whynot: etc: oh deer (Default)
Las ([personal profile] whynot) wrote2010-06-17 11:59 am
Entry tags:

why are you hitting yourself stop hitting yourself

One of the many things that makes me :-/ about the J2 BB Haitifail is the following reaction to other people's frustration:

"If this has taught me anything, you shouldn't even try to write POC."
"Yup. This is definitely what I've taken away from the whole clusterfuck."


It is pretty saddening (if unsurprising) that concern over misrepresentation only gets you promises of non-representation. What this attitude is implying is that minorities are to be blamed for their own erasure. If only we had presented our case differently! If only we hadn't got too angry! These race/culture discussions aren't meant to be roadblocks. If anything, they're speed bumps: they make you slow down for the good of everyone and actually make you watch where you're going. Voila relevant links:

Three Forms of Rhetoric Which Are Obnoxious
"Damned if you do, damned if you don't." Please please please please retire this phrase! ... A better way to phrase the feeling of frustration at being unable to get an advance guarantee of never being criticized by POC is this: "No writer is immune from criticism."

I really like this one: Being An Imaginary Conversation Which I Have Been Silently Holding in my Head With Many, Many People I Have Seen Around the Internets Lately
IMAGINARY DAVID RAVINE: So you're saying that this is how to be smooth and avoid a flamewar?
ME: No! I am saying that this is how to be a dipshit and still avoid a flamewar!


This one is more a general how-to than specific to the topic at hand, but still awesome: Derailing for Dummies.
The best part is, you don't even have to be a white, heterosexual, cisgendered, cissexual, upper-class male to enjoy the full benefits of derailing conversation! Nope, you can utilise the lesser-recognised tactic of Horizontal Hostility to make sure that, despite being a member of a Marginalised Group™ yourself, you can exercise a privilege another Marginalised Group™ doesn't have in order not to heed their experience!

[originally posted at http://whynot.dreamwidth.org/24977.html | comment count unavailable comments]
ext_22293: ([tgw] kalinda's never been afraid)

[identity profile] anjali-organna.livejournal.com 2010-06-18 02:59 am (UTC)(link)
Your speedbump analogy is spot on. I've been following this whole thing with interest as well as sadness, because I do think that even though I am also a PoC, that doesn't mean that I am not just as capable of being thoughtless or stupid or ignorant in my own work regarding other people's cultural identities (Hey, world! Just because I'm brown doesn't mean I automatically understand the experiences of any and every other brown person I might happen to meet!). So while it's tragic that this happened at all, and that people were hurt by it, at the very least it's spurred people to make some really wonderful, thoughtful, eye-opening essays.

My favorite so far is this one: First and primarily: in order for this story to exist, a person has to be able to sit down in front of the television, watch graphic depictions of horrific tragedy, destruction, pain and death, and react as if they are watching a drama unfold for their enjoyment.

[identity profile] twoskeletons.livejournal.com 2010-06-20 06:18 am (UTC)(link)
There have been so many essays, I couldn't even keep up. Thanks for reccing this one! I appreciate it.