The Atlantic: Why the left is so afraid of Jordan Peterson

Deleted member 18568 · Aug 10, 2018

This analysis on the popularity of Era's favorite intellectual is doing major rounds on social media.

Essentially it's about how many young voters' silent rejection of identity politics will lead to more Trumps.

Not sure I agree with the correlation - the alt-right is also obsessed with identity politics (for the opppsite reasons obviously), but food for thought with election coming up and polls almost always being wrong:

https://www.theatlantic.com/amp/article/567110/

Edited in quotes for the lazy:

Two years ago, I walked downstairs and saw one of my teenage sons watching a strange YouTube video on the television.

"What is that?" I asked.

He turned to me earnestly and explained, "It's a psychology professor at the University of Toronto talking about Canadian law."

"Huh?" I said, but he had already turned back to the screen. I figured he had finally gotten to the end of the internet, and this was the very last thing on it.

The alarms sounded when Peterson published what quickly became a massive bestseller, 12 Rules for Life, because books are something that the left recognizes as drivers of culture. The book became the occasion for vicious profiles and editorials, but it was difficult to attack the work on ideological grounds, because it was an apolitical self-help book that was at once more literary and more helpful than most, and that was moreover a commercial success. All of this frustrated the critics. It's just common sense! they would say, in one arch way or another, and that in itself was telling: Why were they so angry about common sense?

xbhaskarx · Aug 10, 2018

https://twitter.com/JBPorCleric/status/979525958528065536

https://twitter.com/JBPorCleric/status/979346934853849088

Skelepuzzle · Aug 10, 2018

Vibri said:
rejection of identity politics

Hmm, whatever could this mean?

Rag · Aug 10, 2018

I feel like I'm part of the left and only have the vaguest notion of who the fuck this guy is.

Crossing Eden · Aug 10, 2018

Fuck JP

danm999 · Aug 10, 2018

Lol imagine thinking Peterson doesn't do identity politics.

Dude was caping for incels for god's sake.

Nude_Tayne · Aug 10, 2018

Rag said:
I feel like I'm part of the left and only have the vaguest notion of who the fuck this guy is.

some fuckin weirdo.

Geist · Aug 10, 2018

Lmao, the left isn't afraid of JP, we just think he's a giant piece of shit.

danm999 · Aug 10, 2018

Yikes re-reading this Caitlin Flanagan is a hack.

Like, here's her trying to get into the mind of why someone doesn't like Peterson.

There are plenty of reasons for individual readers to dislike Jordan Peterson. He's a Jungian and that isn't your cup of tea; he is, by his own admission, a very serious person and you think he should lighten up now and then; you find him boring; you're not interested in either identity politics or in the arguments against it. There are many legitimate reasons to disagree with him on a number of subjects, and many people of good will do. But there is no coherent reason for the left's obliterating and irrational hatred of Jordan Peterson. What, then, accounts for it?

Yeah, nailed it Caitlin, it's because he's a Jungian and very serious in tone.

It couldn't be the sexism or the transphobia could it? The very prominent transphobia that propelled him into the public eye? Oh but she covers that;

There is also the inaccurate belief that he refuses to refer to transgender people by the gendered pronoun conforming to their identity. What he refuses to do is to abide by any laws that could require compelled speech.

See, JP isn't a transphobe, he just hates laws that inhibit speech. Which is a hilarious thing to say about the man currently suing a University for defamation to the tune of millions of dollars.

Total hack.

Royalan · Aug 10, 2018

Stop trying to make Jordan Peterson happen. He's not going to happen.

Anecdotal of course, but I know absolutely nobody who has even the faintest idea of who Jordan Peterson is. This obsession with his threat among a particular set is strange to me.

American Eskimo · Aug 10, 2018

Rag said:
I feel like I'm part of the left and only have the vaguest notion of who the fuck this guy is.

Im with you buddy.

I feel like granpa wondering why the kids are obsessed over the newest Nintendo. Just go outside so I can watch my Jeopardy

Metallix87 · Aug 10, 2018

I'll never understand the fascination with this guy. For every thing he says that's vaguely intelligent-sounding, he says dozens of things that sound completely moronic. Why is he constantly being discussed? How did he get so popular?

Alucrid · Aug 10, 2018

sounds like she published her rationalization as to why her son isn't a loser for loving jordan peterson

Chasex · Aug 10, 2018

Damn, this writer nailed it. Bravo.

Cocaloch · Aug 10, 2018

danm999 said:
.

I actually feel like the fact that he's a Jungian is quite related to his specific brand of metaphysical nonsense. I try to be open minded, but I place that sort of stuff on the same level as people that are into crystals. Add everything else he does to it and it's clear he's at best a well meaning moron that supports actively hurtful approaches to understanding society.

Lugia · Aug 10, 2018

Royalan said:
Stop trying to make Jordan Peterson happen. He's not going to happen.

Unfortunately he is happening. We're talking about him right now, look at the gain of his social media followers everyday.

This guy is clearly is influencing people.

Deleted member 15326 · Aug 10, 2018

you came back from that ban with this?

The Canadian psychology professor's stardom is evidence that leftism is on the decline—and deeply vulnerable.

please get the fuck out of all of my faces with this

PhoncipleBone · Aug 10, 2018

Royalan said:
Stop trying to make Jordan Peterson happen. He's not going to happen.

Anecdotal of course, but I know absolutely nobody who has even the faintest idea of who Jordan Peterson is. This obsession with his threat among a particular set is strange to me.

His book has sold like mad, and continues to sell (although it has thankfully slowed down). But hopefully people just stop paying attention to him and he disappears.

KillLaCam · Aug 10, 2018

whomst?

Deleted member 8561 · Aug 10, 2018

Vibri said:
This analysis on the popularity of Era's favorite intellectual is doing major rounds on social media.

Essentially it's about how many young voters' silent rejection of identity politics will lead to more Trumps.

Not sure I agree with the correlation - the alt-right is also obsessed with identity politics (for the opppsite reasons obviously), but food for thought:

https://www.theatlantic.com/amp/article/567110/

Except this is literally the opposite of what is happening and Peterson's core fanbase is very much created from a specific message crafted for a specific type of consumer.

It's the complete embrace of white male identity politics, who's world view is that being a white (straight) male means you're inherently at a disadvantage in society.

Hours Left · Aug 10, 2018

His bigotry disguised in faux intellectualism has me quaking in my boots.

Deleted member 15326 · Aug 10, 2018

TheLostBigBoss said:
Except this is literally the opposite of what is happening and Peterson's core fanbase is very much created from a specific message crafted for a specific type of consumer.

It's the complete embrace of white male identity politics, who's world view is that being a white (straight) male means you're inherently at a disadvantage in society.

lol right?

all these hacks trade off gullible white men feeling like society has turned on them

Deleted member 18568 · Aug 10, 2018

Labor said:
you came back from that ban with this?

please get the fuck out of all of my faces with this

This is not about me. There's an article posted with arguments you're welcome to address.

Deleted member 8561 · Aug 10, 2018

Metallix87 said:
I'll never understand the fascination with this guy. For every thing he says that's vaguely intelligent-sounding, he says dozens of things that sound completely moronic. Why is he constantly being discussed? How did he get so popular?

Imagine Fight Club, but instead of a bunch of aimless young men following a lunatic who rambles and talks about himself in the third person in the basement of a dilapidated house, they follow a lunatic who rambles and talks about himself in the basement of their parents dilapidated house, on youtube.

But if you buy his book, you'll learn the key steps to turn that dilapidated house into a clean dilapidated house!

Cryptosporidium · Aug 10, 2018

Royalan said:
Stop trying to make Jordan Peterson happen. He's not going to happen.

Anecdotal of course, but I know absolutely nobody who has even the faintest idea of who Jordan Peterson is. This obsession with his threat among a particular set is strange to me.

Hes very well known from where i am in BC

Blue Ninja · Aug 10, 2018

American Eskimo said:
Im with you buddy.

I feel like granpa wondering why the kids are obsessed over the newest Nintendo. Just go outside so I can watch my Jeopardy

I've got a few friends who are way into the guy and keep sending me stuff, but I mostly just don't care what some random guy has to say about how he sees the world.

Deleted member 15326 · Aug 10, 2018

Vibri said:
This is not about me. There's an article posted with arguments you're welcome to address.

Neither your concern trolling about the left not Jordan Peterson's ideas are worth more than five seconds of serious thought.

Now, if the idea is that ignoring Peterson's radicalization of young gullible men, done through convincing them that politics centered around their identities are good but politics that include people not like them are bad, is dangerous for normal people then that I can agree with.

Crossing Eden · Aug 10, 2018

Chasex said:
Damn, this writer nailed it. Bravo.

How did the writer nail it when they completely missed the mark on why so many people hate Jordan Peterson's pseudo intellectual BS?

Royalan · Aug 10, 2018

Lugia said:
Unfortunately he is happening. We're talking about him right now, look at the gain of his social media followers everyday.

This guy is clearly is influencing people.

I mean, on a certain level I see what you're saying (and you're right). But then part of me also acknowledges that we're in the age of social media, where there's a new idiot gaining a following every day. We are literally in an age where a white girl years away from being old enough to vote is now one of the most-followed people on Instagram, with a burgeoning rap career, and all because she went on Dr. Phil and said the words "Cash me outside, how 'bout dat?" Peterson gaining a following doesn't challenge me, because I really don't see that following spreading to people that wouldn't be talking about him anyway. He isn't saying anything new. As long as I've been aware, there's always been the dressed-up white male "intellectual" spewing bigoted nonsense. Peterson is tapping into a cultural moment, but he isn't anything special.

Now, when I see his brand of shit on TheShadeRoom, then I'll be afraid. Because it'll mean his influence is actually growing.

Raiku · Aug 10, 2018

I think alot of people on this forum do though. Oh, I though that Jim Jefferies interview was funny. Sbout it.

DorkLord54 · Aug 10, 2018

Metallix87 said:
I'll never understand the fascination with this guy. For every thing he says that's vaguely intelligent-sounding, he says dozens of things that sound completely moronic. Why is he constantly being discussed? How did he get so popular?

Some people are looking for a daddy to guide them, even if he's a lobster daddy who is knowingly leading people to regressive tradconism.

Nude_Tayne · Aug 10, 2018

Crossing Eden said:
How did the writer nail it when they completely missed the mark on why so many people hate Jordan Peterson's pseudo intellectual BS?

It's natural to hate that which is intellectually superior to oneself. It's a fear-based reaction. It's what separates the betas from the alphas.

Chadtwo · Aug 10, 2018

...Is the left frightened with Jordan Peterson?

Oh wait it's Caitlin Flanagan, nevermind.

Hypron · Aug 10, 2018

Nude_Tayne said:
It's natural to hate that which is intellectually superior to oneself. It's a fear-based reaction. It's what separates the betas from the alphas.

This is one of those cases where I can't tell whether this is sarcasm or not.

Deleted member 8561 · Aug 10, 2018

The boys graduated from high school and went off to colleges where they were exposed to the kind of policed discourse that dominates American campuses. They did not make waves; they did not confront the students who were raging about cultural appropriation and violent speech; in fact, they forged close friendships with many of them. They studied and wrote essays and—in their dorm rooms, on the bus to away games, while they were working out—began listening to more and more podcasts and lectures by this man, Jordan Peterson.

The young men voted for Hillary, they called home in shock when Trump won, they talked about flipping the House, and they followed Peterson to other podcasts—to Sam Harris and Dave Rubin and Joe Rogan. What they were getting from these lectures and discussions, often lengthy and often on arcane subjects, was perhaps the only sustained argument against identity politics they had heard in their lives.

That might seem like a small thing, but it's not. With identity politics off the table, it was possible to talk about all kinds of things—religion, philosophy, history, myth—in a different way. They could have a direct experience with ideas, not one mediated by ideology. All of these young people, without quite realizing it, were joining a huge group of American college students who were pursuing a parallel curriculum, right under the noses of the people who were delivering their official educations.

There is a running theme here about the very specific group of people who keep listening to these podcasts and consume this message, but I just can't put my finger on it!

c20447790fac4ad9999b16024a368617.320x240x158.gif

ProfessorLobo · Aug 10, 2018

I read the whole article, to be honest I don't know why this love letter to Jordan Peterson merits a thread. It was mostly many paragraphs complaining about identity politics.

IrishNinja · Aug 10, 2018

OP this is not a very good piece - no food and even less thought
man i can really see why coates didn't wanna stay around the atlantic forever

Vibri said:
Essentially it's about how many young voters' silent rejection of civil rights will lead to more Trumps.

there, fixed that for you

danm999 said:
Yikes re-reading this Caitlin Flanagan is a hack.

Like, here's her trying to get into the mind of why someone doesn't like Peterson.

Yeah, nailed it Caitlin, it's because he's a Jungian and very serious in tone.

It couldn't be the sexism or the transphobia could it? The very prominent transphobia that propelled him into the public eye? Oh but she covers that;

See, JP isn't a transphobe, he just hates laws that inhibit speech. Which is a hilarious thing to say about the man currently suing a University for defamation to the tune of millions of dollars.

Total hack.

yeah, geez. wasn't familiar with her work before, but damn sure won't be now.

Labor said:
you came back from that ban with this?

please get the fuck out of all of my faces with this

ahahaha, are we sure this isn't ghostwritten by bari weiss

Hypron said:
This is one of those cases where I can't tell whether this is sarcasm or not.

poe's law is in effect mode in threads like these

nemoral · Aug 10, 2018

Peterson mostly bores me. He's an expert for people who don't trust experts, because he tells bigots and scumbags that their hatred is principled. Nothing new, just another demagogue getting rich off stupid angry people.

Palette Swap · Aug 10, 2018

Yeah, I can see how an intellectually thin article that pats itself on the back for obliterating that windmill would appeal to fans of this guy.

Francois Dillinger · Aug 10, 2018

there needs to be an in-depth feature about how the alt-right keeps getting fleeced by these personalities. hell, i can tell young white men that they're angry and all alone in this dangerous world.

Evolution of Metal · Aug 10, 2018

Royalan said:
I mean, on a certain level I see what you're saying (and you're right). But then part of me also acknowledges that we're in the age of social media, where there's a new idiot gaining a following every day. We are literally in an age where a white girl years away from being old enough to vote is now one of the most-followed people on Instagram, with a burgeoning rap career, and all because she went on Dr. Phil and said the words "Cash me outside, how 'bout dat?" Peterson gaining a following doesn't challenge me, because I really don't see that following spreading to people that wouldn't be talking about him anyway. He isn't saying anything new. As long as I've been aware, there's always been the dressed-up white male "intellectual" spewing bigoted nonsense. Peterson is tapping into a cultural moment, but he isn't anything special.

Now, when I see his brand of shit on TheShadeRoom, then I'll be afraid. Because it'll mean his influence is actually growing.

JP isn't a meme or a monthly fascination. If you compare him to the cash me outside girl, you don't understand the power he holds.

Reaches the audience of millions, thousands of followers, the most popular self-help book author, presented as some kind of a leading intellectual on both social media and the the press. Despite his warped beliefs, JP is not making mistakes building the image. He managed to sell religious beliefs to the crowd of agnostics and atheists...

Messofanego · Aug 10, 2018

Caitlin Flanagan? Oh haha, can't take her work seriously.

xbhaskarx said:
https://twitter.com/JBPorCleric/status/979525958528065536

https://twitter.com/JBPorCleric/status/979346934853849088

Lol gonna have to follow this

Deleted member 18568 · Aug 10, 2018

This part is interesting, because I see it used as a criticism a lot and it's one I've agreed with.

The alarms sounded when Peterson published what quickly became a massive bestseller, 12 Rules for Life, because books are something that the left recognizes as drivers of culture. The book became the occasion for vicious profiles and editorials, but it was difficult to attack the work on ideological grounds, because it was an apolitical self-help book that was at once more literary and more helpful than most, and that was moreover a commercial success. All of this frustrated the critics. It's just common sense! they would say, in one arch way or another, and that in itself was telling: Why were they so angry about common sense?

zoukka · Aug 10, 2018

Royalan said:
Stop trying to make Jordan Peterson happen. He's not going to happen.

Anecdotal of course, but I know absolutely nobody who has even the faintest idea of who Jordan Peterson is. This obsession with his threat among a particular set is strange to me.

He happened already. I already know people personally who have started to follow his thoughts and this is outside of US.

Royalan · Aug 10, 2018

Evolution of Metal said:
JP isn't a meme or a monthly fascination. If you compare him to the cash me outside girl, you don't understand the power he holds.

Reaches the audience of millions, thousands of followers, the most popular self-help book author, presented as some kind of a leading intellectual on both social media and the the press. Despite his warped beliefs, JP is not making mistakes building the image. He managed to sell religious beliefs to the crowd of agnostics and atheists...

Don't diminish Bhad Bhabie (the Cash Me Outside girl). She went from a monthly fascination to having a bona fide rap career. Which is my point.

I don't see Peterson's influence growing beyond the type that would be compelled by him regardless of which generation this was. He's certainly amplified by social media and his proximity to what is basically Trumpism. But I don't see him leading any movements.

If anything, at the moment I view him as an indictment of the particular branch of media that remains fascinated by him. The same media that's prone to interviewing armies of Trump supporters in the insistence that eventually we'll learn something new.

Deleted member 15326 · Aug 10, 2018

zoukka said:
He happened already. I already know people personally who have started to follow his thoughts and this is outside of US.

Congrats, you know gullible non-Americans

Cuburger · Aug 10, 2018

I think I've seen the name pop up in a thread title a couple months ago but I have no idea who the guy is.

All I know is Moviebob's new video about Peter Jordanssen makes even more sense now.

So is he basically some red pill author?

Deleted member 14518 · Aug 10, 2018

Chasex said:
Damn, this writer nailed it. Bravo.

(((triggered)))

De Amigo · Aug 10, 2018

Clean your penis bucko.

DorkLord54 · Aug 10, 2018

De Amigo said:
Clean your penis bucko.

I don't think lobsters have penises, though. :(

The Atlantic: Why the left is so afraid of Jordan Peterson

User requested account closure

Prophet of Truth

I can say DEI; you can't.

User Requested Self-Ban

Chicken Photographer

User requested account closure

Community Resettler

Prophet of Truth

user requested account closure

User requested account closure

User requested account closure

user requested account closure

Prophet of Truth

User requested account closure

I can say DEI; you can't.

user requested account closure

Alt-Account

User requested account closure

Game Developer

I can say DEI; you can't.

User requested account closure