Discussion Group – October/November 2025

Our October meeting focused on the Freedom of speech. We found it was a topical subject and attacked it with enthusiasm.

Like any freedom, freedom of speech is limited by the extent to which it cannot harm others. Before the social media era, it was easy to choose an audience and target messages to it, but now, with universal access, it is much easier to offend one group or another. The risk may be cancellation and removal, yet we observed that the cancel culture is less pervasive in recent times.

We also noted that in dictatorships, and under aspiring dictators, freedom is denied to anyone not toeing the official line. Offensive and harmful messages are encouraged if they come from the regime representatives, but can cost people their freedom and even life if they are opposing the official views.

We expressed concerns about the “snowflake” attitudes among the young and discussed at length the situation of islamophobia and antisemitism as concrete examples.

Our next meeting is scheduled for 19 November, when we’ll exchange views on Retirement. Good or Bad?

We are still looking for interested parties to join our group!

Dana Dima, Convenor