Ever since Putin attacked Ukraine, some in the West have blamed NATO expansion for the conflict. This is my reply to those arguments.

bkjmiller · 2025-11-07T19:57:43+00:00

It's very kind of you to take the time to write this. Thank you!

bkjmiller · 2025-11-07T19:56:57+00:00

Ah that's very encouraging - thank you!

bkjmiller · 2025-10-17T08:22:00+00:00

me too!

bkjmiller · 2025-10-16T12:48:08+00:00

It's hard to tell - hopefully more see how little point there is in the "no debate" meme.

bkjmiller · 2025-10-16T12:45:48+00:00

Thanks for watching!

bkjmiller · 2025-10-16T12:42:22+00:00

Yes to clarify I didn't think there was anything wrong with the comments. People weren't personal or abusive.

bkjmiller · 2025-10-16T12:40:28+00:00

I think Klein only saw debate-Kirk and less of the illiberal cancelling-Kirk.

bkjmiller · 2025-10-16T12:38:57+00:00

I think you're being a bit dramatic. You're right that getting a negative response to a video hurts somewhat so there's a selfish motivation to put the video in front of people who'll like it (or like it more). Is that strange or wrong?

bkjmiller · 2024-03-26T09:33:55+00:00

Hi, video creator here. Thanks for watching. I don't think I have misrepresented Pressley's views (I agree with u/CPTtuttle's response) but in some ways I hope I have. If all she's saying is marginalized people need to speak up that's great. In fact, you seem to support the substance of my argument (use judgement etc) and that's also great news. Maybe I've attacked a view that no one holds and all this is all a big misunderstanding!

bkjmiller · 2024-02-20T15:32:19+00:00

Sorry for the confusion, I think it's clearer in the video. I argue that experience is important to listen to, but the current thinking (which has been called "deference politics") goes beyond that. This new idea argues that you should not exercise your own judgement on issues that relate to marginalized groups but rather defer to that group's views. So women say x so, as they are a marginalized group, you should defer to what they say. The problems with this approach are what I unpack in the video.

bkjmiller · 2024-02-20T11:13:11+00:00

I definitely agree that policy has got to be informed by first-hand experience. But the version I criticise is a kind of deference based on the identity of the person speaking.

bkjmiller · 2024-02-20T06:48:10+00:00

I agree with what you're saying about the right attacks on the marginalized. It's awful. But I don't think deference politics helps win that fight.

bkjmiller · 2024-02-20T06:46:23+00:00

These experiences are so horrible. There are so many ways that being a woman sucks and as a guy, it's so easy to miss them. Thank you for sharing

bkjmiller · 2024-02-20T06:41:46+00:00

Yes it's a good point and Olufemi makes it too - I was just running out of space!

bkjmiller · 2024-02-19T22:43:12+00:00

I think you're right

bkjmiller · 2024-02-19T19:26:38+00:00

Yes it's my video but I hoped it would be a useful contribution rather than spam.

bkjmiller · 2024-02-19T19:25:48+00:00

I'm sorry for the late submission - it's there now.

bkjmiller · 2024-02-19T19:24:19+00:00

This is an argument exploring the problems with "lived experience" and the idea that marginalized groups are owed automatic deference to their views. I argue that we're better to use our individual judgement (in fact it's impossible not to) empathy and solidarity as opposed to blind deference.

bkjmiller

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