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[voliol]

Yeah it's kind of incredible slash disturbing how much her media is still all around considering how she is as a person. It's this sort of strange thing where I'm sure most people are not as rampantly transphobic as she is, yet as they turn a blind eye towards it it's hard to deny that they are still transphobic. Or simply do not know.
What kind of answers would you get if you asked the bookstore manager who chose to put her book out front in the Christmas season? Or that other, separate bookstore manager who did the same. Or the employees who went along with it. At some level everyone is doing their job, and at least here (Sweden) I'm sure many people - out of a culture of compulsory goodness - would claim to have no hatred in them. But then a whole group of people are made an affordable loss, consistently. It turns out there's a whole lot of transphobia out there, and it is in the hearts of people, at times subtle, yet festering.

Let's hope, or see to, that that will change. And I'm sorry if my insight was too obvious.

[Loud Whispers]

So the irony here is too much not to comment on.

I watched that video then opened facebook. A post from The Royal Mint (sponsored): 'Celebrate 25 years of the publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone with a coin featuring the Hogwart's Express!'

Oh boy I can't wait to consoom

t. 25 year old consoomer

Yeah it's kind of incredible slash disturbing how much her media is still all around considering how she is as a person. It's this sort of strange thing where I'm sure most people are not as rampantly transphobic as she is, yet as they turn a blind eye towards it it's hard to deny that they are still transphobic. Or simply do not know.
What kind of answers would you get if you asked the bookstore manager who chose to put her book out front in the Christmas season? Or that other, separate bookstore manager who did the same. Or the employees who went along with it. At some level everyone is doing their job, and at least here (Sweden) I'm sure many people - out of a culture of compulsory goodness - would claim to have no hatred in them. But then a whole group of people are made an affordable loss, consistently. It turns out there's a whole lot of transphobia out there, and it is in the hearts of people, at times subtle, yet festering.

Let's hope, or see to, that that will change. And I'm sorry if my insight was too obvious.

It's just too much of a cash cow for corpos to give a shit. You can see the cynical pivot to make "Harry Potter without Harry Potter" so they can continue to milk the Harry Potter fanbase without having to deal with any extant links with J.K. Rowling (besides paying her fat bags of money every six months)

[MrRoboto75]

To think how big the series could be if Rowling never got a Twitter account (half /s)

[EuchreJack]

When it comes to artists, generally the less you know about them personally, the better.

My childhood was during the Michael Jackson era. Great performer, awesome music.  Less said about him personally, the better.

Do NOT do a deep dive on Jim Carey. You won't be happy.

Ultimately, it's best to separate the work from the people.

[TD1]

The death of the author, Roland Barthes.

Determine textual meaning without relying on reference to its creator.




I haven't really kept up to date on Rowling's comments, but... I don't see any discrimination? Although, to quote the actor who played Hagrid:

“I don’t want to get involved in all of that because of all the hate mail and all that shit, which I don’t need at my time of life.”

Heh.

[EuchreJack]

So, looking up "Who played Hagrid?", I find there were two actors. Mind blown.
EDIT: Oh wait, the second one was a body double and younger depiction. Oh well

It IS scary how much influence Rowling has, and I tend to suspect it probably is being mobilized against the LGBTQ community.

Basically the 21st century Walt Disney.

[Imic]

Tolkien was a big fan of the concept of the death of the author is the birth of the reader, which is good since if he was around today it'd probably be a total coinflip whether he became a raging transphobe or not.

[TD1]

That would depend. If he were around today because of longevity? Possibly. His work revolved around preserving traditional, middle class (even religious, if read between the lines) values in the face of a disrupting war which sought its demise. This could be parsed as England's green pastures vs. German imperialism, but also traditional values vs changing social mores.


But if he were born into our era? He was outspoken in defense of Jews and racial minorities in his own time. I'd give good odds on him supporting the right to self-expression. Also keep in mind that he was first and foremost an academic who seemed to love Oxford University. Even were he inclined to be a 'raging transphobe,' good career-sense might direct him down a more moderate path.

[Loud Whispers]

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Transistor goals

[Great Order]

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Shocking absolutely no one, Jordan Peterson wishes to have trans people eliminated.

Wonder how the fans are going to spin this into him not being a bigot.

[Rolan7]

Yep.  He's been promoting more covid conspiracy stuff too, particularly stuff from fucking Project Veritas.  Guy's completely lost it.

But also yeah Trump's calling for trans elimination.

Spoiler: Content Warning on what exactly I mean by that (click to show/hide)

Literally what he's calling for is denying all gender-affirming care- yes, pre-existing and EXPLICITLY for all ages- and criminalizing various forms of "exposing children to trans ideology".  Florida school libraries are sitting empty at the moment as they try to determine which of their books would land them class-3 FELONIES to distribute.

I know the G-word bothers people.  Regardless they're explicitly promising to criminalize:
My hormone pills
Correctly gendering children
Telling children that it's possible to be trans
Books which governors decide are "trans ideology"
Supporting your trans child, even socially (Greg fucking Abbot tried this months back)
My fucking hormone pills
Wearing makeup in public if you weren't assigned female at birth (this bill is laughably open to abuse, but will only be used to abuse gay and trans people)
MY HORMONES, I'M A GODDAMN ADULT, and taking them away from young people leads to them dying too.

The cruelty is the point.  Call it whatever, think we're just weirdos, I don't care.  They are criminalizing our very existence.

Weirdly the way they're coming directly for trans culture, art and books, hurts especially.  Maybe *I* could go back to being a rambling alcoholic for another 2-5 years then disappear, who cares, but there's so much beauty in the community.  I guess that's the part they hate the most.

in conclusion, I hope I misunderstood the "we can't share fics here" thing.  because I feel like reading some

[Frumple]

I haven't really kept up to date on Rowling's comments, but... I don't see any discrimination?

She's been regularly spewing and boosting TERF shit over on twitter, and publicly palling around with virulent transphobes, just as an easy starting point.

Like, there's problems with her writing on the discrimination front, too, but so far as more recent stuff goes, it's been her public/social media comments that have been not exactly covering her in glory. I've been mostly avoiding exposure 'cause I don't need that shit in my life, but it hasn't been particularly subtle.

[Great Order]

Today on "Reason the UK's referred to as TERF island":

Seen a good chunk of people on a UK subreddit genuinely arguing that JKR isn't transphobic. She's actually inclusive of trans people, it's just that she's really combative about her views.

EDIT: And her tweet saying that being told to stop being a TERF is the same as demeaning Suffragettes has been defended. The logic being that no, she's not saying that, she's comparing misogyny to misogyny. Nothing to do with transphobia at all.

Y'know, never mind that being a TERF, in its current incarnation (Where it's basically saying you're a liberal transphobe rather than conservative) is neither exclusively directed at women nor does it exclusively come from misogynists.

Blugh, hate that my mere existence is enough of an issue for people to not only get upset at it, but defend people who get upset at it.

[TD1]

I haven't really kept up to date on Rowling's comments, but... I don't see any discrimination?

She's been regularly spewing and boosting TERF shit over on twitter, and publicly palling around with virulent transphobes, just as an easy starting point.

Like, there's problems with her writing on the discrimination front, too, but so far as more recent stuff goes, it's been her public/social media comments that have been not exactly covering her in glory. I've been mostly avoiding exposure 'cause I don't need that shit in my life, but it hasn't been particularly subtle.

Take your word for it! I just read through her original essay (and boiled it down to help me parse it: see spoiler, keep in mind this is VERY boiled down)

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The so-called progressives assume a right to police my speech, accuse me of hatred, and label me TERF.

Many people called this are not radical at all, and supportive of alternative lifestyles. But the label intimidates otherwise admirable people/institutions.

People in power need to grow a pair. Should I keep my head down from fear?

Firstly, charity. I fund women and children, survivors of domestic and sexual abuse. Also an MS charity in which the disease behaves differently according to sex. Transgenderism threatens to erode these distinctions.

Secondly, education.

Thirdly, freedom of speech. Even Donald Trump should be allowed to speak.

Fouthly, and personally, exploitation of young women wanting to transition. Issues detransitioning, irrevocable alterations, fertility issues. Some say their transition was driven by homophobia.
Ten years, most transitioning were male. Now, 4400% increase in girls, particularly autistic girls, being referred for transition.

Same in America, where friend groups became transgender-identified at the same time. Social contagion/peer influences.

Which caused a furore because transactivists hold that no one can be persuaded to be trans. Gender and sex are innate. Not letting them transition will cause suicide. Which is unfounded.
30 years ago, I might have transitioned myself – for community, security. But it’s fine not to feel pink, frilly and compliant inside your own head.

Transition is the answer for some. Though 60-90% teens grow out of dysphoria.

Transactivism is removing the systems controlling sex reassignment.
Things are getting worse for girls. Some trans activists claim that TERFs need punching and re-educating, men across the political spectrum seem to agree: women are asking for trouble. Everywhere, women are being told to shut up and sit down, or else.

Women must accept and admit that there is no material difference between trans women and themselves. But ‘woman’ is not a costume. Moreover, the ‘inclusive’ language that calls female people ‘menstruators’ and ‘people with vulvas’ strikes many women as dehumanising and demeaning. I understand why trans activists consider this language to be appropriate and kind, but for those of us who’ve had degrading slurs spat at us by violent men, it’s not neutral, it’s hostile and alienating.

Fifthly, domestic abuse. Tans people are vulnerable, need and deserve protection. Like women, they’re most likely to be killed by sexual partners. I feel nothing but empathy and solidarity with trans women who’ve been abused by men.

So I want trans women to be safe. And natal girls and women. Opening bathrooms to men believing themselves to be women, you open them to all men. This is not safe. As a victim of related sexual abuse, I feel my government is playing fast and loose with womens and girls’ safety.

You are Voldemort said one person

There’s safety in conformity. And huge numbers of women are terrified by the trans activists. Their careers, etc. are on the line.

But I refuse to bow. Eroding ‘woman’ as political and biological class gives predators cover.
I stand with those who’re standing up for freedom of speech and thought, and for the rights and safety of young gay kids, fragile teenagers, and women reliant on their single sex spaces. The latter is in the majority, excluding only the lucky few not touched by male violence.

No gender critical women hate trans women, but became interested from concern for trans youth. They are hugely sympathetic to trans adults who simply want to live. But they’re being silenced with the term TERF.
All I’m asking is for empathy and understanding to be extended to the many millions of women who want to be heard without receiving abuse.

The general gist seems to be 'stop calling me and my fellows radicals, I have valid concerns about the youth's health and women's rights, but respect and empathise with those who've transitioned. Stop intimidating me.'

Note: Not making a point, just decided to procrastinate on work by reading essays not relevant to my dissertation

[Starver]

In my thoughts to a couple of the points she stresses:

1) "Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's" - For all things where chromasomal (presumably) sex is important, like the different actions of diseases or the far-above mention of trans-men looking to solve issues with their original female innards, this should be as much a medical consideration as with someone having dextrocardia and/or situs inversus in a scenario where this matters.

What's more, there will be unknowingly intersex individuals who developed (externally, at the very least) in one manner despite having the chromasomes (and possibly other biochemical elements) of the other who might benefit from 'trans-aware medicine' as and when anyone bothers to find out.

I see no difference between the socially and surgically transitioned, developmentally flipped or even chimeric individuals, they all deserve the right application of the right treatment for the right aspect of any condition as it applies to them. That's no reason to decry transitioning, as it would still leave a significant number of non-transitioned people susceptible to undue assumptions and a reduced ability to identify and cater for such edge cases.

2) "Opening female spaces to all men..." is an undeserved wedge argument. I wonder how many predatory females have totally unfettered access to other (vulnerable) females, and all without the need to overcome stigma, various hurdles that even advanced M2F transitioners have to overcome and definitely under the radar compared to any bad-faith individual who tries to exploit access loopholes. (Never mind men who just find ways to hang around such female spaces as men, like countless creepy types always used to have to do...)

What protects young girls from predatory 'pseudo-trans' individuals? Well, everything that protects them from all other threats, plus additional mitigations born out of prejudices that I don't see going away.

Meanwhile, the still small minority of trans-women are being asked to make 'their space' be in the men-only spaces, vulnerable to the copious male-on-male type predators and transphobic+homophobic male-on-female types who may consider this an opportunity to physically or even (within the bounds of their own twisted version of personal 'no homo' convictions) sexually abuse.

At the very least, the sufficiently passing trans-woman could be mistakenly assumed to be a woman with precocious thrills for going into male facilities, giving 'normal' men the impression of something quite different, then they suffer from retaliation from either being a 'cock-tease' or a 'sissy', depending upon how far the encounter goes. Possibly both, by the reduced degree of logic that ends up being employed by the increasibgly confused antagonist.


Which is why I (cis-male, no real experience at the sharper end of either transitionary or feminist issues but hopefully would be accepted as a considerate ally of both sides, if allowed to be) think that the hyper-reductionist feminism version is particularly bad. As would be a given form of trans-militancy, but we're really not so much in danger of so many people suffering from the latter, on balance. To sum up my (admitedly unqualified) standpoint.