Oh fandom. Maybe I will quit you.

[browngirl]

So I was trying not to make this post, but I read too many discussions in short order to keep from doing so.

So I read N. K. Jemisyn's Things People Need to Understand, issue 223.2, which excellently states, "We have to shed this idea that SFF is somehow special. That it is perfect. That it is in any way better than the mainstream society from which it derives. It isn’t. And in fact, SFF’s manifest unwillingness to examine itself is one of the things that makes it worse than the mainstream." [And I just deleted a mini-rant concerning my opinions on the statements she was replying to, which isn't necessary considering this post of mine. So, moving right along...]

So I also read jimhines's Crap People Say About Sexual Harassment, which was further illuminating and depressing. A comment led me to this discussion on "taboo songs' in filk, where a bunch of people proudly proclaimed their Hatred of Censorship and Right to Sing Whatever They Want. It reminded me of the discussions about warnings in fic fandom, where one side doesn't want to be triggered as much and the other said, "you can't warn for every trigger in existence so you shouldn't bother warning for any of them, and asking me to warn is censoring me and I won't stand for that." Same thing here, but with filk. I suppose I benefited from the reminder of why I've left, but it was still disheartening.

Also, I came across the Overheard from the Smof Mailing List tumblr, which may go away soon due to the DCMA take-down notices being issued, and which is further illuminating and depressing as to how many in the backbone of fandom view... I was going to say 'the rest of us', but many of those pushing back against sexism and racism in fandom are just as much part of its backbone as those who view themselves as holding the line against the orc horde. ETA: However, in the comments here there's a discussion of that Tumblr, the accuracy and context of its quotations, and the harm it may have done to its seeming goal.

I was going to say more, but my Littlest Roommate requests my attention. So I'll close with a couple more links that warrant signal-boosting:

Things You Should Know About the Fallout
What Conventions Are and Aren't
Pride and Prejudice and Readercon
American Fandom goes to, err, War

Comments

[filkerdave.livejournal.com]

The Tumblr specifically shows quotes entirely out of context, not always on the same topic. Which has rightfully pissed of the people who's words have been stolen.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Yes, this. I've seen some quotes that in context, said pretty much the opposite of what the out-of-context excerpt implied. It's not hard to twist someone's words when you pick-and-choose that way. Ny, imagine if I posted elsewhere that you wrote:

"you can't warn for every trigger in existence so you shouldn't bother warning for any of them, and asking me to warn is censoring me and I won't stand for that."

That is some of what that Tumblr is doing, which is especially sad because YES of course there are people who need to be educated, censured, etc. Every group has its assholes. But that is not the way to do it. This is causing most people to talk about the meta issue instead of the real issues. :/

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

If that's really what's beign done to produce these quotations then I'm glad people are disagreeing with these statements, because I've seen a lot of agreement with them around.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

I don't want to overstate it: some of the quotes are exactly as asshat-y as they appear. But there's enough of a mix that the whole thing has shifted the discussion on the list from talking about harassment, safe space, and what can and should be done to unifying against this common enemy who is trying to make "all of us" look bad. If their goal was to derail, they have done a great job.

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

I've amended my post to link to what you, fjm and filkerdave have said. Thank you for pointing this out to me.

[fjm.livejournal.com]

Thank you.


Right now my feeling is: If I judged writers the way conrunners are being judged right now, then all writers clearly share the opinions and behaviour of Orson Scott Card.

There are assholes everywhere. There is a demographic made up of right wing old farts (+ left wing old radicals) right down to young queer/poly/radicals. Our ethnic diversity is a fair reflection of the (lack of) ethnic diversity in fandom as a whole ie it's improving but... We may be slightly skewed to the disabled actually as we tend to be a little older, but on the Loncon3 committee the two cane users are both under 45. We have a scooter user as well. And I'm deaf.

The sad thing is its those with *time* who tend to be vociferous in posting. And guess who has time? Those who people aren't necessarily working with.

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

*snerk* No, I know not everyone agrees with the loud obnoxiousness of, say, P. Huston, and I really appreciate the reminder. As long as "We're not all like that" doesn't preclude countering those who are, of course.

[ladymondegreen.livejournal.com]

I would actually love to see all of the quotes that have been posted in context, but I don't have the time/bandwidth to join the SMOFs list and read the archive to find out what's really going on.

[fjm.livejournal.com]

Well skimming my digest, right now a flurry of panic about tumbler, a discussion of the YA Hugo, and the length of the Hugo ceremonies.

The usual PR panic plus boring but necessary discussions.

Usually this list is about as interesting as watching paint dry.