I was chatting to a student over dinner last night.
She told me she had written a review of a play for her college newspaper and the director – a fellow student – had complained because it contained one or two mildly critical comments.
I am told there were accusations of libel but her worst crime was to suggest that some of the acting was a bit "wooden".
This, it was alleged, was a "racist" thing to say.
I haven't read the review but having spoken to the author I find it impossible to believe there is any truth in this.
She's a 20-year-old student reviewing a college play, for Christ's sake! She's entitled to express her opinion.
Or I thought she was.
Predictably the newspaper reacted by removing the review from its website. Instead of upholding the concept of free speech, the editor rolled over without a whimper.
If this catches on critics will have to think twice before expressing their views.
In fact, it's getting harder and harder to say or do anything without being accused of some heinous crime.
A couple of weeks ago I retweeted a mildly derogatory comment that someone had made about me on Twitter.
If I remember, my views on smoking in cars were described as "crazy".
I didn't comment, or complain (why would I?), I merely retweeted the tweet.
Philip Davies MP does this all the time. I like to think it's self-deprecating, although others may see it a sign of a rampant ego.
Anyway, the person who tweeted that my views were "crazy" responded by accusing me of "bullying" her because I retweeted her tweet!
I couldn't believe it.
She seemed quite young – in her twenties – so I had a dilemma. If I fought back it might seem that a middle-aged man in his fifties was picking on a girl 30 years his junior.
So after a short exchange of tweets in which I chose my words very carefully (one tweet contained the single word, 'sigh'), I backed off and let her have the last word.
The questions I am now asking myself are:
Am I cyber bully because I retweeted a tweet (about myself) without comment?
Is my new college friend "racist" because she described some actors as "wooden" in a review?
Who is bullying whom here?
If this carries on no-one will be able to express any opinion. We won't even be able to repeat other people's opinions!
It's mad.