Good grief. My heart goes out to you Ani. More evidence that free speech and rigorous, informed discussion and debate are at risk, particularly from rogue "academics". Prof Dutta is a shining example of weakness in academic peer review.
He sounds like a typical grifter himself. Clearly using his race/victim status to gain institutional sympathy while playing on the white guilt to advance his career. NZ has given him a gravy train ride whole he likely holds the same views toward other ethnic groups that are typical in Subcontinental communities.
Ani, as a former academic myself (UoEdinburgh), Massey Uni will have a Staff Conduct Policy which explicitly prohibits academic staff from bringing the university into disrepute. This policy will align with broader expectations of employees to uphold the institution's reputation, competence, and compliance with ethical standards. While academic freedom is a universal protection and often loosely interpreted it is nevertheless expected that employees will uphold respectful dialogue where comments deemed inflammatory could be argued to exceed those bounds if they undermine the university's values or public standing. As this is a public complaint and not internal I imagine it will go beyond any HR framework. At the UoEdinburgh a formal complaint could be heard by the Senate, if grievous enough, which was no small matter. All it will cost you is a formal written complaint! ATvB
Ani, you are a legend and I love reading your well reasoned, informed and well written articles. If you stir up the hornets nest just by existing and telling the truth then it’s the hornet’s problem - maybe the analogy should be more around stirring up pigs mired in the filth of their own making? Anyway, keep it up, you are the best.
If you start from the position that Dutta is deranged, then everything that follows makes perfect sense. He is a poisonous intellectual dwarf. People like Dutta exist in Universities because they would not be able to find work anywhere else. Shame on Massey University for continuing to give this nasty little creature a platform for his poisonous views. It illustrates the depth of the rot in that institution.
Keep up the good work Ani, sticks and stones can break your bones but words can never hurt you (unless you let them).
Absolutely disgusting. What makes it worse is that Massey University will keep letting him get away with almost anything he says, simply because he is one of the so-called “special” ones.
As usual Ani you come through this smelling sweet and your reasoned argument is wonderful to read. Dutta is a liability to Massey which has been in a dismal state (like many of our Universities) for some time. What happened to the old saying “sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never harm me”?
Who funds this man?
Has he not read the memo that woke is so last decade?
He is causing so much harm to Massey’s reputation that I should think they need to consider ways to relieve themselves of his services.
Great work - sorry for the offence and if it rattled you…weak man - weak principles - weak academic argument - phaff!!
By your works shall ye be known… by this measure lovely lady you are shining!
Wow. I'm aghast that your attackers occupy such privileged positions. My 2 adult children graduated from Massey, but I'll move heaven and earth to ensure that my grandchildren stay well away. I join with every commentator here Ani, who applauds you, wishes you well and stands by you in admiration.
Dutta is a fool and is so far down the Marxist critical theory rabbit hole it is apparent that he will never emerge into the clear light of day and rejoin the world of commin sense. Sadly he uses his position to advance his bizzare and outlandish claims. I place little or no weight on anything that he says or writes.
Dutta is a loose canon, undesirable immigrant and needs deporting. Furthermore his accusations of paedophilia adjunct would make me suspect that he himself perhaps has something to hide and is exposing his own tendencies. A disgusting piece of work.Sue him for defamation Ani.
Ani, I'm a retired psychotherapist and for a long time I've resisted reading anything that Professor Dutta has written because of his distorted views and inflation of arguments on little or no factual data. In common terms I think he has a huge chip on his shoulder and now that he's achieved the "respectability" of an academic position he's milking it all he can. One day he's going to fall from a great height. I also think he's probably scared of competent women. Keep on with your clear writing and every time you feel he's getting to you take some deep breaths and remind yourself of all of us who believe in what you do.
Ani I am sure someone else in the blogsphere had a run in with Dutta a couple of years ago.
Was it David Farrar?
Who ever it was wanted a debate with Dutta who if my memory is right Dutta would not front.
Seems he is another Academic (at Massey as I recall) activist without the commitment to front and defend his statements and for whom Free Speech only works his way.
Good grief. My heart goes out to you Ani. More evidence that free speech and rigorous, informed discussion and debate are at risk, particularly from rogue "academics". Prof Dutta is a shining example of weakness in academic peer review.
He sounds like a typical grifter himself. Clearly using his race/victim status to gain institutional sympathy while playing on the white guilt to advance his career. NZ has given him a gravy train ride whole he likely holds the same views toward other ethnic groups that are typical in Subcontinental communities.
Ani, as a former academic myself (UoEdinburgh), Massey Uni will have a Staff Conduct Policy which explicitly prohibits academic staff from bringing the university into disrepute. This policy will align with broader expectations of employees to uphold the institution's reputation, competence, and compliance with ethical standards. While academic freedom is a universal protection and often loosely interpreted it is nevertheless expected that employees will uphold respectful dialogue where comments deemed inflammatory could be argued to exceed those bounds if they undermine the university's values or public standing. As this is a public complaint and not internal I imagine it will go beyond any HR framework. At the UoEdinburgh a formal complaint could be heard by the Senate, if grievous enough, which was no small matter. All it will cost you is a formal written complaint! ATvB
Ani, you are a legend and I love reading your well reasoned, informed and well written articles. If you stir up the hornets nest just by existing and telling the truth then it’s the hornet’s problem - maybe the analogy should be more around stirring up pigs mired in the filth of their own making? Anyway, keep it up, you are the best.
If you start from the position that Dutta is deranged, then everything that follows makes perfect sense. He is a poisonous intellectual dwarf. People like Dutta exist in Universities because they would not be able to find work anywhere else. Shame on Massey University for continuing to give this nasty little creature a platform for his poisonous views. It illustrates the depth of the rot in that institution.
Keep up the good work Ani, sticks and stones can break your bones but words can never hurt you (unless you let them).
"He is a poisonous intellectual dwarf." Damn, why did I not come up with such an apposite description of the snivelling little cretin. Well done.
Well written and well rebutted, Ani. Sorry to see you are being targeted in this way.
sadly, the weakest seem to revel in protected opinions behind academia.
Time for a formal response via Massey Uni.
I have read much Pinker and tried to read Dutta. In short: Pinker is a thinker, but Dutta is a nutta. Ad hominem perhaps but, in this case, also true.
I think you are being generous to Dutta. The man is fucking retard.
You might very well think that; I couldn't possibly comment :-)
Absolutely disgusting. What makes it worse is that Massey University will keep letting him get away with almost anything he says, simply because he is one of the so-called “special” ones.
If that is the case no taxpayer funds should go to Massey until they come right.
Agree.
As usual Ani you come through this smelling sweet and your reasoned argument is wonderful to read. Dutta is a liability to Massey which has been in a dismal state (like many of our Universities) for some time. What happened to the old saying “sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never harm me”?
Who funds this man?
Has he not read the memo that woke is so last decade?
He is causing so much harm to Massey’s reputation that I should think they need to consider ways to relieve themselves of his services.
Great work - sorry for the offence and if it rattled you…weak man - weak principles - weak academic argument - phaff!!
By your works shall ye be known… by this measure lovely lady you are shining!
Have a great day!
All that education Prof Dutta, and what do you do with it? Gaslight those you dislike.
What a waste.
Dutta is clearly nothing more than a world class wanker.
Treat him with the contempt he richly deserves.
Ani, you are our heroine.
Wow. I'm aghast that your attackers occupy such privileged positions. My 2 adult children graduated from Massey, but I'll move heaven and earth to ensure that my grandchildren stay well away. I join with every commentator here Ani, who applauds you, wishes you well and stands by you in admiration.
Dutta is a fool and is so far down the Marxist critical theory rabbit hole it is apparent that he will never emerge into the clear light of day and rejoin the world of commin sense. Sadly he uses his position to advance his bizzare and outlandish claims. I place little or no weight on anything that he says or writes.
Dutta is a loose canon, undesirable immigrant and needs deporting. Furthermore his accusations of paedophilia adjunct would make me suspect that he himself perhaps has something to hide and is exposing his own tendencies. A disgusting piece of work.Sue him for defamation Ani.
Good on you Ani! I would pay to see Dutta converse with you face-to-face. My guess is that he is a coward behind a keyboard.
He would surely wither under Ani's superior logic and reasoning.
Ani, I'm a retired psychotherapist and for a long time I've resisted reading anything that Professor Dutta has written because of his distorted views and inflation of arguments on little or no factual data. In common terms I think he has a huge chip on his shoulder and now that he's achieved the "respectability" of an academic position he's milking it all he can. One day he's going to fall from a great height. I also think he's probably scared of competent women. Keep on with your clear writing and every time you feel he's getting to you take some deep breaths and remind yourself of all of us who believe in what you do.
Ani I am sure someone else in the blogsphere had a run in with Dutta a couple of years ago.
Was it David Farrar?
Who ever it was wanted a debate with Dutta who if my memory is right Dutta would not front.
Seems he is another Academic (at Massey as I recall) activist without the commitment to front and defend his statements and for whom Free Speech only works his way.
That was Karl du Fresne: https://karldufresne.blogspot.com/2023/08/professor-dutta-ducks-below-parapet.html