Imagine my surprise. Late last summer, I got an email from the Oxford Union formally inviting me to debate the proposition “This House Believes Woke Culture Has Gone Too Far.” Then, a month or so after I accepted, while on a flight across the country to Southern California, I happened to stumble upon the Oxford Union debate schedule page a few hours after it was posted only to discover that the house had placed me in the opposition to the proposition. That is, Oxford Union had deemed that I do not believe Woke culture has gone too far. I was to be up against Toby Young, Konstantin Kisin, and Charlie Kirk, which was a considerable shock. I had no idea who the people on my side were.

I was also pretty excited because it was an opportunity of a lifetime for me. I was going to get to take something like the Grievance Studies Affair to Oxford, live and in person, as myself.

After sitting on this news for a few weeks, assuming the Oxford Union would realize its mistake and cancel me, seeing as the proposition side of the debate was already full, the decisive need to make travel arrangements loomed, so I emailed the Oxford Union to point out their error. Of course, I also made it clear I was willing and able to accept the side of the debate to which I had been assigned. The Oxford Union replied fairly promptly, saying, “We did not know that Dr Lindsay wanted to speak on the proposition side of the debate. However, at this point, the proposition side is full. Is there any chance Dr Lindsay can speak on the opposition side?” Obviously, I eagerly insisted that I could and would.

Read more: https://newdiscourses.com/2023/01/james-lindsay-goes-to-oxford/

-James Lindsay

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ABOUT THE OXFORD UNION SOCIETY: The Oxford Union is the world's most prestigious debating society, with an unparalleled reputation for bringing international guests and speakers to Oxford. Since 1823, the Union has been promoting debate and discussion not just in Oxford University, but across the globe.

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