF REVERSE DISCRIMINATION
Suppose I’m a black woman who’s just been denied a job, or accommodation, or whatever, because I’m a black woman, notwithstanding that most of my black brothers and sisters are not being denied these things, at least in the community… Read More ›
CAUGHT BETWEEN A ROCK AND THE COULEES
Back in 2003 the University of Lethbridge declined to honour its guarantees of confidentiality, and so for the last 17 years I haven’t served on any University-related committee involving that guarantee. In 2016 academic freedom was placed under constructive suspension… Read More ›
REQUIEM FOR THE UNIVERSITY
Universities are like any other institution. They evolve, they devolve. Sometimes they rise out of the ashes, and sometimes they go the way of the dodo bird. But they always morph. So though I’ve recently come to co-awfulise with my… Read More ›
ADMINSPEAK
Had we been able to complete the tower we’d have been up there to take Him on face to face. And so to prevent this – He’s a jealous god, remember – He broke us up into different languages, so… Read More ›
PREEMPTIVE INSURGENCY
I’ve made no secret elsewhere – but so far not on this blog – of what I take to be the driver of both our moral dispositions and our political arrangements. It is, as Thomas Hobbes argued, the wherewithal to… Read More ›
MOVING THE NEGATION SIGN
It’s one of the oldest tricks in the books, and university administrators have learned to play it with panache. Professor X says or writes something politically incorrect. The media asks for comment, and the dean or president answers, quite correctly,… Read More ›
