RSA Daily

For atheists, rationalists and secular humanists in Australia

Thursday, April 27, 2023

Good morning ,

Brilliant webinar last night with Dr Josh Roose, speaking about the worrying rise of 'strong men' around the world and what's behind the phenomenon. Like Tucker Carlson, a dislikable man whose dislikes have unfortunately been significantly influential in America. So, interesting to watch another 'strong man' take him down. Commercial necessity, or the playing out of male egos?

Lead stories

So much material, so few facts. Here's some possible reasons why Murdoch sacked Tucker Carlson:

• the prospect of a lawsuit by Abby Grossberg over 'rampant misogyny'
• he "weirded out Rupert Murdoch with religious rhetoric"
• he criticised Fox News leadership
• he lost advertisers
• a potential defamation suit by 66-year-old, Trump supporter Ray Epps.

Couldn't happen to a nicer bloke.

I hold no candle for headmasters of exclusive boys' schools but I must admit I admire this guy's pushback: "When things go wrong, such as scavenger hunts or online chat rooms or alleged animal cruelty, the tabloids and virtuous trolls whip up a frenzy of public shaming and virtue signalling in blaming schools and students for causing these kinds of problems .. not to say these things aren’t wrong – on the contrary, they are not only wrong, but they can also be criminal .. what I am saying is that the wrongful act does not justify the pillorying, shaming and vilification of students and their schools by the media or anyone else." 

Always instructive to listen to what Ken Henry says about the economy. The treasurer will hand down Labor's budget on 9 May and pressure is growing for it to be more ambitious ...

Steven Pinker has written many foundational books. Among the best is The Blank State, in which he argues against the idea that humans are born as a 'blank slate' that is totally formed by socialisation. While education and socialisation are influential, biology is far more important in shaping humans' behaviours and personalities. Nature outweighs nurture.

Other stories of interest

Five charts that changed the world (made in partnership with the Royal Society)

Fascinating!

Our World in Data: the rise of social media

Worth having a look at this one, given the concerns many, including Jon Haidt, are expressing over the harmful role of social media.

Reject bogus definition of anti-Semitism, human rights groups urge UN

International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism conflates criticism of Israel and its state ideology Zionism with anti-Jewish bigotry.

Got a comment on any of these stories? 

Write to me at president@rationalist.com.au

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