Dennis answers “Why is Peterson getting so much hate?”

Todd Kman asked this question about 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos:

Why is Peterson getting so much hate?

Dennis Victimhood is the new Goldrush and Peterson advises anything but that and promotes silly ideas like taking responsibility. He's also an advocate for m…moreVictimhood is the new Goldrush and Peterson advises anything but that and promotes silly ideas like taking responsibility. He's also an advocate for men, a lot of young men look up to him, he is the defacto internet dad.

He first rose to prominence in 2016 when he opposed Canada's Bill C-16, a controversial piece of legislation that he argued would compel speech by legally requiring the use of preferred gender pronouns. Critics, particularly from progressive circles, viewed his stance as transphobic, while supporters saw it as a principled defense of free speech.

His perceived political leanings draw quite a bit of ire.
Although Peterson denies being far-right, many of his positions (e.g. criticisms of feminism, marriage, social justice movements, identity politics or basically anything woke) have resonated with conservative or anti-woke audiences. His alignment—intentional or not—with these groups makes him a target for critics on the left, who view him as reactionary or regressive.

He's highly critical of academia and the Left.
Peterson frequently criticizes universities, postmodernism, and Marxist ideologies in academia, which has alienated many academics and students. He’s accused of oversimplifying or misrepresenting these complex fields, which draws sharp responses from scholars. He accurately represents them, which is the problem.

Peterson’s speaking style is intense, philosophical, and at times moralizing, which can come off as patronizing or grandiose to those who disagree with him. His seriousness and emotional delivery invite mockery or skepticism, especially in internet culture but imho the emotional delivery humanizes him.

He's internet famous and gets chewed up by leftist media pundits and of course the legacy leftist media. His rise was fueled by YouTube debates and viral interviews (like the one with Cathy Newman on Channel 4). These moments often portrayed him as combative, which helped create a media narrative of him being a divisive culture warrior, attracting both admiration and disdain.

The tailored clips by leftist youtubers and legacy media have probably done the most damage, but more and more people are watching his longform podcast and discovering they were mislead. Without a doubt these converts are adding significant numbers to his subscriber and watched video count.
(less)

flag

More questions about 12 Rules for Life…

12 Rules for Life

by Jordan B. Peterson

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

About Goodreads Q&A

Ask and answer questions about books!

You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.

See Featured Authors Answering Questions

Learn more