General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Professor Bans Student for Rape Views [View all]alp227
(32,117 posts)PZ Myers put it: "If a student is never made uncomfortable, that student is not getting an education."
Again, there's a difference between intentionally inflicting emotional distress on others (name-calling, inflammatory language) vs. explaining new ideas. If one can't make an argument without being an asshole, people aren't going to listen to the argument. Plain and simple. For example, even though I very strongly disagree with the message, I can see where "here's the case why homosexuality is wrong" is in a way, way different league than "homosexuals should be executed because they are harming the public". A gay student in a class with a professor spewing that kind of garbage is going to be made uncomfortable, in both cases. But we've got to look at the speaker's intent here.