Jordan Peterson and Gail Siskind

Let's have an interview

Jordan Peterson, PhD, C.Psych. has been ordered by the College of Psychologists of Ontario to undergo mandatory re-education because of reports of offensive comments made on Twitter and the Joe Rogan podcast. I will not reiterate the comments here. They can be found on Twitter.

I’m reminded of a nurse who criticized care in a care home on Facebook and lost her job. This is becoming the hazard of the helping profession.

I have background training in counselling and I admit I am sometimes shocked at the brazenness of Peterson’s comments online. I found an example of a post just this morning.

This is not exactly how you win friends and influence people, Dale Carnegie style.

The thing about Peterson is that he is passionate and not afraid to speak out, a quality that appears to be headed toward extinction as people increasingly self-censor due to fear. If we censor ourselves out of fear, we are falling prey to intimidation tactics and manifesting symptoms of captivity. Peterson knows this and this is what he is resisting with all his being.

Increasingly we are encountering legislation designed to silence dissenting opinions. For example, California doctors will now face fines and imprisonment for “wrong-speak” about covid. Startling and very concerning. Knowledge is not exclusive to a small body of people with oversight.

The question I have is, can we learn to express our opinions in a more civil manner that would not offend?

The obvious haters of Peterson pop up with their comments on his Twitter feed. “Re-education” will, unfortunately, not be forced on them. Maybe they should all be gathered in a room for re-education purposes as well.

As I read what essentially amounts to a “summons” from the Ontario College of Psychologists I noted that Peterson is to be “mentored” by either of two women, Dr. Erika Abner, LLM, LLB, PhD or Gail Siskind, RN, MA. Peterson is to cover the cost of his mentoring at a rate of up to $225 per hour and the time of mentoring can be reduced or extended at the determination of the person he selects as his mentor.

Siskind has an MA and her website credits her as a “thought leader and change agent in professional regulation.” Dr. Erika Abner is a lawyer. Seeing that their credentials are not that superior to Peterson’s, would it not be fair of them to offer Peterson some say as to how this remediation might be conducted? Because, in the end, are we not just people in the world, trying to figure out how to get along?

I would like to suggest that Peterson interview either or both of these women so that we could all benefit from their expertise. Let’s make this public. We could all use some help in our communication skills. Gail Siskind has, after all, received the University of Toronto, School of Continuing Studies Dispute Resolution Award. I would like to be witness to a true attempt at resolution of this dispute to the point where both sides are satisfied.

A series of interviews would be even better. I have a hunch they would be well attended.