I’m too tired to write much about #TheLetter in Harper’s. This is hardly the most important issue today, and it's a bit shameful that these signatories decided this is what should be taking up oxygen right now. (And I respect some of them, which makes this even harder.) 1/7

I agree with what @chanders says here https://twitter.com/Chanders/status/1280758420203806720 and what @jilliancyork says here https://twitter.com/jilliancyork/status/1280780821054599168 2/7

"Cancel culture" is not a thing. There has always been criticism of public figures that called for them not to enjoy their public status anymore. It’s true, we as a society are recalibrating how we react when someone publicly says something others find hateful. 3/7

This is not surprising, we’re still quite new to a world in which so many can speak so quickly, and those who speak are so immediately confronted by their critics. And it is a hot time to be figuring this all out, we could still make some adjustments. 4/7

But if you’re going to step into a public debate on a topic of political import, that is you signing on for public debate, including that fact that some people will say you’re full of crap. 5/7

So do your homework. Find ways to advance the debate you care about that aren’t hateful, that don’t punch down, that understand the complexity of the problem, and that argue in good faith. It’s actually not that hard. But its your public obligation. 6/7

And if you’re going to worry about free speech, find some more pressing cases of people whose speech is truly, brutally silenced, use your public prominence to advocate for them. 7/7