When has it gone too far?
Re: this thread regarding the continuing fall-out from gatorgrrrl's fic.
Specifically, a commenter stating that gatorgrrrl has received death threats, and then going on to ask people to take a step back.
1. First of all, that is not on. By no means do I condone death threats, and if there are people in fandom resorting to such tactics, I thoroughly disapprove. Death threats are never acceptable. Those people have gone too far.
However.
2. The behaviour of a few does not mean that the many do not have the right to speak out.
I mean, really, stop and think about that concept. Would we agree if Republicans said that Democrats had no right to speak because of members of the far left? Or vice versa?
A few people taking it too far happens frequently. It is not something I agree with, and I wish it hadn't happened.
But it does not eclipse the larger discussion at hand in an issue. In this case, that discussion is the reaction to the overt, insidious racism that we saw in gatorgrrrl's fic, and the anger and criticism that has risen up in response to that.
In what debate offline would we say that things have gone too far, so we're going to shut things down entirely? It reminds me of playground tactics used to control children - one too many insults, and suddenly everyone has to be quiet and put their heads down. We're adults. That's not the way it works.
I do not agree with threats, insults, slurs, etc. But I think that it is wrong to imply, as I have seen cropping up here and there over the last few days, that thoughtful, passionate responses should be shut down because a few have taken it too far.
We do not exist in a vacuum. Once we produce something, we can never take it back. Unfortunately, gatorgrrrl is reaping the consequences of that.
The threats and insults need to stop. The continuing criticism and ripple effect of this should not.
There are
comments at Dreamwidth. If you wish, you may comment there at http://kerri.dreamwidth.org/616969.html?mode=reply.
Specifically, a commenter stating that gatorgrrrl has received death threats, and then going on to ask people to take a step back.
1. First of all, that is not on. By no means do I condone death threats, and if there are people in fandom resorting to such tactics, I thoroughly disapprove. Death threats are never acceptable. Those people have gone too far.
However.
2. The behaviour of a few does not mean that the many do not have the right to speak out.
I mean, really, stop and think about that concept. Would we agree if Republicans said that Democrats had no right to speak because of members of the far left? Or vice versa?
A few people taking it too far happens frequently. It is not something I agree with, and I wish it hadn't happened.
But it does not eclipse the larger discussion at hand in an issue. In this case, that discussion is the reaction to the overt, insidious racism that we saw in gatorgrrrl's fic, and the anger and criticism that has risen up in response to that.
In what debate offline would we say that things have gone too far, so we're going to shut things down entirely? It reminds me of playground tactics used to control children - one too many insults, and suddenly everyone has to be quiet and put their heads down. We're adults. That's not the way it works.
I do not agree with threats, insults, slurs, etc. But I think that it is wrong to imply, as I have seen cropping up here and there over the last few days, that thoughtful, passionate responses should be shut down because a few have taken it too far.
We do not exist in a vacuum. Once we produce something, we can never take it back. Unfortunately, gatorgrrrl is reaping the consequences of that.
The threats and insults need to stop. The continuing criticism and ripple effect of this should not.
There are
comments at Dreamwidth. If you wish, you may comment there at http://kerri.dreamwidth.org/616969.html?mode=reply.