Hee! I don't know what you mean: what is this entitlement you speak of?
:D
Regarding meta, I already knew you are braver than me: I am very wary of meta myself, because I so rarely agree with any of them, regardless of the topic. Even the nicest ones -and the majority of the fandom, any fandom, is remarkably nice- get me itching to reply and it is so easy to misunderstand a written opinion into an attack to one's beliefs. I hope I always remember to try to avoid it as much as possible.
Consider the recent race debate for instance: why is it that only racial minorities -which by the way is my case, though I do not believe that entitles me to insult others about their supposed political stance- were authorized to have an opinion without being slapped with highly offensive adjectives? Why is it that everyone suddenly decided to state how racism was a bad thing instead of actually doing something about it, like say, vote against politicians who promote it? And why did anyone suppose that we'd suddenly want to read about politics in a slash fandom community when there are political blogs for such things?
No, if I actually stopped to think about it I'd lose my temper (not all that difficult in my case), so I prefer to avoid seeing it: real life is hard enough and full of real nastiness, I truly do not need any more in the one little area I reserve for personal fun.
And regarding the example you mention, you have an excellent point, but I did not follow any of that apart from rivier's recent post and your reply to it -BTW, it makes me so happy to hear you guys are having fun together while I languish in rainy California and feel homesick for the UK!- and I now feel even happier not to have read any of the details.
But in conclusion: I'll have you know that as a McShep fan, I revel in my evil, oppressive ways. In truth, I live to oppress minorities, kick puppies and eat babies. And I recommend you learn to enjoy it too; it's fun for all the family and it's calorie-free!
Not so very brave, really. I posted a short, we're-all-reasonable-people-and-the-fandom's-a-big-place response to the OP in this kerfuffle, then after thinking about it some more and re-reading the intemperate post, went back and deleted it--I was damned annoyed at being tarred as a wicked oppressor. I did think about posting again and saying something robust like "bollocks!", but, like you, I'd rather not seek conflict for its own sake. The fandom can wank well enough without any help from me. As indeed it did.
There are some fascinating thoughts to be had about privilege, of course there are. The other LJ poster I mentioned is very sharp to point out the privilege I'd have, being white (at the moment, very pink since I spent the day in the sun, gardening), but doesn't seem to see her own privilege. She's evidently very intelligent. She gives no quarter to those who aren't privileged in the IQ department, though. I'll bet it never even crosses her mind. And although I'm white and also not totally unintelligent (although not intelligent enough to write meta!), and I do recognise the privilege that gives me, I'm also technically disabled. Should I be down on everyone out there who isn't as deaf as I am because they don't recognise how a hearing society oppresses me, and go merrily on their way speaking in their natural tones and volume and not thinking to shout to be sure I hear them? Should I koko! I turn the volume up on my hearing aids and get on with it.
I'll join you in revelling. Babies on toast...mmmn. With honey.
Hah. This has nearly happened to me more than once! Irked beyond measure, or simply feeling like I had something to say which I feel is helpful, I type in a post. Then I realize that my response will be totally misunderstood and if I am quick enough, I delete it or do not post it. If not, I start a major wank all by myself. Heh.
That is the shady side of large fandoms like SGA: on the one hand we get more material to play with, on the other, there's always -or nearly always- some sort of wank happening somewhere!
:)
You are entirely right about privilege, BTW: there is no denying is exists at different levels and is part of our culture, however I am at a loss to understand:
1) how relevant such discussions are in LJ fandom
2) how having a chip on one's shoulder and/or using it as a crutch to excuse what we do is helpful in any way.
I remember someone once trying to excuse a violent high school bully by saying that his father was an alcoholic that beat him. Excuse me? When growing up, I was at times black and blue from my mother's beatings, but I did not use that as an excuse to beat younger and smaller kids than myself.
Feh.
The same applies here: why should people be excused from behaving less than well simply because they think they have or had a rough deal? As you rightly mention, perception of discrimination/oppression/what-have-you is very relative and manipulation by guilt is the oldest trick in the book which only works if we let others walk all over us.
Which, in case I did not make it clear, I do not think is appropriate regardless of who we are and what others perceive as our privileges: this would apply if you were part of the royal family just as easily as if you were a pauper.
:D
Regarding meta, I already knew you are braver than me: I am very wary of meta myself, because I so rarely agree with any of them, regardless of the topic. Even the nicest ones -and the majority of the fandom, any fandom, is remarkably nice- get me itching to reply and it is so easy to misunderstand a written opinion into an attack to one's beliefs. I hope I always remember to try to avoid it as much as possible.
Consider the recent race debate for instance: why is it that only racial minorities -which by the way is my case, though I do not believe that entitles me to insult others about their supposed political stance- were authorized to have an opinion without being slapped with highly offensive adjectives? Why is it that everyone suddenly decided to state how racism was a bad thing instead of actually doing something about it, like say, vote against politicians who promote it? And why did anyone suppose that we'd suddenly want to read about politics in a slash fandom community when there are political blogs for such things?
No, if I actually stopped to think about it I'd lose my temper (not all that difficult in my case), so I prefer to avoid seeing it: real life is hard enough and full of real nastiness, I truly do not need any more in the one little area I reserve for personal fun.
And regarding the example you mention, you have an excellent point, but I did not follow any of that apart from rivier's recent post and your reply to it -BTW, it makes me so happy to hear you guys are having fun together while I languish in rainy California and feel homesick for the UK!- and I now feel even happier not to have read any of the details.
But in conclusion: I'll have you know that as a McShep fan, I revel in my evil, oppressive ways. In truth, I live to oppress minorities, kick puppies and eat babies. And I recommend you learn to enjoy it too; it's fun for all the family and it's calorie-free!
*undermining fandoms sneakily since 1999*
Reply
There are some fascinating thoughts to be had about privilege, of course there are. The other LJ poster I mentioned is very sharp to point out the privilege I'd have, being white (at the moment, very pink since I spent the day in the sun, gardening), but doesn't seem to see her own privilege. She's evidently very intelligent. She gives no quarter to those who aren't privileged in the IQ department, though. I'll bet it never even crosses her mind. And although I'm white and also not totally unintelligent (although not intelligent enough to write meta!), and I do recognise the privilege that gives me, I'm also technically disabled. Should I be down on everyone out there who isn't as deaf as I am because they don't recognise how a hearing society oppresses me, and go merrily on their way speaking in their natural tones and volume and not thinking to shout to be sure I hear them? Should I koko! I turn the volume up on my hearing aids and get on with it.
I'll join you in revelling. Babies on toast...mmmn. With honey.
Reply
That is the shady side of large fandoms like SGA: on the one hand we get more material to play with, on the other, there's always -or nearly always- some sort of wank happening somewhere!
:)
You are entirely right about privilege, BTW: there is no denying is exists at different levels and is part of our culture, however I am at a loss to understand:
1) how relevant such discussions are in LJ fandom
2) how having a chip on one's shoulder and/or using it as a crutch to excuse what we do is helpful in any way.
I remember someone once trying to excuse a violent high school bully by saying that his father was an alcoholic that beat him. Excuse me? When growing up, I was at times black and blue from my mother's beatings, but I did not use that as an excuse to beat younger and smaller kids than myself.
Feh.
The same applies here: why should people be excused from behaving less than well simply because they think they have or had a rough deal? As you rightly mention, perception of discrimination/oppression/what-have-you is very relative and manipulation by guilt is the oldest trick in the book which only works if we let others walk all over us.
Which, in case I did not make it clear, I do not think is appropriate regardless of who we are and what others perceive as our privileges: this would apply if you were part of the royal family just as easily as if you were a pauper.
Reply
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