a harry potter fan's guide to navigating pride month
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Either way, you'd be lying if u said his artwork his shit.
It's bad
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Yeah but it's not like this is the best literature has to offer, nobody would really lose anything by just not reading a very mid saga.
The movies are good, but the story is also the weakest link. You could swap the story and maintain everything else and it'd probably be just as good if not better.
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Go read Le Guin's Earthsea books instead, which are genuinely better written, and LeGuin was a great person who wrote a lot of socially progressive literature. Not to mention that it hasn't been turned into a fucking corporate media franchise like LOTR.
wrote on last edited by [email protected]JK Rowling:
We've all got both light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on. That's who we really are.
Proceeds to fund fascists
Ursula K. Le Guin :
Fantasy is escapist, and that is its glory. If a soldier is imprisoned by the enemy, don’t we consider it his duty to escape? The moneylenders, the knownothings, the authoritarians have us all in prison; if we value the freedom of the mind and soul, if we’re partisans of liberty, then it’s our plain duty to escape, and to take as many people with us as we can.
(Apparently frequently misattributed to Tolkien. I love his writings but the man was not nearly as based as Ursula Le Guin)
I know this has
energy, but I did try to look for a Rowling quote that wasn't some uninspired one-liner that she unconsciously copied from some Disney movie -
Same thing for nintendo
There is a huge difference between a company being very protective about their intellectual property and somebody actively working on destroying lives on humans.
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If you wanna play the game, pirate it and then play it offline.
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Tbf there were likely people saying the same thing about meine kampf when Jewish people were going missing.
I've never really been a HP fan, so it doesn't bother me. And as a straight white male, pride has fuck all to do with me... Buuuut I'm capable of seeing why trans communities would take issue with her inflammatory statements, and funding of discrimination against them.
Her latest venture is entirely funded by her, and aims to provide legal support for fighting against trans inclusion; Regardless of whether you agree with trans people, surely you can understand why they wouldn't want to fund that?
You're comparing a book about wizards and magic to... Mein Kampf?
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Yeah, I'm gonna stop enjoying fun books or movies because somebody else is upset about the author...
If you are fine with suppression of LGBTQ+ programs etc, like, not upset about it, sure! I guess this post is not meant for you then.
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Unpopular opinion coming, but fuck it. Harry Potter was never great, besides being set in the modern day it's very generic and the movies were mid. some people will worship whatever JK Rowling breathes on
wrote on last edited by [email protected]It's alright but it's definitely got more popular than literally all the other coming of age teen fictions through sheer luck. And I read a lot of these as a kid so I know what I'm talking about.
I've also heard that she was immensely helped by translation because when her shit was translated she was already starting to get famous, so the publishers contracted their best, and apparently the originals are a lot less "well written" than e.g the french version. I personally never bothered to check because I have more interesting things to read.
Fun fact about this one : when my librarian mom brought the first volume of Harry Potter home, I remember she told me that it must be good because she had never heard of the author (and she was specoalized in kids literature so she knew a thing or two about children and teens book authors) but she knew the translator -
You're comparing a book about wizards and magic to... Mein Kampf?
wrote on last edited by [email protected]Not quite. I'm comparing an author that oppressed people to an author that is oppressing people.
The contents of the books never came up in my comment, but nice strawman nonetheless
As a counterpoint; do you think it's acceptable to fund oppression of any marginalised group?
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I made the same decision with Brandon Sanderson and his fuckin fanclub takes it extremely personally when I point out how problematic he is as an author.
Yes, his writing is good. Yes, his writing is remarkably inclusive with regards to sexual orientation, disability, and mental illness.
However, Brandon is a Mormon first and foremost, and actively tithes to his church. That means a significant percentage of ALL Dragonsteel profits go directly towards the suppression and disenfranchisement of LGBTQ+ programs, sex education, and effective mental health services.
He might write a good story, but his IRL politics are repugnant.
I read the Mistborn books, and wasn't terribly impressed. Anyone that repeatedly and unrepentantly uses the phrase "decked him in the face" is not a good writer.
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Have you considered Redwall. BJ is dead so he can't be pressured by the Anglican Church. I'm not excusing RJ, but the Anglican church is pretty fucking brutal in the UK anytime they get remotely threatened.
Also Redwall is fire as fuck.
wrote on last edited by [email protected]Personally, I read the entire Redwall series as a kid.
Well, maybe not all of it, I think some books in the series were still being written at the time ... not 100% sure.
I found them much more compelling than Harry Potter.
I also read everything Animorphs, most of them as they came out.
... I also read all of LotR, other than the Silmarillion, before I got out of high school, as well as most of the Tom Clancy books, Jurassic Park / Lost World Andromeda Strain, 1984, Brave New World, Farenheit 451...
Man, I even read most of the Boxcar Children before I got out of elementary school.
I read a lot as a kid.
So much so that when I was in 2nd grade, I would routinely finish school work so quickly, that I would be matched up with 4th and 5th graders who were behind their grade in reading ability, and go out into the hallway and help them read aloud books, help them with pronounciation, explain word meanings they didn't know.
...
But the group of people I am describing?
Best I remember, they only read Harry Potter... and I do remember having to explain to them that the LotR movies (the first 3) diverge from the plot of the books in several key points... Saruman's plot arc and everything directly connected to him diverge significantly... perhaps most notably by totally removing the Shire being 'scoured' near the end of the story.
These people did not believe me when I told them this, which lead me to conclude they either didn't actually read LotR, or at best, skim-read it or didn't remember it well at all.
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I want to be respectful here, but this has a lot of issues embedded in it.
This kind of rhetoric rises from what I've called the Authoritarian Left, which is an immensely detrimental wing. It's a group where there is no nuance.
You say that if a trans person says it's hurting them I should stop doing it. OK, but what if a republican says it? Now suddenly I should ignore them? You can't base your entire ideology on what members of groups say or demand that others adhere to yours simply because you think you're right.
I love trans people, and I actively fight for them and their rights. But why? I'll tell you, it's not because Democrats told me to love them, or a religious leader, or anyone in politics. I looked at the world critically and found their cause worthy.
I'm a durable ally. I'll stick with it when it's not cool or trendy, or when it comes at a cost. But that's because I arrived at those truths myself.
To loop all the way back to the premise - if talking about Harry Potter at all hurts Trans people, then this post hurts trans people. If you disagree with that, then nuance exists. And I'm saying in the nuance of how and who I talk about any topic with, I know and understand that those people understand the situation.
I don't make public posts about Harry Potter. I often talk about how JK Rowling is a garbage person. My friends have a Harry Potter party that they've been hosting for years, and every person there is of a similar mindset that trans people deserve so much more than they are getting.
You have to allow more than one idea in your head at the same time. If you're making the rule "talking about Harry Potter in any way, at any time, makes you an active enemy of the trans movement", then that's not a place I want to be associated with.
If you want advice - focus on how JK Rowling is harming people. Elevate that as much as you can. When you make these purity tests, you make people not give a shit because it makes it impossible to adhere to the strict and narrow path you say is OK.
This authoritarian left wing of democrats is what got Trump elected. They are so hard nosed on every issue they completely isolate people and make these issues harder to fight for, not easier. You're heart is in the right place, but we live in a world full of nuance, and the real trick is not scolding people into adherence, but it's coalition building and asking people to think critically about their choices. They have to find their beliefs, you can't just demand them.
This kind of rhetoric rises from what I’ve called the Authoritarian Left, which is an immensely detrimental wing. It’s a group where there is no nuance.
There is no nuance that you are aware of that the trans people that are calling for a ban of HP haven't already thought of. It's their lived experience after all. They know so many more nuances to this, or any other trans issue than you or I do. I don't know how much time you spend in the discussions of the so-called "
Authoritarian Left" but I've found them to be immensely nuanced. Cis people don't get a contradictory opinion on what harms trans people and what doesn't, simple as.You say that if a trans person says it’s hurting them I should stop doing it. OK, but what if a republican says it? Now suddenly I should ignore them?
It's not just one trans person though is it? It's a pretty widely held opinion in the trans community afaict. That bit about some hypothetical republican didn't make sense to me, no idea what you're trying to say here.
I love trans people, and I actively fight for them and their rights.
Maybe a bit more listening is due? A good start would be Trans Liberation: Beyond Pink or Blue.
I’m a durable ally. I’ll stick with it when it’s not cool or trendy, or when it comes at a cost.
Except when that cost is giving up Hahree Pawttah apparently.
To loop all the way back to the premise - if talking about Harry Potter at all hurts Trans people, then this post hurts trans people.
Talk about "no nuance", obviously this post isn't suggesting that the mere mentioning of the name is causing trans people worldwide psychic pain. But not purging Harry Potter from your life, giving space to a franchise that is used to hunt trans people is actively harmful. Wouldn't you be suspicious of someone who is still a huge "The apprentice" fan? Or a huge "Tesla" fan (" Oh I'm not buying their cars, but I still admire them!!")? Similar sentiments apply here.
You have to allow more than one idea in your head at the same time. If you’re making the rule “talking about Harry Potter in any way, at any time, makes you an active enemy of the trans movement”, then that’s not a place I want to be associated with.
More generalizations from the nuance-haver, I think it's addressed above but just to reiterate, its about purging a franchise from your life that is having a toxic effect on the world.
If you want advice - focus on how JK Rowling is harming people.
I'll take my advice on fighting for the trans cause from trans people thanks.
This authoritarian left wing of democrats is what got Trump elected.
Source? I don't believe that the democrats even have a left wing, much less an
authoritarian one, much much less one that is powerful enough to have decisive swing in the presidential election.the real trick is not scolding people into adherence
I'm gonna keep telling people that are platforming fascists that they are platforming fascists. If they continue to do it, I can then know where they stand.
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Because there's nothing wrong with enjoying the franchise as long as you aren't supporting it.
Books are available secondhand. Games and movies can be pirated. It doesn't cost anything to talk about a shared interest with friends.
Just don't give them money. Don't go to their theme parks. Don't buy the merchandise.
You can like a thing and still make a conscious effort not to support the creator. You just have to be clear about the why if anyone asks you about it.
Books are available secondhand. Games and movies can be pirated. It doesn’t cost anything to talk about a shared interest with friends.
Except it keeps this franchise alive, which in turn causes other people to buy the books, the games. If you want the franchise to die off, so no one buys their shit anymore you have to stop participating in it.
Why is "stop platforming fascists" such a controversial take?
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Not quite. I'm comparing an author that oppressed people to an author that is oppressing people.
The contents of the books never came up in my comment, but nice strawman nonetheless
As a counterpoint; do you think it's acceptable to fund oppression of any marginalised group?
wrote on last edited by [email protected]The contents of Mein Kampf are anti Jew... It literally describes the process of becoming anti semetic
Harry Potter is not about becoming anti trans...
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The contents of Mein Kampf are anti Jew... It literally describes the process of becoming anti semetic
Harry Potter is not about becoming anti trans...
Why are you comparing a book about wizards and magic to mein kampf?
We're discussing the authors, not the books.
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If you wanna play the game, pirate it and then play it offline.
I wasn't interested in playing it, but now I'm gonna do this out of spite.
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Yeah but it's not like this is the best literature has to offer, nobody would really lose anything by just not reading a very mid saga.
It’s something people like… and for many people it’s a comfort movie/book
Like there are just so many worse things in the world that worrying about the cultural impact of pirating a movie/book/game is such a waste of time.
Asking people to stop giving her money is 1 thing but you are accomplishing nothing except making people feel like they are completely powerless if you tell them to not even talk about HP
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I wasn't interested in playing it, but now I'm gonna do this out of spite.
The game is alright, just go to the trans person and go and see the burning JK rowling picture
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I can get behind being in spite of her & other wealthy elites but I can’t abandon what my time with those books meant to me despite of her spite. So, y’all can guillotine her, I’ll still keep the books. But it really is the case that when I hear about her it’s because of these kinds of posts nowadays.
wrote on last edited by [email protected]Yeah I think that’s a perfectly reasonable sentiment, and I despise frying that as a political purity test. Rowling is probably being platformed by all this by some extent… Any attention is good attention these days.
Shit, I hope JK doesn’t use it to run for some kind of office.
The utter popularity of Harry Potter (and the royalties she rakes in) undoubtedly dwarfs any personal name recognition/brand she ever achieves though. Like, it’s insanely popular.
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JK Rowling is probably the most influential anti-trans activist.
wrote on last edited by [email protected]I think she's the most famous anti-trans activist, but that's not the same as being the most influential. You might watch ContraPoints' videos on JK Rowling, she discusses the analogy of JK Rowling to Anita Bryant (a famous homophobe)
here is her first video on JK Rowling establishing that she is indeed a transphobe, there was a time when a lot of people wouldn't accept that Rowling was actually transphobic
and then her second video covering the "witch trials" of Rowling as a transphobe.
In the end I agree with ContraPoints that JK Rowling has outsized hate directed at her relative to the harm she actually does, and that there is a misogynist tendency for people to target a woman to take out their frustrations on. Marie Antoinette is another example of this - the perceptions of her as a villain exceeded her actual crimes so to speak.
My point isn't to say Rowling is not a transphobe or not dangerous to trans folks, etc. - I just believe there are plenty of anti-trans activists who are more successful as activists and are more influential than JK Rowling, even if they don't end up in the headlines as much. That is, they are getting more done to strip trans folks of their rights than JK Rowling, and that's what I meant by "influential" - as in having power and influence to achieve the political goals of the anti-trans movement.
Matt Walsh for example has basically made a career of advocating against trans folks - creating anti-trans propaganda like What is a Woman?, and going to state legislatures to help pass laws against trans rights. I think he is less famous than JK Rowling, and has a smaller platform - but I would argue he has been more successful at advancing the anti-trans movement than Rowling, and the tangible harms from him are greater.
As far as I can tell, JK Rowling has primarily tweeted her support for the anti-trans movement, then she started funding women-only spaces that are trans-exclusionary, and only recently (as in since last year) has started a fund to help anti-trans legal cases. None of those activities are anywhere as "influential" or effective as the anti-trans activism by others who have actually influenced legislatures and had laws passed to deny healthcare and legal rights.
I would even say Chloe Cole has done more to advance the anti-trans movement than Rowling, for example. She is flown across the U.S. and now across the world to speak on the news and in legislative sessions to help anti-trans laws to be passed.
It's obvious Rowling is transphobic and is now using her influence to advance the anti-trans movement, I just think the perception of her influence is greater than her actual accomplishments as an anti-trans advocate.
Trump alone has done more to undo trans rights recently than anyone else, people I know personally have lost access to HRT as an adult because of his executive orders. Rowling has never accomplished anything that significant AFAIK.
ContaPoints does a better job evaluating some of this in her videos, I know they are long but I think they're worth watching and considering.
