O.M.F.G.

[splash_the_cat]

I am beyond appalled at the epic and escalating levels of fail coming out of the latest round of debates on writing, racism, Othering and cultural appropriation. rydra-wong has roundups here, here, here, here, here, and hereHere's the thing, fellow white people. It's simple. Don't be an asshole. And if you decide you need to be as asshole, own it.

Comments

[thothmes]

I absolutely agree with what you have said here, and I think that the key thing we all need to remind ourselves of frequently, is that a bell rung cannot be unrung. Lord knows I've been heedless and thoughtless myself a time or two and rung some big ugly clangy ones.

Beanpot has it right with the Kindergarden poster. We need to take a step back, and remember not kindergarden, but junior high. Each and every one of us can remember an incident, I am sure, from junior high when we learned that words can hurt, in a way that is very real, and that we still remember and can feel the sting of, from the distance of adulthood. Having the right to fling them around like little grenades does not absolve us of responsibility for the damage they do when those grenades hurt people. A decent and caring human being does not use their right to free expression in a way that is deliberately wounding without a strong, moral, and life affirming reason to do so.

It is our duty to speak out strongly against bigotry, cruelty, opression, and intolerance. Sometimes what we say when we do this is forceful speach, and can be wounding, but this is moral and defensible. To deliberately offend others because you believe that your artistic vision is more important than the feelings of the people exposed to it? That's self-centered, self-serving, childish, and wrong. If you do it, you should be prepared to earn the time out!

[splash_the_cat]

To deliberately offend others because you believe that your artistic vision is more important than the feelings of the people exposed to it? That's self-centered, self-serving, childish, and wrong.

Exactly.