Darren Grimes' guest today has a new book out next month, ‘Free Speech and Why It Matters’, which will be published on February 25th. The book comes at a time when the democratically elected President of the US can be kicked off of social media platforms, when banks that used to provide loans to his businesses shut off access to their capital and the new social media Twitter alternative, Parler, loses access to its hosting platform via Amazon Web Services. All of these things suggest there's a real problem when it comes to the new, de facto public square. In realising that we have a problem my guest argues that a new form of social justice activism, which perceives language as potentially violent, has prompted a national debate on where the limitations of acceptable speech should be drawn. So where should they be drawn and how do we go about doing it? 

That guest is of course Andrew Doyle, the writer, comedian and good friend of Twitter legend Titania McGrath. 00:00 - Welcome from Darren Grimes 02:15 - Why we need a book on the importance of free speech 06:35 - Andrew Doyle's religious upbringing 09:45 - How religious are today's social justice movements? 14:51 - Why Andrew reads his Twitter replies 21:40 - The 'gaslighting' around Parler and 'far-right' accusations 33:08 - How do free speech advocates tackle 'disinformation' 37:55 - Does Andrew Doyle still identify as 'Left wing'? 40:44 - Being obsessed with identity politics isn't 'Left wing' 53:27 - Will Titania McGrath place us in the gulags soon? 57:57 - Why we all need to fix the bravery deficit 01:05:34 - Closing remarks Buy Andrew's book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Free-Speech-Why-Matters/dp/034913538X Follow Andrew on Twitter: https://twitter.com/andrewdoyle_com ****** To make sure you never miss a single Reasoned video, click here to subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX469QlvW5gdPCMek-d-kuQ?sub_confirmation=1 Reasoned Conversations with Darren Grimes is also available as a podcast on all good podcast platforms: https://audioboom.com/channels/5028757 Reasoned is fan-funded through monthly and one-time donations: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-us-fund-and-grow-reasoned ****** Follow Reasoned on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReasonedUK Follow Reasoned on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/ReasonedUK Follow Reasoned on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ReasonedUK Follow Darren on Twitter: https://twitter.com/darrengrimes_ Follow Darren on Facebook: https://twitter.com/thedarrengrimes Follow Darren on Instagram: http://Instagram.com/darrengrimes_