Comment on A new Type of Mastodon Signup that gives people a sense of Agency

• AllNewTypeFace@leminal.space ⁨11⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  Given how strident the author has been about her views, and that she is still alive, earning royalties and materially contributing to anti-transgender causes, proclaiming oneself a fan of these books is as least saying that the author’s anti-transgender activism is not a dealbreaker. Making part of one’s identity an aspect of the books’ universe is even more so, to the point where there’s a correlation between people proclaiming their Hogwarts house in their bio and expressing anti-trans views. (TERF/“gender critical” activists having suddenly discovered that they were Slitherpuffs or whatever a few years ago, despite not having expressed any interest in YA fantasy novels before Rowling’s statements, is an observed phenomenon, to the point where such a statement in one’s bio is more likely than not to serve as a feeler for scouting out fellow anti-trans sympathisers.)

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• ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨11⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  No, you’re not allowed to like things. I know because I’ve been told this as a fan of H. P. Lovecraft, comedy, old movies, books, and music. Everything is bad and you should feel bad for liking it.

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  • them@lemmy.world ⁨11⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    I don’t agree that this type of response is productive, there’s a lot more nuance to these arguments. It is however interesting which things we’re no longer allowed to like. Disney for example, despite their history of anti-Semitism don’t nearly get as much hate as they deserve and at a time where even suggesting something that Israel did to Gaza is bad becomes conflated with hating Jews

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    • ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨11⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      Tbh, I pirate digital anyway and only buy physical, so it isn’t like I’m giving them money.

      I do however think saying someone is a bad person for having nostalgic feelings for something like lion king (to use your disney example) because a long dead man who created the company hated the jewish people is pretty dumb, for example, which is actually something some well intentioned anti-enjoyment activist has suggested to me before (not that you were here, of course).

      I understand when it’s something like the Lord’s Chicken, you have to give them money, but buying a book from H. P. Lovecraft’s estate doesn’t help his corpse at all, nor does it mean I support his xenophobic views or the name of his stupid cat, I just like cosmic horror. Yes I like Clark Ashton Smith too (and maybe more) just let me enjoy Innsmouth ffs lol.

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      • them@lemmy.world ⁨11⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

        In Rowling’s case it seems to be due to her being alive and directly benefiting from the financial success of her work. Pirating seems like a fair compromise. “I like what you make enough to consume it, but don’t like you enough to pay for it”

        Maybe good creators are just horrible people

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• Corgana@startrek.website ⁨11⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  You can of course add it to your bio if you’re a fan, but you might want to be aware that it will increasingly not be interpreted innocently.

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• brbposting@sh.itjust.works ⁨11⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  More reading here:

  Please consider how many (not all) trans individuals, out or not, might see your posts and excitement about Harry Potter and view them as a red flag, an implicit sign that you value Rowling’s work over trans lives, and question whether or not you’re a safe person for them connect with.

  I’m dismayed by Rowling’s too-real controversies but have a deep affection for the imaginary universe she gave the world.

  It’s good to know this, that at a minimum disclaimers are critical forever more it seems.

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  • them@lemmy.world ⁨11⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Thanks for the perspective. I’m not a member of the community (or much of a potter fan, other than enjoying the movies as a kid. Nostalgia) so it’s probably a lot easier for me to separate author from work.

    It just concerned me that people would be unintentionally flagging themselves as an adversary. The generalisation also seemed unfair and alienating in the same way many marginalised groups are. I do understand though that one side is something you enjoy and the other is something you are.

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    • brbposting@sh.itjust.works ⁨11⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      It just concerned me that people would be unintentionally flagging themselves as an adversary.

      Agreed. Wonder if it’s worth pinning a post in the HP subLemming about it / rejecting anti-transism.

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