Response to the current SPN fandom contraversy

[jenneany]

This whole situation is giving me a stomachache, so I have to make a comment. Please understand that I completely agree with the points being made here - the author, whether intentionally or not, created something that was very hurtful and insulting on many levels. This cannot nor should not be denied or ignored

Comments

[impertinence]

Hey, I saw your comment on amazonziti's journal. You should probably check out this tag - there are a lot of posts explaining the tone argument, what it means, why it's harmful, etc. I agree that constructive criticism is, you know, good, and helpful, but that's what allies are for. People who've been hurt by this 100% have the right to lash out. And while again, it's not entirely wrong to say "whoa can we not bring misogyny into this", there's also a really issues-laden history of (white) feminists derailing conversations about racism. And honestly I think taking the time to be like "can we please not use 'cunt'", in the context of racefail THIS HUGE, is derailing.

[jenneany]

I see your point, and don't disagree. When someone is hurt by racism personally, that person is entirely entitled to their anger and emotions. My objection is that fandom is largely comprised of white women - I'm not trying to stereotype, but based on my experience at cons and meeting people through fandom, I think this is a fair assumption. To claim that EVERYONE who responded with vitriol and indignation is affected personally by this brand of racism is not realistic. This is not to say that there aren't plenty of white women who are allies to all peoples, and who take any kind of hatred personally. I am not trying to minimize that sensitivity. But that doesn't mean they share the pain in the same way a person of color would over this issue. Of course, it's impossible in this forum to identify everyone by race, sex, religion, etc., nor should we. The point I'm really trying to make is that while anger and a raised voice certainly have a place in this issue, so does compassion and understanding. By virtue of being white women we

[adina_atl]

I have no knowledge of this current contraversy, so I can only speak in general.

I think sometimes people use their righteous indignation not to try to instruct or inform the target of their ire, but to excuse or minimalize their own failings or their own guilt for their own privilege. "I may be white and all my friends in real life may be white, but by god I showed that bigoted author what for!"

[jenneany]

I agree with you, and that is definately what I was trying to address. However, I've been informed about the problem of making "tone arguments" - see my current post for details. While it does bother me that people are probably jumping on the bandwagon to assuage their own shortcomings, that does not take away from the fact that wrong has been done and people have an absolute right to have their voices heard. When I say we're all complicit, I obviously cannot exclude myself :)