Is free speech a fiction? In conversation with Lionel Shriver

Renowned writer and author Lionel Shriver discusses her latest book, cultural appropriation, free speech and more with Academy of Ideas Director Claire Fox in this compelling in conversation filmed at the Battle of Ideas. Her refusal to conform in the face of much malevolent name calling is inspiring. Her call to arms, for under thirties to stand up against contemporary censorship is something WORLDwrite and our Citizen TV station WORLDbytes is working hard to facilitate. This is a must watch and share.

[@paul-xt5pp]

I was at a writer's conference last year listening to someone going on about cultural appropriation, the Penguin quota thing, and "a well-known writer whose name we shall not mention". At that point I sat up. They were so keen to denigrate your comments but too scared to say your name. I went home and did a bit of research and found out that they were talking about you, Ms Shriver. Cowards and bigots all riding their pathetic bandwagon. Boils my piss, it really does! Good interview here, by the way, thanks.

[@zxyatiywariii8]

I despise that term, "cultural appropriation". When the "Moana" Disney movie came out, I was looking forward to little girls and boys coming to our house on Halloween dressed as Moana or Maui -- heroes from my own Polynesian heritage! Even though no one else in our neighborhood is Polynesian. Then a bourgeoisie White woman wrote a blog about why White and Black children shouldn't "appropriate" Polynesian culture; and even our local Target freaked out and pulled their Moana and Maui costumes off the shelves, for fear of offending the SJWs like the non-Polynesian, bourgeoisie woman who wrote the blog. Culture is like love, it grows by sharing. It can't be "appropriated" -- that's not even possible. What do I lose, when someone shares something from my culture? Even if they do it imperfectly? "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery." But I guess I shouldn't be surprised by the type of people who want to stifle cultural sharing. They don't know love, either. 🤦🏾‍♀️

[@strings-n-keys]

It`s a lady boy (and the one on the right too, most likely) Can`t you see? As a man can you not tell that there is something not quiet right about this 'woman' . The voice, the powerful neck and shoulders, the Adam`s apple, etc. It`s a male-female hybrid, an androgyne. The truth is much weirder than fiction. THEY LIVE! And by the way the right and the left wings belong to the same bird. This is all bullshit.

[@Individual_Lives_Matter]

Julia Walker One of the dumbest comments I’ve ever read on KZbin. Your comment makes you appear small-minded and clueless.

[@donatellasorensen3845]

We don't hate your short stories...I loved this collection! Especially the failure to launch story!!!!

[@andrewcliffe4753]

Degree of free speech permitted is a really good indicator of the absence of authoritarianism in a society

[@tomfreemanorourke1519]

Being 70, lifelong learning, understanding, observation, experience, re-examination 24/7 365. In these days of cognosentient diversity, to write anything and have it published professionally or independently, there will be a conscious cognosentient being from within a collective, or individually, that will, if inclined by whatever they deem offensive or complimentary, vent their complain or praise through all accessible media outlets that they can enter and postulate freely without redress. It is the very essence of freedom of speech.

[@okmelancholico]

Yes, ever since forever I've no problem separating the art from the artist. Most of the people who's works I truly admire seemed pretty asshole-ish or have very difficult characters. But consuming their works has highly positive effect in my life.

[@VictoriaHeal-rq2vl]

I said I do not know why hunters do not take a camera and prize the best photo taken.

[@TessaTickle]

at 58:00 .... to the right of the guy asking the question, is that Andrew Doyle? Was the guy asking the question his boyfriend? Was the friend he was referring to ... Andrew Doyle? :D

[@beachcomberbob3496]

I've often wondered when the word 'gay' got hijacked as a descriptor for homosexuals. The phrase 'gay abandon' now is up for misconstruance.

[@fox39forever]

Bravi!!

[@DavidMorley123]

Videographer: must the microphone be so overbearing? In too many interviews, one can hardly see the participants because the microphone obscures the mouths. To me, it really detracts from the presentation. I like to see the mouths of people together with their voices - otherwise, let's just cut out the video altogether. Otherwise, thanks for a great conversation.

[@TheGeneralDisarray]

Lapel mics. That's what they need.

[@VictoriaHeal-rq2vl]

I took my wife’s Wiccan exploration of her spirituality seriously. When her brother made the pyre for our fire I undid it and made our own, that was not unremarked upon by Nareen. There are many flocks.

[@VictoriaHeal-rq2vl]

Oh I assure you Fayesie approved of Maryann. They had tea.

[@VictoriaHeal-rq2vl]

Fayesie could have said and would have said, go ahead Dear, I think I will have coffee.

[@VictoriaHeal-rq2vl]

Tea is a very intimate repast for Grammy.

[@VictoriaHeal-rq2vl]

Tension with the Matriarch in waiting? Well. That would be new. haha

[@VictoriaHeal-rq2vl]

We brought a rudely revealing painting. There was a lot going on.

[@MidnightRambler]

i blame the lefties

[@VictoriaHeal-rq2vl]

I love what you did there. haha

[@VictoriaHeal-rq2vl]

Yes The Price of Gas that short story was called I think.

[@VictoriaHeal-rq2vl]

Oh no. Me wife was inoculating an indictment they had fomented. 2012 my limbic system had started acting up. It’s what we do, let them take it where they will and survive it whilst accumulating a timeline of evidence. No problems here with anything my ex wife did to demonstrate the way the elites do this to people.

[@worldpeace8299]

How often will you see a writer respond to criticism by saying something like, "You know, now you point this out to me and help me understand it better I realise that there might be something in my privileged position that I am overlooking. Thankyou for pointing this out to be, I will do everything I can to better understand some of the more serious implications of...."? Some people's liberty is often someone else's oppression. Was it Sinclair Lewis that said Never trust an author, it is their job to lie to you persuasively?

[@plumjam]

Oh piss off. Clearly, anything you write would be utterly tedious.

[@themindthatwrites5766]

Why isn't this getting more traction. Fuck.

[@ManInTheBigHat]

No education might be a plus.

[@VictoriaHeal-rq2vl]

Beneath The Planet of the Apes.

[@VictoriaHeal-rq2vl]

No lovelies we do not accept your sanitized version offered. We are not Ángels, we are humans. Not easily replicated by the unevolved. Now about Miss Juanita, upon encountering Hillary at a party and feeling the threat behind elite veneer of politeness.

[@josephinemurphy9421]

it is totally sickening to listen to you people ...talking/acting the way you do ….YOUR'E ENCOURAGING THE CRAP YOUR DEFENDING.

[@seekerout]

What do you mean? Surely, if you want to defend something, encouraging it is a good thing or am I missing something?