If we don't police for other blogs (which, ok, yes, is rather vigilantism and potentially a Really Bad Idea if done wrong) then I think we need to do SOMETHING to show lj and outsiders at large that a) we don't support pedophilia, b) we don't want lj to be a home for pedophilia comms, c) we want to do SOMETHING postive within lj to help with that problem (because it IS a problem), d) we want to do something positive IN GENERAL about the problem and, e) the problem of child porn within fandom is something we take seriously and don't dismiss with just: "but it's fiction so it's perfectly acceptable".
Soooo, if one of the days was giving to charity then the charity should be for surviors of sexual abuse, particularily children. And one of the majors questions that we need to bring to lj is: "What are you going to do about this problem?"...i.e.: What measures are you going to take in the future, will there be a system of review? What are you doing? And, perhaps most important, can we be involved, how can we be involved, we WANT to be involved.
I feel Really Really Really strongly about this. Pedophilia is NOT ok, and while this whole situation has many implications on fandom and fans, I think that most people are overlooking what I find to be the real problem: 6A and LJ was reacting--however poorly, however badly--to a real problem. And that problem still exists and I want to know what is going to be done about it, and I want it to be done in a way that won't fuck over fandom and in a way that won't fuck over innocent lj users.
So, while I think that, whatever fannish things this project might focus on, it should definately address the issue which brought it about. Because that's a Real Life Super Important Issue that, frankly, I think is more important in many ways than our fannish concerns. YMMV.
Like seanachai said I want this to be mostly positive. I love lj, I do I do, and I want fandom to be like: Hey, we are here, talk with us! Let us help you help yourselves (and us)!
This is all really positive, really a great thing to read! I've practically got tears in my eyes, seriously - b/c fandom has such coolness like this.
Agree re: no vigilantism. We are not professionals on this. And we have Other Work to do - that actually, only we (fandom) can do!
So yes, agree: to the charity being child or sexual abuse centered. RAINN or other, yep.
Question: are there spokespeople or others at RAINN who are fans? That would be the most excellent way to set this up, through someone who's fen or cool with fandom (I notice Christina Ricci is their national spokesperson - anyone know anything there?)
All of what everyone says! I especially like the way ghost_lingering lists it out. I don't see why we can't work with (1) fandom_lawyers and (2) P Justice and (3) LJ/6A Abuse to line out some brighter lines, and really, delineate the gray areas too. Set up some guidelines.
And with all the talent in fandom? Make some BANNERS that reference these standards - to show what we stand for. (and that it doesn't include letting WFI types dump all over art and free speech.)
This is all looking really good! And: POLLS. rock.
Re: | communitycopinggogglesJune 2 2007, 02:32:14 UTC
*pops in*
Aja, tropes, and I are actually in the process of setting up a charity drive community centred on a small number of different charities in the US and UK dedicated to the prevention of child abuse, of which RAINN is foremost. (And if donation ends up as one of the fandom actions, it'll probably be one of the link-to's.) We've been in contact with Sweet Charity, fanfolk who worked with RAINN earlier this year, and are actually waiting on a call/email back from RAINN (who are unfortunately v. busy at the moment, since they have a number of concerts and campaigns and things going on right now) to see if we can set up some kind of donation mechanism specifically for this drive.
I have worked with RAINN in the past ("worked" in the sense that I attempted to co-organize a benefit back 2001 when I was still pretty wee and inexperienced). I am not sure about fandom (in our sense) having ties to them. However, obviously, RAINN does have a huge connection with the Tori Amos (she is a co-founder) fanbase, if that means anything. (The benefit I worked on was part of a worldwide effort by Tori fans.)
Soooo, if one of the days was giving to charity then the charity should be for surviors of sexual abuse, particularily children. And one of the majors questions that we need to bring to lj is: "What are you going to do about this problem?"...i.e.: What measures are you going to take in the future, will there be a system of review? What are you doing? And, perhaps most important, can we be involved, how can we be involved, we WANT to be involved.
I feel Really Really Really strongly about this. Pedophilia is NOT ok, and while this whole situation has many implications on fandom and fans, I think that most people are overlooking what I find to be the real problem: 6A and LJ was reacting--however poorly, however badly--to a real problem. And that problem still exists and I want to know what is going to be done about it, and I want it to be done in a way that won't fuck over fandom and in a way that won't fuck over innocent lj users.
So, while I think that, whatever fannish things this project might focus on, it should definately address the issue which brought it about. Because that's a Real Life Super Important Issue that, frankly, I think is more important in many ways than our fannish concerns. YMMV.
Like seanachai said I want this to be mostly positive. I love lj, I do I do, and I want fandom to be like: Hey, we are here, talk with us! Let us help you help yourselves (and us)!
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Reply
Agree re: no vigilantism. We are not professionals on this. And we have Other Work to do - that actually, only we (fandom) can do!
So yes, agree: to the charity being child or sexual abuse centered. RAINN or other, yep.
Question: are there spokespeople or others at RAINN who are fans? That would be the most excellent way to set this up, through someone who's fen or cool with fandom (I notice Christina Ricci is their national spokesperson - anyone know anything there?)
All of what everyone says! I especially like the way ghost_lingering lists it out. I don't see why we can't work with (1) fandom_lawyers and (2) P Justice and (3) LJ/6A Abuse to line out some brighter lines, and really, delineate the gray areas too. Set up some guidelines.
And with all the talent in fandom? Make some BANNERS that reference these standards - to show what we stand for. (and that it doesn't include letting WFI types dump all over art and free speech.)
This is all looking really good! And: POLLS. rock.
Reply
Aja, tropes, and I are actually in the process of setting up a charity drive community centred on a small number of different charities in the US and UK dedicated to the prevention of child abuse, of which RAINN is foremost. (And if donation ends up as one of the fandom actions, it'll probably be one of the link-to's.) We've been in contact with Sweet Charity, fanfolk who worked with RAINN earlier this year, and are actually waiting on a call/email back from RAINN (who are unfortunately v. busy at the moment, since they have a number of concerts and campaigns and things going on right now) to see if we can set up some kind of donation mechanism specifically for this drive.
Reply
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