Before we begin, let’s get something out of the way – it really doesn’t matter what you or I think of Jordan Peterson.

The reason why that detail is important is because in this era of polarization, we often find ourselves eviscerating people we hate for the same things we ignore when said or done by people we really like. Our hypocrisy in these times know no bounds, and whenever a story like this pops up, it is the first thing I think about. That, and how there is no real peace in a divided society.

Moving on.

Recently, an Ontario court upheld the decision by the College of Psychologists of Ontario when they ruled that Peterson should undergo social media training after complaints were made that the controversial, clinical psychologist said things that were unprofessional. Nobody knows who made the original complaints, and I think that is the main pillar of this story.

The tweets in question are typical social media snark, or just plain rude. He called Gerald Butts a prick, said a plus sized model was “not beautiful,” rails against the doctor who gave Elliot Page a double mastectomy, and called the preference of an Ottawa councilor who prefers they/them pronouns an “appalling, self-righteous moralizing thing.”

Pretty mild by today’s cesspool known as social media, but let’s not get too bogged down here. There is no overt racism, or sexism, or even transphobia. If anything, Peterson walks the line on a couple of those issues, but overall this would not make the top 1 Million of awful things said on Twitter/X each day.

pic.twitter.com/uOiE229j01

— Dr Jordan B Peterson (@jordanbpeterson) August 24, 2023

Which is why I believe that unless we are able to know the identities of those who made the complaints, it is reasonable to assume that the hatred some people have for Peterson could be the main culprit in how his case played out. We do know that one such complaint came from a foreign country, pertaining to Peterson’s appearance on the Joe Rogan podcast. Is that what passes for a robust checks and balances system for a regulatory board in Canada – a complaint from someone who doesn’t even reside here?

Moreover, the person who complained did not specify what part of the podcast they were complaining about. Rather, they simply supplied the College of Psychologists of Ontario with the entire transcript. The subject that was apparently controversial was Peterson’s views on climate change. I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that Peterson should have the right to say anything he wants about climate change, otherwise we are already in an Orwellian world.

I hope we are not going to pretend that our collective hypocrisy isn’t real. We almost never see people chastise their side for saying awful things. But we get downright giddy whenever we see our political opposites misbehave. It’s the MAGA voter clutching their pearls when a democrat is being uncivil. Or the lefty who fires off a profanity-laced screed when they perceive someone on the right allegedly dehumanize someone.

Read it and weep, Canadians: your much-heralded Charter Rights mean absolutely nothing@JustinTrudeau and the "progressives" have destroyed everything his father Pierre Trudeau thought he had accomplished

Oh the ironyhttps://t.co/pfMRPeTxXV

— Dr Jordan B Peterson (@jordanbpeterson) August 24, 2023

For all intents and purposes, we condone this type of speech, as long as it is being directed at people we hate. I see it every day, probably because I do not identify with either side. This is where reactionaries like to point out the alleged use of a false equivalency, because they have no idea how to be fair, rational, or logical.

I dare say, if Peterson levied horrendous criticisms against Pierre Poilievre, Donald Trump, and Matt Walsh, there would be no complaints in the first place. And yes, we have to start looking at each other as equals in the arena of social media. You can’t get all uppity if you see someone call Justin Trudeau a douchebag, but then snicker when you see someone call Pierre Poilievre a douchebag. If you finger-wag one of those name-calling examples but cheer on the other, you are probably the douchebag.

From Bari Weiss's Free Press: https://t.co/hxr95TMoIS

— Dr Jordan B Peterson (@jordanbpeterson) August 25, 2023

Inevitably, this piece will be widely criticized by people who can’t understand why I would defend Peterson, and to those people I say please seek help immediately. Because it seems you have traded in your ethics and intelligence for the empty glass in front of you that you keep filling with hypocrisy and stupidity.

I don’t agree with Peterson most of the time, but I don’t hate him either. And it is that moderation that keeps me going and fills me with the prospect that peace in our society is possible, while infuriating those whose glass is now shattered on the floor.

There’s your peace, it’s now in pieces.