Snowflakes

If one can claim to be ignored by the mainstream media, no-platformed by universities or silenced by snowflakes, the capacity to attract attention online is all the greater. This tactic is not the preserve of the right. Corbynistas make great play of how their rallies and achievements are ignored by the media. Outspoken remainers such as Andrew Adonis and Alastair Campbell have suggested that some sort of cover-up is under way at the BBC, which is suppressing criticism of Brexit. Framing editorial judgment as censorship provokes greater passion and engagement, just as the judgment of scholars is portrayed as a censorious imposition of their own leftist prejudices. The perennial irony of all free speech controversies is how much attention they end up bestowing on apparently censored and dangerous views.