Nobel Prize Scientist TIM HUNT fired!

[Super Kami Dende]

Hey look guys, Shinra is back.

This story is ridiculous. I'd much rather 1 of him over 100 of the overly offended people of the world.

[Jaxi]

He still has the nobel prize get over it. He shouldn't be above repercussion because of it.

Of course not above repercussions, but a complete ostracism from the scientific community for this kind of joke is absurd. This is the problem with social justice, it's more about straight up revenge than actual justice, and the truth need not apply. Example? Your original post. You completely misrepresented what happened, and then you somehow bring white privilege into the fold. Seriously, lynch mobs of the internet need to chill out.

[Goatlust]

Political correctness bullshit going too far again. An esteemed old fellow isn't allowed to make one silly comment without having his life torn apart. It absolutely disgusts me.

[Shinra1]

He got fired over a joke. What privalege?

You can downplay it as a 'just a joke' all you like but if I used this same logic for a white man making a racially motivated joke at a civil rights movement event would be acceptable when in practice a racist joke is not acceptable so why should a sexist one be? 'oh but he's old' exactly he's an old failing man he should enjoy his last years instead of running off the papers crying when criticised which is ironic considering his joke.

[Jaxi]

I think it's a pertinent point to mention his ethnicity because being white gives him a whole lot of privilege that many people lack

This is a stupid statement. You cannot judge the conditions of a person's life by their skin color alone. You have absolutely no knowledge past a quick google search about this man's life.

[Grim32]

I think it's a pertinent point to mention his ethnicity because being white gives him a whole lot of privilege that many people lack and it demonstrates his ignorance and insensitivity to gender issues.

I don't see why you're upset that I mentioned he's white. You appear to have taken it as an attack on all white men.

You mean it isn't? Your post screamed someone who had their feels hurt. He shouldn't of been fired - he should of at BEST had a warning. Clear case here of 'social justice' BS.

[arandomuser]

i dont think hes sexist, he made a joke, he probably as aspergers like most scientist and wasnt good at making it a joke.

[zorkuus]

You can downplay it as a 'just a joke' all you like

Yes I can because you completely misrepresented his joke.

[Kalis]

If my company sent me to a conference and I made an ignorant remark criticising the group of people that the conference was made for then I wouldn't be surprised to get fired. This is all that's happened here. He's been fired from his job because he has embarrassed his employers.

He still has the nobel prize get over it. He shouldn't be above repercussion because of it.

His employers didn't send him to the conference, he was invited, and the conference he attended was for science journalism not female scientists.

[Shinra1]

Of course not above repercussions, but a complete ostracism from the scientific community for this kind of joke is absurd. This is the problem with social justice, it's more about straight up revenge than actual justice, and the truth need not apply. Example? Your original post. You completely misrepresented what happened, and then you somehow bring white privilege into the fold. Seriously, lynch mobs of the internet need to chill out.

His comments and subsequent weak apology were far below the standards of a professional scientist. It made him sound like a bit of a tit.

"Silly", "mild", "just harmless fun"...

We're so used to sexism that we're not able to see what's right in front of us. He's a sexist old fool.

[Strangebrew]

We are creating a society of victims and hyper-sensitive people, what a wonderful future we have ahead.

[Deleted]

He's a sexist old fool.

He was not opressed enough to joke.

[Pull My Finger]

What's the big deal? Fuck that guy. Why shouldn't they sack him? He's a useless old tool. He was just a "honorary professor", meaning, he does jack shit and they only let him fart around the place for the prestige because he got himself a Nobel Prize 15 years ago. And his moronic social views and remarks aren't exactly positive prestige.

[Shibito]

Im offended as a white male for beeing put in the white male category, so i demand justice!

[Puupi]

He's a sexist old fool.

Even if that were true, so what? The world is full of sexist old fools.

[Kivimetsan]

He's extremely privileged as a white male

Abandon ship! Head for the hills!

[Deleted]

"Let me tell you about my trouble with girls … three things happen when they are in the lab … You fall in love with them, they fall in love with you and when you criticise them, they cry."

This doesnt belong anywhere joke or not

[Deleted]

I think it's a pertinent point to mention his ethnicity because being white gives him a whole lot of privilege


- - - Updated - - -professorship.

could you maybe give us a couple examples?

[Aydinx2]

I think it's a pertinent point to mention his ethnicity because being white gives him a whole lot of privilege that many people lack and it demonstrates his ignorance and insensitivity to gender issues.

I don't see why you're upset that I mentioned he's white. You appear to have taken it as an attack on all white men.

The colour of a persons skin doesn't have any influence on that persons ability to percieve problems or issues.
The fact that you judge him and his qualities based on his skin colour is blatant racism.

And yes, when you make deductions based on a persons skin colour, it is an attack on all people who share that skin colour.


This is basic Tumblr 101: thinking you're defending someone by being racist.

[Shinra1]

Yes I can because you completely misrepresented his joke.

No he said to the bbc that his joke was honest and that he believed some of what he said that doesn't sound like much of an apology to me especially with so many already having a hard time in science because of centuries of misogyny.

I really dislike the argument that says he should be forgiven because of his contribution to science. He shouldn't be on those grounds. We've finally managed to address historical abuse cases against celebrities who were seen as untouchable - I don't believe anyone is above being reprimanded as necessary. But if he had properly apologised, I would have supported him.

If he'd apologised, and retracted his comment, I'd have supported him. I don't think we can have comments like this (even a 'joke' gone wrong, because the line between jokes and bullying can be a wavy one) accepted, especially by prominent field leaders in positions of power - however in his apology he didn't seem at all repentant.