I am sorry that this apology has been published. I like Jonathan Stapleton and respect his integrity . This apology does not read right to me.
The article Barry Parr wrote was an opinion from someone known to hold strong opinions. These opinion aren’t shared by people who comment on social media but they are still prevalent in society.
There are points in the article which are important to be discussed. Adrian Boulding discusses the points on divorce on the VFM podcast because of the article.
Taking down the article and replacing it with an apology of this kind is driving the debate on diversity and inclusion in trusteeship into a dangerous corner and encouraging a kind of moral imperialism from D&I’s champions.
It is also humiliating to Jonathan- I think unfairly so.
There is a better way to share opinion
Publications that operate online, usually allow for online comments. Professional Pensions doesn’t. This blog does. My comment is that digital media is as much about the comments as about the original opinion.
And occasionally, the comments become so personal , so injurious that an editor can take them down. I have seen the capacity to comment removed by the FT over one particularly vicious exchange. Responsible editors know where the line has to be drawn. Bu human resilience is strong – the opinionated tend to tough things out and take the stick.
More generally, the comments are there to assess the popular opinion and Professional Pensions would do well to allow them. The reader’s comments are a form of self-regulation – a safety valve for the publisher and editor. Professional Pensions miss a trick by not offering a comment box.
Instead, comments on the article are littering linked in. Nikesh Patel’s condemnation of the article is followed by a sensible discussion on the rights and wrongs of publication. It includes a call for the article to be re-published so more people can read it and express their opinion. You can read the 31 comments on Nikesh’s posts by clicking this link
If you think Nikesh’s article or any of the comments are harmful , you can ask that they be taken down.
We wish Jonathan Stapleton a happy holiday.
Jonathan Stapleton, who is now on holiday, should not be spending the time in penance. If he is ruminating (which I hope he isn’t) he should be asking why , when the watchword is diversity, this conversation is not happening on his website. When Jonathan comes to hang up his boots, I hope he will be able to look back at this incident as the making not the breaking of him.
The article should be reinstated and a statement made with regards the editorial view of Professional Pensions.
For, until Barry Parr’s article is reinstated, it will be the subject of ill-informed comment, ill-informed because the words of the writer have been supressed.
Having read the article, I do not think it incites hatred, that is my opinion and I’d be interested in yours. If you have a view, feel free to share it in my comments box, I will only moderate if the view is likely to be harmful to Barry Parr or to other people.