DiscussionHas anyone read Cynical Theories, and if so, is it any good?

submitted by lovelyspearmintLesbeing a lesbian from goodreads.com

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[–]julesburm1891 10 insightful - 1 fun10 insightful - 0 fun11 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

Yes. I’ve actually thought about posting about it here a few times.

Background: The authors, Helen Pluckrose and James Lindsay, authored a bunch of fake SJW papers to make a point about how out of control academia has become. Several of these were published. More were slated for publication. And yet, more were told to revise sections before publication. (My personal favorite of the published: “Human Reactions to Rape Culture and Queer Performativity at Urban Dog Parks in Portland, Oregon.”)

The Book: Pluckrose and Lindsay dive into the philosophy and history behind the SJW-madness westerners are living under. The sections on queer theory and intersectional feminism definitely apply to what LGB people are experiencing. They break down the rhetoric and call out the bullshit very well.

TL;DR: the book is good.

[–]lovelyspearmintLesbeing a lesbian[S] 8 insightful - 1 fun8 insightful - 0 fun9 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

That's amazing that they managed to publish those and not have anyone call them out on it (at first)!

[–][deleted] 6 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 0 fun7 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

More on the fake SJW papers:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grievance_studies_affair

[–]latuspodSuper Straight 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Do you, or anyone, know if the papers are available to read anywhere? I would like to read a few of them for laughs.

[–][deleted] 7 insightful - 1 fun7 insightful - 0 fun8 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Without a doubt, it is probably the best collection of thought on the topic in book form and follows a logical progression, rather than piecemeal information. However, I found the book to be very difficult to approach, which is inevitable. I generally don't struggle with material, but I did with this one. It's not casual reading, it's academy-level thought.

Lindsay runs this site: https://newdiscourses.com/translations-from-the-wokish/, I linked you the "encyclopedia" section.

I'd have a gander there, if these two sections for example float your boat, I'd go ahead and get the book:

https://newdiscourses.com/tftw-queer-theory/

https://newdiscourses.com/tftw-discourse/

[–]lovelyspearmintLesbeing a lesbian[S] 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Thank you, I'll check these out :)

[–]latuspodSuper Straight 7 insightful - 1 fun7 insightful - 0 fun8 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

I thought it was really good, probably the best book I read last year, and I plan on re-reading it again this year. I really enjoy Lindsay and Pluckrose I think what they are doing is super important.

[–]BEB 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

I used to read their Twitters, because I admired their expose of the madness of academia, but now I think they're both self- important twerps. But they are still actively making a difference exposing some of the craziness of the Over-Woke, so I tolerate them.

[–]latuspodSuper Straight 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

I've never really been into Twitter. But I have checked out Lindsay's from time to time and he is a little absurd on there.

I would agree that he is self-important, he is one of those people who assume they know better than everyone else. But his website is a nice resource, and there isn't anyone doing a better job than him and Helen at exposing this stuff.

[–]BEB 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Yes, one has to take the good with the bad with them, and they have done a tremendous amount of good work exposing all the craziness.

[–][deleted] 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

I enjoyed the book. (I've read about half). I should pick it up and smash it out sometime. Not light reading lol. Surprisingly Lindsay is way less of a dick when he's not on twitter. He's pretty reasonable and just seems like a big nerd to me.

[–]BEB 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Yes, on Twitter he's a bit...over-the-top.

Pluckrose comes across as a know-it-all Pick Me. I'm guessing she's insufferable in real life.